PTA Parent Newsletter - April 9, 2008

[Howard Hartman]

PTA Parent Newsletter - April 9, 2008

Biweekly Newsletter Expert advice and practical ideas for raising kids and becoming a vital part of their education. Wednesday, April 9, 2008 This edition of PTA Parent focuses on male involvement. Studies show students perform better when both parents are involved in education, so PTA encourages men to play an active role in their child's education. The advice may be delivered with men in mind, but moms can apply it, too. Ask and Your Child Shall Achieve! Important Questions for Your Child's Teacher to Prep for Next Year Consistently spending time with your kids makes them 61 percent less likely to take drugs, have premarital sex, or go to jail, according to All Pro Dad, a fatherhood and male involvement program based in Tampa, Fla. The group suggests fathers or father figures ask their children's teachers the following questions such as, "How well does my child get along with others?" Read More Conquering the 'Homework Divide' The middle school workload poses a challenge to both students and parents. A National Education Association report, "The Great Homework Divide," shows that middle school demands are both heavier and more varied than what students typically experience in elementary school. NEA suggests solutions for meeting middle school homework challenges: Make yourself available during homework time. While you've probably had a long day, just like your child, and may want to watch a TV show or run errands, it can benefit you both if you are nearby while they do homework. Use this time to read, pay bills, or do paperwork that you can easily set aside if your child needs assistance. Once everyone's work is done, enjoy a favorite family activity. More tips on managing your child's homework Lend a Hand During National Volunteer Month This April and beyond, show your children the value of volunteering and the value of their education. Find time this month to get involved in their schools and fulfill the PTA Three for Me commitment. Help out on the playground, make classroom decorations, chaperone a field trip or school dance, attend a school beautification day, work one-on-one with a child, help set up a PTA event… the opportunities are endless. And your children will benefit. Talk to the school and PTA about your availability and their needs, and visit pta.org for family involvement tips. Points of Light & Hands On Network— the leader of National Volunteer Week, April 27-May 3—can help you and your family find even more volunteer opportunities; visit pointsoflight.org. PTA Male Involvement Resources Our Children—Learn the ABC's of male involvement. Men Working—Tools for your school to use to promote male involvement. Present these ideas to your school or PTA Bulletin Board—Check out a new Bulletin Board topic on male involvement. Start a conversation with other fathers and father figures. PTA Briefs Thank a Teacher!— Celebrate PTA Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-10. Find out how! Website Provides Catalog of Teacher Awards— Read more about Project Excellence's teacher awards online database. WANTED: Budding Teen Directors – Deadline April 30 — Above the Influence Anti-Drug Campaign is now accepting video submissions. Learn more! PTA Book Club— D.E.A.R. and Rainy Day Reading April showers bring May flowers. But they also bring many days inside the house with not much to do. Celebrate Drop Everything and Read Day to not only create one day of fun for your family but also kick off reading adventures for the rainy days to come. Read more about this celebration of reading. 100 Ways to Help Your Child and School Succeed — There are many ways that you can help your child succeed! A few small activities each week will pay huge dividends over the course of the year. Here are a few that you can do this week: Attend parent-teacher conferences with specific questions you want to ask. (Asista a conferencias para padres y docents con las preguntas especificas que desee hacer.) Decide with your child's teacher the best way to stay in touch (phone, e-mail, notes, etc.). (Decida junto con el docente de su hijo el major medio de contacto (telefono, correo electronico, notas, etc.).) In the News State PTA would like to 'Flunk the Budget' Old Forge students take part in PTA essay program We want to serve your needs. We have modified the format of PTA Parent in an effort to deliver more relevant information and make the newsletter more readable. Let us know your thoughts by contacting Randy Craig at rcraig@pta.org.   In This Issue Ask and Your Child Shall Achieve! The 'Homework Divide' National Volunteer Month Briefs In the News Look for these topics in an upcoming issue: Media Safety Fitness and Wellness Spanish-language Resources: La vida en Marte: Entendiendo la cultura de los padres Get Involved If you enjoyed an article in PTA Parent and want to reprint it for your own use, we encourage you to do so. Just check out the PTA Permissions Policy. Join the PTA Reader Panel–share opinions, ideas and comments. E-mail today! Not a PTA member yet? Join today and help your school help your child! Permissions Policy PTA Linking Policy

© 2008 National PTA, unless otherwise noted.

Reprinted with permission