Dear Teacher

By Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts Learn About what Is Happening in Classrooms This Year

Parents: There are definitely a lot of unknowns about how your children’s classes will look like when they return to them this fall. It is expected that most schools at all levels will have students back in person in the physical classroom. However, many schools will also have a virtual option for families whose children have immune disorders or other problems. It is expected that most virtual learning, especially at the elementary level, will be done by a fully virtual teacher rather than a classroom teacher. Furthermore, children who are exposed to COVID and need to quarantine may still need access to online learning to keep up with their peers.

We advise parents to keep up to date with what is happening in their local schools. It could vary widely from district to district! No matter what your children’s schools will look like, it is clear according to all the experts that most will not have learned what they would have learned without the disruption of the Pandemic! This is especially true for those children who have a special education diagnosis. Many were not able to receive the accommodations that they were entitled to on their Individual Education Plans (IEP). It is very important this year for parents to attend Back to School Nights to learn first-hand how their children’s teachers are planning on handling any learning deficiencies their children may have suffered. There has been a wide variance in how much students have learned in online programs. Teachers are potentially in the dark about what their students learned last year because of the lack of standardized testing data. For all of these reasons, you really need to hear directly from the teachers on Back to School Nights about what their curriculum will look like for your children and how they plan to close any learning deficiencies.

There are two things that can help you see where your elementary and middle children currently are academically. One is to determine their reading level. The San Diego Quick Assessment test will quickly provide you with this information. You can find it online and on our dearteacher website. Two, you will find it to be helpful to know what your children should have learned last year in most of their subjects. It is easy to find this information. Just go to your state’s education department website. Type in curriculum or content standards and the grade you are looking for.

The Importance of Reading to Your Children

Question: I know that it is important to read out loud to young children. During the Pandemic, I have been reading a lot to my younger children. Should I also have been reading to my older children in middle school and high school? At what age should you stop reading to children? – Wondering

Answer: Your question is a concern of many parents. While many parents stop reading to their children when they are able to read on their own, it is very beneficial to continue reading to children even in their early teen years. Research shows that reading aloud to school children of all ages will definitely improve not only reading skills but also listening skills and academic performance.

Unfortunately, the percentage of parents who read aloud to older children drops drastically for children over the age of 5. This is way too early to stop reading to your children. When surveyed, older children say that they enjoy read-aloud time. In fact, children of all ages enjoy listening to a good story. Did you know that reading aloud to children helps them to Build vocabulary Increase comprehension Hear good modeling of how to read Improve listening skills Discover longer books like the classics Help improve discussion skills Broaden knowledge of different genres Promote reading beyond schoolwork. Lessen time spent on electronic devices Give them an understanding of more sophisticated concepts Cement ties between parents and children

Good readers succeed in school. Poor readers have far more problems with subjects that require considerable reading. Help your children regardless of their age to become active readers who are engaged with the printed page. This is very important for your children’s ability to comprehend what they are reading. The following questions will help you and your children talk about the stories that you are reading to them: Do you think this story could really happen? Why? Why not? Did you think a certain event in the book was funny or sad? Would you like to be friends with a character in the book? If you were the major character in the book, what would you have done differently? Would you like to be able to do something the hero of the book did?

Besides reading fiction to your children, be sure to include interesting nonfiction works that will add to their knowledge of the world.

Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com and to learn more about helping their children succeed in school visit the dearteacher website.

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