The Lemonade War!

During the month of February, the Freeman Elementary read The Lemonade Wary by Jacqueline Davies as part of our One School One Book project.  This was the 3rd year that we have participated in the program.

Usually I pick the book based on what I think the students will enjoy.  This year, we had the students vote on a book.  Then from the top 3 choices, we had another vote for the book we read.  It was a secret until the reveal earlier this month.  Our top three choices were PIE, THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD, and THE LEMONADE WAR.  The Indian in the Cupboard was a very close second.

Each student at Freeman PK-6 received a copy of the book compliments of the PTO and Freeman Public Schools.  Every night there was a reading assignment and then questions were read each morning with announcements that each class had to answer.  It's a great way to keep the entire family involved in the project.

If you don't know anything about the book, I highly recommend you pick it up and read.  The story revolves around a brother and sister, Evan and Jessie who typically get a long.  However, Evan is worried that his little sister will be promoted to 4th grade next year (the same grade that he is in) and will make him look stupid.  So they start fighting.  Evan and Jessie make a bet about who can earn the most money with a lemonade stand before the end of summer which is Labor Day.  Suspense builds as you try to figure out who will earn more money.  By the end, they come to a truce...but who won??  I won't spoil that for you.

If you loved this book, be sure to pick up the second book in the series, THE LEMONADE CRIME.  It is a continuation of what happened at the end of this book.

If you participated with your family in the project, THANK YOU!  The best way for kids to learn to become better readers, is by modeling and sitting down together to read.  Sometimes the kids don't even have to know how to read, just sharing in a love for literature can make a huge different.  Go to the local library, spend some time at a book store, read a book together and then watch the movie about it and compare how it is alike or different, start a book club or book talk with some friends.  There are many ways that you can foster a love for reading.  Check back in with us next February to see what the next book our school reads!

This Will Revolutionize Education

This video was shared with my by a colleague.  What a great 7 minutes about education and the role of teachers.

Being a Partner in Education

Parents want the best for their kids.  Schools are no different!  Every day we are making decisions about what is best for students.  It's hard.  Sometimes there is push back because of the decisions that we make.  They are your children and sometimes it is difficult to know what is best or what the solution is.  The bottom line is, we are all doing the best that we can!

Teachers make 200-300 exchanges with students every hour.  This means they are making 1200-1500 decisions every day.  That equates to one decision every 4 minutes.  On top of that, teachers are busy being role models, information providers, facilitators, administrators, assessors, disciplinarians, and nurturers.  When you are spreading your attention between 20 or more students a day that can be overwhelming and exhausting.  Not to mention all the energy and stories that students share with you daily.  There is a lot that goes on in school in a day.  There are lessons to plan, papers to grade, centers to create and set up, emails and phone calls to return, websites to update, problems to solve, students to serve.

Parents have bills to pay, jobs to go to, groceries to buy, meals to cook, activities to take kids to, laundry, dishes, homework to help with, mowing the lawn, feeding the cats, walking the dogs, problems to solve and kids to serve.

Every day, teachers are doing the best that they can and I know that parents are too.

The point is, we need to be in this together.  We need to be partners in every aspect of a child's education.  We should be:

-Having open and honest communication with our kids.
-Sitting down with students to work on homework.
-Spending 20 minutes a night reading with your child.
-Supporting students with activities or school events.
-Modeling positive behavior (they are watching everything adults do!)
-Talking with students about how their day was.
-Problem solving difficult situations.
-Working through friendships and interactions with others.
-Making sure they are modeling good character.
-Teaching tolerance and acceptance.
-Supporting creativity and extra curricular activities (not just athletics).
-Spending time playing together and exploring new things.
 
Schools want the best for students.  In order to create the best students, we need parental and community support.  The phrase, "it takes a village" rings so true in education.  Raising the best students isn't just one persons job, it takes everyone.

I am an educator and have the best of intentions, but still I go to sleep thinking I was a parent fail that day.  We try hard and have good intentions, but sometimes it's all we can do to get through the day.  Being a parent that is about to send two kids off to kindergarten has given me a new perspective on education.  I have a greater appreciation for teachers and parents by living in both worlds.  It really makes me think that we are ALL doing the best that we can, with what we are given.

So the next time there is a concern or problem or activity, remember to be kind, be supportive and make it a positive experience with your child.