The kids have been in school for a few weeks now. And by now they should have received an interim report card. If you were to receive an interim report based on how involved you have been in your child’s education, what grade would you receive?
A – Very Involved: You read and sign daily agendas and other written communications from the teacher, attend conferences, work with the children at home with reading and homework assignments, volunteer, attend field trips, stress the importance of education at home
B – Involved: You do everything that is listed above for Grade A, except you are not as actively involved with attending field trips or volunteering. You help with homework when asked.
C – Somewhat Involved: You sign the agendas sometimes. You kind of know what’s going on in the classroom. You help with assignments when asked. You may attend a few conferences.
D – Not Involved Enough: You hate when the teacher sends home homework, especially if it means you have to help. You might attend back to school night at the beginning of the year. If you don’t, then the teacher probably will not meet you.
F – Not Involved At all: You are glad school started so that the kids can give you a break for a few hours a day. You don’t know what is going on at school and don’t care. You don’t know who your child’s teacher is.
You may not agree with my grading scale (because I made it up.) However, the point is to get you to think about your level of involvement in your child’s education. Studies show that kids that have involved parents have better grades, have less behavioral problems and are more likely to pursue higher education. And the more that the parents are actively involved, the higher the child’s achievement. According to a study done by Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, achievement benefits are even greater when parents are actively involved such as volunteering, supporting school activities, and attending field trips.
Based on the scale above I would give myself a A-/B+. I am very good and consistent when it comes to reading agendas, helping with homework, and reading with my kids. However, I need improvement when it comes to volunteering, attending field trips, and being involved in the PTA. I volunteered once last year in the Christmas gift store and I went on one field trip. Therefore, I am committed to increase my active involvement this year (i.e. – field trip and volunteering in the classroom.) And yes, I have a fulltime job. And yes I have four kids (two school age kids, 1 toddler, and a baby.) And yes, I am tired after work just like the next mom. But my kids are worth it.
BMWK Family it’s interim report card time. This is a reminder “To Be a Beast for your Family” (in the words of Rev. Run.)
BMWK Family: What grade would you give yourself? Do you volunteer in your child’s school or classroom? If you are teacher or work in education, we would love to have your input on this matter. Help us improve on the grading scale above so that we can use it at the end of the semester to track our progress.
Anna says
Given the fact that my kids are in college I will modestly give myself a c+ or a B-. I do ask my college bound kids about their grades and how they are doing. They are on the Deans list and I ask to read their papers/ have them read them to me or take a peek at their grades. So far so good and I want them to remain independent, get a education and they know if they need mommy’s help “I’ll be there”. Unless it’s the “new math”. That’s when they call their dad or their pops(my hubby). LOL. I can and do balance the books at work but that is easy math. My hubby and my kids father has been apart of our kids lives and we do care and want to know what is going on.
Funkidivagirl says
With my little kid (2nd grade) I am very involved with her homework and volunteer in the classroom, field trips, etc. With my biggest kid (9th grade) I tend to leave it up to him as far as school work/homework goes (even if I asked him, I get one word answers. *sigh*…teenagers). But I do go to all the parent meetings at school and volunteer in the high school whenever there is an opportunity. And I told him that I AM going on his 10th grade orchestra trip, so get ready now! Luckily both of my kids go to the same school so I can volunteer at school-wide events without stretching myself too thin.
Anna says
Funkidivagirl said
With my little kid (2nd grade) I am very involved with her homework and volunteer in the classroom, field trips, etc. With my biggest kid (9th grade) I tend to leave it up to him as far as school work/homework goes (even if I asked him, I get one word answers. *sigh*…teenagers). But I do go to all the parent meetings at school and volunteer in the high school whenever there is an opportunity. And I told him that I AM going on his 10th grade orchestra trip, so get ready now! Luckily both of my kids go to the same school so I can volunteer at school-wide events without stretching myself too thin.
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It is nice when they are all in the same school. I did spread myself thin many years ago. My first born had choir rehersal for a (then)coming up event to practice for a Christmas Concert and said “mommy can you drop me off at school for rehersal”? I drove my child to her Jr High School that she previously attended and not the High School that she attended at the time. Being I had to back track and take her to the right school( she said mommy, I don’t go to this school anymore)” I can say that it was one of those bonding monents and one we will not forget. I remember laughing so hard and her being upset that she was a few minutes late. We did get our laugh on together later. Thanks for your comment, you made my day and reminded me that I am human. I have 3 kids and was the room mom many times and the bus mom for field trips and the mom who went to school with my last school aged kid and ate lunch with her once a week, when it was pizza day. My kids were never too far away from our home from any school they went to. But College happens and the kids leave or stay at home and have both hands out. I will add because it is true that my huby and my kids dad did make time for parent teacher convo, Open house and the dare progam with the kids/ my siblings and in-laws on all sides showed up also, It really does take a village to raise one child, I have 3 children and use my resourses/life line(s.) I can be as brave as I think I can be or be smart as I was in the past to accept help offered or ask for help. I don’t care if it’s asking for a baby sitter so you can have a whole house to yourself, we all need a break sometimes. It does not make us a bad parent or a disconnected parent but a parent who needs a break sometimes.
@ Funkidivagirl
My comment is not directed at you in any way. I was talking more about me. Marsha, Marsha, Marsha. I fed off of your comment from my own experience. Kids will always need disapline and parents are entiled to a day off. I just made sure who was watching my kids as any parent would.
Ronnie says
Funkydivagirl and Anna you both are or were very involved with your kids and are great examples for us all.
When I only had one kid and less responsibilities at work, I went to ALL field trips…and volunteered in the classroom every other Friday to help with projects. But fast forward to today with four kids and blogs and more responsibilities at work and now I am barely going on one field trip. But now that the two youngest are a little older, I am going to do more.
I just love going on the field trips. Don’t you just love walking into the classroom and your child’s eyes light up with pride (Like that’s my mommy.) And your child and all of their friends want to sit with you etc….
Funkidivagirl says
I love going on field trips and my daughter loves it too. My son…once he got in Jr. High…not so much, but I go anyway because it’s a great way to observe the other kids, listen to what they talk about and spend time with other parents. It’s a little more juggling for me to volunteer with my son’s field trips because it is often overnight (camping, etc), which means my husband has to be on board with taking care of the little one. My husband’s schedule doesn’t allow him to volunteer for daytime field trips, but he went camping 3 times last year with my daughter’s Brownie Troop on weekends.
A Shorter Mama says
Our kids are 2 and 3 I try to stay involved with the preschool. I am such a newbie but I check the activity reports and ask them about the books they read. My oldest thought I knew magic because I know the names of the books he reads. I am organizing a pizza day with the other parents since we have to pack lunches and having one day off per week would be nice.
I give myself a B+ since I am a newbie, they have only been there 3 months and were at home before.
😉