Education Opportunities for Kids

From the USA.gov Blog:

Join us on Thursday, June 20, at 1 p.m. ET for a live Twitter chat about fun and educational activities for kids this summer. You’ll learn about great free and educational resources from Kids.gov, NASA and more and you’ll find out about fun outdoor activities on our country’s public lands.
To participate, follow @kidsgov on Twitter and use the hashtag #kidsummer.

How to Help Your Kids with their Homework

From the USA.Gov blog:

How to Help Your Kids with their Homework:
There are many things you can do to help your kids start the school year on the right track, like replacing an old backpack or getting them the school supplies they need. But there’s something more meaningful you can do that may not cost money: help them with their homework.
Students who do their homework consistently tend to have better grades. It’s not always easy to get them to do their homework, especially after a busy day, but these tips can help:

• Talk to your children about their homework. It’s important that your kids understand why it’s important to do their homework and the positive impact it has on grades. Homework helps them practice what they’ve learned as well as prepare them for upcoming classes. Plus, by doing their homework they develop the discipline and skills they need to be successful throughout their school years.
• Talk to the teachers. Different teachers might expect different things from parents, so be sure to talk to them to figure out your role. For example, some teachers prefer parents review their kids’ homework; others prefer parents make sure kids do their homework. Teachers can also tell you how much time your child should spend doing homework and what to do if the homework is too easy or too difficult.
• Select a fixed time to do homework. The best time to do homework is the one that works best for your child and you. It can be before or after playing, watching television or dinnertime. What’s important is that homework time is consistent. Avoid leaving it for the end of the day, when your child is tired and sleepy.
• Pick a quiet area and eliminate distractions. To help your children focus on homework, pick a place in the house where there’s plenty of light and no distractions. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It can be the kitchen table or a desk. Make sure the TV is off and put away electronic devices, unless they’re essential to doing homework.
• Get them the resources they need. You don’t have to be an expert in all subjects to help your kids with homework. However, you need to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed. If you need expert help, you can always take them to the library or help them with their search online. You can also visit kids.gov to find information on homework topics. The Department of Education also has several resources to help your child with homework in different areas, including math, reading and writing.

Kids Need Your Help to Learn

From the GovGab Blog:

Kids Need Your Help to Learn: by joanne

This week I’m getting my daughter ready to go back to school – I bet a lot of your kids are already in the classroom.

Our biggest preparation is easing back into an earlier, regular bedtime. My older daughter just can’t function without a good night’s sleep. I’m exactly the same, so I know how important it is for her to be well rested to be receptive to learning, and have a productive day at school.

No matter if school is in session or not, there are so many things that we, as parents can do to help our kids succeed academically. We can make sure there are reasonable limits on TV and game time, encourage our kids to read and take them to the local library to explore for books that interest them. Nobody likes homework, and I’ve found that it’s even a drag when you’re a parent. Still, homework is an important part of learning and we need to monitor homework and help our kids learn how to do their homework independently.

It may be your child’s first day of kindergarten or her senior year in college. Either way, adults play an important role in establishing the right attitude and environment for learning and growth. I hope we all have a successful year!

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