Extension Report

Baldwin County Extension Office

302A Byrne Street

Bay Minette, AL  36507

Telephone (251) 937-7176 or

928-0860/943-5061 ext. 2222

FAX (251) 937-7285

Amanda Outlaw

Regional Extension Agent, Urban

August 17, 2010

Back to School Tips

As much planning as parents have to do for the summer enrichment of their children the same care has to be taken for preparing for going back to school. As a county agent, I have spent a few hours in schools across Baldwin and Mobile Counties. The resounding moan I hear from teachers is lack of attentiveness and lack of self control from returning students. Young people have so much that they want to share with their peers, that it is hard to get them in the mood for learning. Many teachers spend the first few months trying to maintain some sense of order in the classroom. These are wasted hours that our young people are missing out on during their educational instruction time.  How do you overcome this distraction in the classroom? Well it is not the teacher‘s sole responsibility, we as parents have to prepare our students during the summer months.

 Yes, I know the summer is a time to relax and just be free, but this is when we do such a disservice to ourselves, our schools and especially our children. Children have to stay on track for growth and development to occur in a way that will be beneficial for all concerned. As parents, we are responsible for our children and those in our community that we come in contact with. The example we set with our own children resonates with the children they come in contact with. If the family next door goes to an event at school together or to church together, this activity is seen by their peers and they will wonder why we don’t go to things together. Or if children are outside playing late when they should be inside the home, children wonder where are their parents and how can they stay up late like that?

This summer, the Urban Center at the Mobile Extension Office held two Healthy Boys and Girls summer camps. At the beginning of each day a student would be asked to read a positive affirmation that would set the tone for the day. An affirmation is a statement that is positive for example: I will do my best work at school or I will treat others like I want to be treated.  This is something that parents can do to start a child’s day off with something positive that they can remember and work to implement during their school day.

Children need stability and a form of routine that assures them that they are cared for, loved and valued. During the Healthy Boys camp, I asked the campers what time they went to bed each night. Some responded ten, eleven, twelve p.m. or later. Now, if they were trying to impress the other campers it did not show in their faces for they truly looked weary. Children need a schedule for bed time. It doesn’t have to be so rigid but flexible enough when they have a lot of home work or reading assignments. The American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child's Sleep provides some helpful guidelines regarding just how much sleep children need at different stages in their development. Keep in mind that these numbers reflect total sleep hours in a 24-hour period.

·         Between Ages 3-10, children need 10-12 hours

·         Between Ages 11-12, children need about 10 hours

·         Teenagers need about 9 hours of sleep per night

Children who are regularly sleep deprived will exhibit some pretty difficult behaviors. They display frequent irritability, overreact emotionally, have difficulty concentrating, forget easily, wake often during the night, and may even display hyperactive behaviors. Helping to reduce stress before bedtime will also aid in children being able to fall asleep. Limit the type of television or video games that can cause stress and uneasiness to sleep.  All of this can wreak havoc on children's ability to concentrate and do well in school and to be able to take instructions from their teachers.

Maintaining a schedule helps children get in the habit of doing things that will help them succeed. Making sure homework is completed, book bags are ready for the next school day, clothes are ready, shoes are cleaned or shined (maybe I’m asking too much here), but ready to start the next school day.

From the Children's Defense fund, we have noted the following: Today, more than 8 of every 10 Black and Latino fourth graders and almost 6 out of every 10 White fourth graders in our public schools cannot read at grade level. Those unable to read well are at high risk of grade repetition and dropping out of school. Attainment of a high school diploma is the single most effective preventive strategy against adult poverty. Yet the U.S. has the sixth lowest high school graduation rate among the 30 industrialized market economies.  What we can do to help each child reach his/her full potential and succeed in work and life, we need to ensure our schools have adequate resources to provide high quality education to every child. We all can make a difference in providing activities and resources to our schools to help supplement the education children receive. Parents and the community must take an active role in our schools by donating supplies, reading tutors and mentors for the children in our community. For more information about resources from the Alabama Cooperative Extension office for parents, teachers and the community to help ensure we meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our society our children, contact me at 574-8445..

Email address: aoutlaw@aces.edu

Phone: 937-7176 or 943-5061, 928-0860, ext. 2222

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity educator and employer.