According to an article in the New York’s Times “Remote school may be attend to dropping out… “ The article lists a lot of data to discourage Black and Latino parents from homeschooling without addressing obvious reasons besides Covid that these parents are opting to home school.
After years of being ignored by school systems, these parents are tired of discriminatory tactics by the educational system. It’s a system that often degrades students of color and ignores parental concerns about racial insensitivity of teachers. School books and curriculum reinforce this narrative by routinely overlooking the contributions of non-whites.
All the data in the world will not convince parents whose children have faced bias treatment. This article in the New York Times proves that the educational experts are “tone death.”
Studies consistently show that parental involvement in education is critical to a child’s success.
I’m delighted to read about the recent trend in Black Home Schooling. I’m for anything that empowers parents to take charge of their children’s education.
As a certified Scholastic teacher, I was taught that parents are their children’s first teacher. I really didn’t need a certificate to tell me that. It’s common sense.
Children learn how to talk and other early skills from their parents. If the pandemic has taught us anything, most parents are up to the challenge of educating their children.
A page from Splash and Color Art Deco Coloring Book. It features a drawing of the iconic Breakwater Hotel in Miami Beach. The front design of the hotel is inspired by a ship’s masthead.
A Splash of color.
A dash of fun.
People and dogs on the run.
Bikes to ride
Scooters to thrill.
Pirates on land,
Pirates on wheels.
Skaters zooming by.
Parasails in the sky.
A beach to swim in
Or just to float
And those silly buildings
that look like boats.
Copyrighted by Elaine Marie Artist
Check out my website to purchase my limited edition Miami Beach Art Deco Coloring Book.
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character- that is the goal of true education. Martin Luther King, Jr.
While schools traditionally played a key role in literacy, parents are a child’s first teacher and can inspire a love of reading.
Modern jobs demand a high level of literacy. I’m not talking about scanning or skimming an article on the internet.
According to the National Institute for Literacy, the ability to read, write and speak in English, compute and solve problems are the what literacy is about.
Literacy is the foundation of a democratic society and strong families are the foundation of any successful society. Without both we are in peril.
Imagine what your child will know by sending 20 minutes each day with his or her face buried in a good book.
One of the truest predictors of future success is the amount of reading that children do at a young age. The amount of time children read and are read to predicts whether they will be successful.
Surprisingly, parents and children do not have to read for hours each day; they only need to read for 20 minutes each day. With 20 simple minutes of reading, students are exposed to over 1,000,000 words in the course of a school year. In comparison, children who read for five minutes per day are exposed to a paltry 8,000 words each year.
Imagine what your child will know by sending 20 minutes each day with his or her face buried in a good book.
I just discovered a great resource for youths. I was surprised that it also had information and a link that caters to military kids. As a former Navy spouse, I know that military kids face unique challenges.
This is a great site for the entire family. It has inspirational stories by youth, contests, and many worthwhile services. Be sure to check it out.
Even in a war torn world, a gesture of kindness goes a long way.
With so much bad news dominating the headlines, it’s good to read that Americans embraced the true spirit of Christmas this year.
According to Reuters, while Food Banks saw an increase in people seeking help, they also received unparalleled donations.
Other non profits saw giving increase 7.9% over 2019. Americans of all income brackets gave.
As Bob Hope once said, “My idea of Christmas whether old fashioned or modern is loving others. Come to think of it; why wait for Christmas to do that?”
May we continue to embrace the spirit of Christmas each day.
The iconic Jeffrey’s Hook lighthouse rose to fame due to the popularity of the book “The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge” by Hildegarde W. Swift and Lynd Ward. This story was so compelling that it inspired hundreds of children to write letters that saved lighthouse. I love books that inspire children to make a difference. Taking a clue from the book I included the bridge in my painting of the lighthouse.
This workshop engages children in an exciting exploration of art and social science. Children will learn about civic responsibility, the role of government and how they can make a difference.
EDUCATION STANDARDS
SS.KA2.3 Listen to and retell stories about people in the past who have shown character ideals and principles including honesty, courage and responsibility.
SS.K.E.1.3 Describe different kinds of jobs that people do and tools or equipment used.
SS.1.A.2.2 Compare life now and in the past.
SS.1.C.1.2 Give examples of people who have the power and authority to make and enforce rules and laws in the community.
SS.2.E.1.3 Recognize that the United States trades with other nations to exchange goods and services.
VA.1.2.3.4.5 Develop the skill to use art to organize objects sequentially.
LAF.1.W.1.2 Write information in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic.
Length 1 ½ – 2 hours
Topic: The Role of lighthouses and light keepers
Objective
Children will learn how lightkeepers and lighthouses contribute to the welfare and economic well-being of the United States. Students will discover the function of lighthouses such as warning against visible shipping hazards. They will learn the role of government and how to impact their neighborhood and the world around them.
Multicultural Art 4 Kids 