The Parent Connection February 2006
By Elizabeth Swartz

For a printable version click here. PDF 79KB

Classroom Confidential
Privacy laws insist that mum's the word

Going into a school to help with projects or chaperone a field trip isn't as easy as it used to be in America's public schools. Confidentiality laws have become widespread and all-encompassing. It is for good reason, but can make everyday life in an elementary school difficult, especially for parents who already know one another's children outside of the school environment. Anything and everything known about that child must be kept secret from anyone else with whom you are working in the school community.

Check out the HIPAA law
There is a government-prepared website that states and explains the law now governing confidentiality at www.hipaa96.com Read it carefully and ask your school officials about the expectations they have for your volunteer work in the school. Being clear about what is expected and what is not will make the day successful for all. Be aware that teachers cannot answer questions about your own child in the presence of others.

Teachers cannot enter a conversation about family relationships or an individual child's behavior no matter how trivial it may seem. Do your best to keep conversations general and focused on the project or field trip that you are involved in that day. Even little incidents that seem cute or funny can cause a problem later. So, come on in and help, but please don't take any stories or information home with you.

Keyboarding Skills
Hunt and peck no more

During any school day, walking past the computer lab is surprising in many ways. First, it is amazing to see what the elementary and middle school students can do on their computers. They can find sites quickly, make fantastic pictures and graphs and IM all over the world. But, most students this age don't know how to type.

An ongoing discussion in many school districts revolves around this problem: When do we teach keyboarding? Some teachers suggest starting right away in kindergarten, before too many habits are formed that need to be changed. While it sounds like a good idea, kindergarten teachers assure us that there is not sufficient time in their day to wait for kids to find the home keys, let alone practice finding letters and the space bar.

Repetitious practice
As many adults will attest, the key to learning to type is repetition, which means it takes time. However, it's time well spent developing a skill for life. Walking through the computer lab in the middle school shows clearly which students can be creative while writing directly on the computer, and which students are hampered by having to find the correct keys. Teaching keyboarding at an early age gives children more independence to be creative.

Typing programs for home use
Many typing programs are basically like the video and computer games that children already enjoy. Several typing programs include favorite movie or TV characters and are even offered at less expensive rates through the paperback book orders sent home from school. Parents and kids can work together on the typing programs for just 30 minutes at a time and see success. Perhaps the software program could be shared with siblings, neighbors or friends from school.

Adequate Yearly Progress
How's your school doing?

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) makes schools more accountable for results in your child's educational progress and also measures the progress of the school as a whole. If a school is not making adequate yearly progress for a three-year period, then it is possible that the school employees will be replaced, even to the point of having the state take over total administration and curriculum. Each individual school within a district is given a report that will help parents and community leaders be aware of strengths and weaknesses.

The 411 on NCLB
Government guidelines for NCLB are available for parents and community members to view at http://www.ed.gov/nclb/overview/intro/parents/parentfacts.html Another good resource for parents is the Parent Information and Resource Center at www.pirc-info.net Whether one is in favor of NCLB or not, it has become a law that will bind education for the next several years. It would be wise to study the information available in order to make the best decisions possible for your children and your school.

Parental involvement is important in the running, and certainly the improvement of, any school. Show your children your interest in education by taking the time to find out all that you can about NCLB. What does it mean for your child? How is your school being measured and what are the results? You can find out by contacting your own state's department of education as well as your school district's administration and/or web page. Helping your child get the most out of the school depends on your involvement; helping your school get the most out of the state may also depend on you being an informed and involved parent.

For a printable version click here. PDF 79KB

Elizabeth Swartz is the librarian at the Watsontown and Turbotville Elementary schools in Pennsylvania.