Taking Education’s First Steps Together
So, summer school started this week. It’s quite a difference from when you or I was a child and summer school was a death sentence instead of something that nearly every student takes part in. It’s weird to think about with C entering kindergarten this summer. I’m hopeful but ever suspicious about what she’s walking into. But, it doesn’t matter. This is when parents have to get to work.
Whether we want to admit it or not, parents should be the ones teaching our kids the most. Yes, there are great teachers out there who will spend more time with your kids than you will over the next 12 years. Yeah, whether you like it or not, the kids will get to know teachers almost as well as their very own parents.
That’s why it’s so important for us to teach our kids in conjunction with those whose profession it is to corral small children into some form of group learning. We don’t want the teachers to have all the fun, do we? Heck no. We should get the chance to mold our children’s minds too.
That’s the exciting part of seeing C go off to school. Now we get to talk more about what she’s learning. I’ve always tried to push the question “What did you learn today?” on her. I’m an education guy. I come from an education family. She might not understand it now, but she will. In the future, she’s probably going to hate my constant badgering about what she’s learning and talking about in school. I’m OK with that. I’d rather know too much than not enough.
There are far too many times we’re not willing to learn alongside our kids. We think, “Oh, they’re in school. That’s the teacher’s job.” But, if you’re not willing to keep learning, you’re only going to undo everything the teachers have done.
Be involved with your kids. If it’s not in their class, at least try with their homework. Maybe you don’t know all the answers, but trying is going to be half the battle. Maybe it’ll jog your memory. And if you remember how to apply the things you’ve learned, you can help them and yourself in a brand new way.