Last night I had the privilege to go to a client meeting with one of our franchise owners. He was particularly concerned about how one of his students and the family were impacted by stress from school. While in our meeting the child gave me a copy of a paper he wrote titled "I Hate Homework." Very well written. A message that many parents can understand and appreciate. Read the message below by a young student that is very gifted and fed up with the homework process in his life. He has no time to hang out with his friends, no time to skateboard, no time to just have fun! By the time he returns home after a long school day it is almost dark and the family evening routine to prepare for another day of routine begins without question but with a battle of words and frustration....He writes:

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Parents across America learned last week if their public school would pull their students together in an assembly to hear the prepared remarks encouraging students to stay in school, be respectful of their school friends, say no to bullying, respect your teachers but most of all the message was to commit to being a responsible student and to stay in school. Our government policy makers, teachers, parents and our communities are working together to provide the best educational opportunity for the children in their communities. The student is a very big part of the success they reach in school and their commitment to do their best is the first step.

Please leave your comments on this blog and share with us if your child viewed the President's speech. Also, share with use your thoughts on how the speech and the curriculum that accompanied the speech was used. Please consider sharing any comments or thoughts that your child discussed with you about what happened in their day and how it impacted them personally.

If the speech was not viewed at school today, will it be viewed and if so when.

Will you and your child view it together at home? How will you take the message and best impact your child and their commitment to their education?

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About 10 years ago cosmologists made a discovery that shook up the science world. They found what was called "Dark Energy" in our universe. The TV news announced a blurb about it...I recall... and then our lives moved on .... http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/space-study-sheds-light-on-dark-energy.html

Ten years later and it is now 2009....In the February 2009 Astronomy Magazine another article about dark energy and our universe caught my attention. http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=i&id=465

At first I wondered....What did Albert Einstein know about this? So with my trusty computer and Google I began my search for more information....and I found the website that answered my question....
http://hubblesite.org/hubble_discoveries/dark_energy/de-did_einstein_predict.php ...Once Einstein knew the universe was expanding, he discarded the cosmological constant as an unnecessary fudge factor. He later called it the "biggest blunder of his life," according to his fellow physicist George Gamow. Today astronomers refer to one theory of dark energy as Einstein's cosmological

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In 11th grade, Allante Rhodes spent 50 minutes a day in a Microsoft Word class at Anacostia Senior High School in Washington. He was determined to go to college, and he figured that knowing Word was a prerequisite. But on a good day, only six of the school's 14 computers worked. He never knew which ones until he sat down and searched for a flicker of life on the screen. "It was like Russian roulette," says Rhodes, a tall young man with an older man's steady gaze. If he picked the wrong computer, the teacher would give him a handout. He would spend the rest of the period learning to use Microsoft Word with a pencil and paper.

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http://www.educationaldividends.com/families/homework_helper.asp

Meaningful homework can be an extremely valuable learning tool. Too often, homework becomes a battle involving the students, the parents and the teachers. To avoid this difficult situation we offer the following 8 Steps to Helping Your Child With Homework. The National PTA also has some advice.

8 Steps to Helping Your Child With Homework

#1 Establish a Routine

Beginning with a child's first day of formal schooling, establish a routine. Set aside a portion of time each day to discuss the school day and review assignments and activities.

Teachers suggest the following limits for homework each school day:

Grades K-2: 10-20 minutes
Grades 3-6: 30-60 minutes
Grades 7-12: Varies
Consult Teacher

Enjoy this time together. Use it to help your child set goals and celebrate his or her achievements.

#2 Schedule a Time and Place for Learning

School is a student's equivalent of a job and it should be taken as seriously. Work with your children to establish a regular time and place for them to study. Even if they do not have homework, they should honor that time by reading or reviewing work.

As students get older, they should be encouraged to work with you to set their own schedule each week. This will help them gain time management skills. Remember to praise their success.

#3 Discuss Your Child's Homework

Make it a regular practice to review your child's homework each day. This will help you monitor their progress and will let them know how important you view their education to be.

Use this time to ask questions about what they are learning. Rather than simply checking to see if the work is done, talk with them about interesting aspects of what they are learning. Learning should be exciting. Ask questions and really listen to the answers.

#4 How to Help Without Doing the Work

There will be times when every student will need help with their homework. There are several pitfalls to avoid. First, consider yourself to be a coach. This means that, even if you know the answer, your job is to help your child discover the answer on their own.

Next, guide your child through the basic problem solving steps:

Identify the Problem

Listen to your child as they explain the assignment and the aspects they do not understand. Students can become emotional when they are frustrated, so you will want to invest some time at this point to be certain you understand what needs to be done.

Identify What is Known

Keep in mind that, although the assignment might be easy for you, your child is struggling. Therefore, attempting to reassure them by saying the assignment is easy may not be effective. Rather, help them gain control over the task by asking them to identify what they already know.

Determine What Needs to be Known

Work with your child to clearly identify what they do not understand or what resources they need in order to complete the assignment.
Break the Problem into Smaller Tasks if Necessary
Another way to gain control over a problem is to break it down into smaller tasks.

Find and Use New Resources to Apply to the Problem

Be careful not to do the work for them. The purpose of homework is to identify what a student knows. If you do the work, they will not learn what they need to progress. Ask leading questions that allow them to identify the resources which can help them complete their work. You might also ask them to brainstorm solutions. In these ways you are helping them learn to learn.

Evaluate What Happened

Evaluation is key to learning. Within a few days of completing the assignment, talk positively with your child about the problem solving process. Celebrate their achievements. Ask them what they found beneficial and what was difficult. You will want to adjust the process so that it works best for each child.
#5 How to Help When You Don't Know the Answer

As your children get older, they may study subjects in which you do not have experience. Don't panic. By following problem solving steps similar to those described above, you can be a great help to your child.

#6 Remember the Goal is Learning

The time may come when it is apparent that your child will not be able to complete an assignment in the time provided. Perhaps they did not manage their time properly. Perhaps they truly do not understand the content. Whatever the reason, at this time especially it is important to remember that the goal of education is learning.

If the student does not understand the material, have they write responses to each of the four problem solving steps described above. They should provide this information to the teacher and ask for help.

If the issue is time management, you will have to allow your child to learn from his or her choices. This may mean failing with this assignment. Use this an opportunity to help your child learn better skills. Meet with your child the next day. Talk over the choices made and help your child determine ways to improve the planning process.

#7 Collaborate With the Teacher and the School

Schools may have homework policies and homework hotlines. Take time to learn the policies and check in on the hotline. The more you know about what is expected of your child, the more you will be able to reinforce the message.

Meet with your child's teacher early in the year and let the teacher know that you both share the goal and the task of helping your child learn. Establish preferred methods of communication. By working together you are more likely to know how you can best help your child learn.

#8 Track Progress

Keep a portfolio of your child's work. This will provide you with a visual representation of effort and progress. Review the work at regular intervals and let your child know how proud you are of what they are accomplishing.