Charm City Moms: School's In - Parents: Help on child care, juggling work and family life

August 25, 2011

Getting ready for school

I love the fall and there's nothing that spells the new season than back to school. (When I was in school, I used to pick out my first-day-of-school outfit the night before with anticipation.)

For parents, it can be daunting, trying to prepare their children for another school year, getting them out of vacation mode and establishing a new routine.

Check out The Sun's latest Ask the Expert, which features Dr. Julie Yeh, a pediatrician at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

Here are some excerpts:

What are some tips for ensuring my child eats a healthful lunch at school?
When packing lunches, try to include healthy options such as whole-grain breads, fresh fruit and low-fat snacks like popcorn, pretzels or dried fruit. Keep an eye on portion size as well. Water is always a good choice of beverage, but low-fat milk is much preferred if possible. Avoid sugary juices or sodas. If your child purchases lunch at school, preview the lunch menu, which is often provided in advance, and discuss with them what they will choose for the day. Most public school lunches include two fruit or vegetable options as part of every meal; review those options with your child as well. Also, have your child pick low-fat white milk as a beverage. At the end of the day, stay involved. Ask your child what he or she ended up buying for lunch.

What are appropriate actions to share with my child if they are being bullied at school, on the school bus or on the walk to school?

Bullying is a serious problem. Children should understand that bullying is never OK. If your child is being bullied, encourage them to speak up in a calm manner and ask the bully to stop. He should then walk away if possible. If it persists, the child should feel comfortable telling a responsible adult figure, such as a parent or school official. Discuss in advance with your children what they would do in such a scenario, so they are prepared if it ever happens to them.

How do you prepare yourself and your child for another school year?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: School's In

August 24, 2011

Back to school shopping

For some parents these days, back-to-school shopping practically began when school ended.

But many parents are still scrambling to finish some last-minute shopping in the few remaining days of summer vacation (though some students in Maryland began a new school year this week).

The average family has completed less than 50 percent of shopping for kindergarten-through-12th-grade students, according to a new survey released this week by the National Retail Federation.

And given the shaky economy, parents plan to spend on average $603.63, which is about three dollars short of last year's total, according to the NRF.

How closely are you watching your wallet? Are you sticking to a budget?

Feel free to share and take this poll:

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: School's In

July 22, 2011

Raising global children

My husband and I had a talk the other day about how Jake will not only have to be bilingual but likely have to speak three different languages in order to be competitive in the working world 20 years from now.

The conversation had us both shaking our heads and realizing that kids today face a far more pressure-filled reality.

I'm not alone. Parents are taking steps to ensure that kids stay ahead of the curve. Spanish- and Mandarin-only immersion schools are cropping up all over the U.S., including in Maryland.

Some families are taken it up a notch by moving to China and other countries. Newsweek has a great story on parents who are leaving their lives in the U.S. to start new ones in foreign countries so that their kids could have a truly global education and upbringing.

Of course, not every family can take this route, as the article points out. You need money, other resources and the resolve to move to another country.

But the story highlights a continuing debate over globalization and how it's impacting our kids in particular:

It has become a convention of public discourse to regard rapid globalization—of economies and business; of politics and conflict; of fashion, technology, and music—as the great future threat to American prosperity. The burden of meeting that challenge rests explicitly on our kids. If they don’t learn—now—to achieve a comfort level with foreign people, foreign languages, and foreign lands, this argument goes, America’s competitive position in the world will continue to erode, and their future livelihood and that of subsequent generations will be in jeopardy. Rogers is hardly the only person who sees things this way. “In this global economy, the line between domestic and international issues is increasingly blurred, with the world’s economies, societies, and people interconnected as never before,” said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan in remarks in the spring of 2010 at the Asia Society in New York. “I am worried that in this interconnected world, our country risks being disconnected from the contributions of other countries and cultures.”

Are parents adding too much pressure on our kids or is this one of the realities of a competitive marketplace?

Are U.S. schools behind on preparing our kids for the future? Should schools start foreign language instruction earlier as some countries are?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: School's In, Travel

June 3, 2011

Pay for play

I was disturbed to learn that public schools across the nation are increasingly asking families to pay for extracurricular activities and even academic classes amid budget shortfalls.

The Wall Street Journal reports on this growing trend:

Public schools across the country, struggling with cuts in state funding, rising personnel costs and lower tax revenues, are shifting costs to students and their parents by imposing or boosting fees for everything from enrolling in honors English to riding the bus.
At high schools in several states, it can cost more than $200 just to walk in the door, thanks to registration fees, technology fees and unspecified "instructional fees."

The practice seems counter to our notion of a free public education. But as the story points out, families are willing to shell out extra costs reaching several thousands of dollars in some cases rather than lose out on opportunities such as sports and advanced classes. Some school administrators told the newspaper that these fees are good public policy, given that it's not fair to have every class and activity during penny-pinching times.

Continue reading "Pay for play" »

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: School's In

May 16, 2011

Tutoring at 3 and younger?

Would you send your 3-year-old to a tutoring center?

More parents are doing moving in this direction, reports The New York Times, which takes an in-depth look at this trend.

As competition in education has spread down, the tutoring industry has followed.
Research suggests that there is little benefit from this kind of tutoring; that young children learn just as much about math, if not more, fitting mixing bowls together on the kitchen floor. But programs like Kumon are gaining from, and generating, parents’ anxiety about what kind of preparation their children will need — and whether parents themselves have what it takes to provide it. For those whose idea of enrichment is introducing “Buenas Noches, Luna” into their toddlers’ bedtime reading ritual, this is yet another reminder that no matter how much you do, there is always some other program that — who knows? — just might mean a difference.

I know Kumon well. I attended Kumon for several years during middle school, practicing multiplications and fractions and other math skills. It was just something that Asian American kids did when I was growing up. (I can't say the extra math tutoring made me a better student.)

But now, it's becoming more mainstream across the country. Interestingly enough, Asian countries such as South Korea -- where almost all students also attend so-called "cram schools" after normal school hours -- are trying to crack down on excessive tutoring so that kids can be more like kids.

There's also the issue of costs: The Times says parents pay $200 to $300 a month for their toddlers to spend up to an hour twice a week being tutored at a Junior Kumon center. Not every family can afford such a price, though I also know parents are willing to sacrifice personal needs so that they can help their children (as my parents and others have done).

This article reminds me of a discussion that I had with my sister, whose oldest son tested into gifted and talented. And he's only in first grade! Apparently, there is G&T for kindergarten students as well. She's debating whether to put my nephew into the gifted and talented program.

Are we putting too much emphasis on accomplishments so early on in a child's life? I'd love to hear from parents who have toddlers in tutoring sessions and those who do not.

Do you have mixed feelings about this as I do?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Monday reads, School's In

March 23, 2011

Maryland kindergartners are ready for school

In my former life at this paper, I covered education issues in Howard County. The county had just completed implementing full-day kindergarten at all its elementary schools, and I had the pleasure of observing some of these classes.

I was amazed at what these 5- to 6-year-old kids were learning in school. Now, a new study shows that 81 percent of Maryland's kindergartners have the academic and social skills they will need to succeed in school.

Check out my colleague Liz Bowie's article on the state's Ready to Learn report.

The state's Ready to Learn report shows a 32 percentage-point jump in the past decade in the number of children ready when they enter kindergarten.

Each fall, kindergarten teachers fill out an assessment of how well their students are doing by the end of the first quarter in academic, physical and social development. The teachers look not only at whether a child knows the alphabet and numbers, but how well they get along with other children and whether their physical development makes them ready to learn.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 3:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: School's In

December 14, 2010

Parental influence on what kids eat

My colleague Meredith Cohn is looking for mothers to talk about how they are trying to put their kids on the right eating path.

Cohn is writing a story about a recent study that shows parents don't have as much influence over what their kids eat as many think. Schools, peers and the environment play big roles.

If you're interested, please contact Cohn by Wednesday morning at meredith.cohn@baltsun.com.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: School's In

October 11, 2010

(Belated) back-to-school giveaway!

For my first contest on this blog, I'm giving away a bookbag filled with Zebra pens and pencils. (Thanks Zebra!)

So if you would like to win this prize, please leave a comment on why your child should get the bookbag. I will accept comments until Friday, Oct. 22, and choose a winner.

(I'm new to this so bear with me as we go through the process.)

Posted by Hanah Cho at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: School's In

October 6, 2010

Walk to school day

Around the country, including in Maryland, schools are encouraging more children to walk and bike to and from school as part of today's Walk to School Day.

The event is also intended to highlight the federal State Routes to School program, which provides funding to allow schools and communities to retrofit roads and create sidewalks and bicycle paths.

The Maryland Department of Transportation has designated $10.3 million to schools and jurisdictions around the state, according to Patrick McMahon, organizer for Maryland Safe Routes to School Network. There is an additional $3.5 million available, and applications are due to the state Highway Safety Office on Nov. 5.

Advocates say walking and bicycling to and from school can help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases as well as help children stay fit and improve their well-being.

I walked to school every day because school busing was not an option for kids in my one-square-mile town.

Did your children participate in the event? Do the walk or bicycle to school regularly? Are there barriers for children to walk to school?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 3:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: School's In

Help for students with disabilities

Maryland recently launched a new Web site to help families prepare for the transition of children with disabilities from secondary school to higher education or employment.

www.mdtransition.org provides information on higher education and employment options as well as resources on transportation and healthcare.

"We believe that every Maryland student should have the chance to achieve his or her career goals, whether through post-secondary education, job training or employment," Gov. Martin O'Malley said in a statement.

Catherine A. Raggio, secretary of the state Department of Disabilities, said planning for a successful transition to life after secondary school should start early.

Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, states must provide educational services to students. But adult services depend on meeting certain eligibility requirements and availability of funding.

The Maryland Transitioning Youth web site was developed by the Maryland Department of Disabilities with help from the state Department of Education, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and other agencies.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: School's In, Teens

September 22, 2010

Extreme cases of the "I hate school" syndrome

My nephew and niece are in 1st grade and kindergarten, respectively -- and they're still at a point where school is exciting and fun.

But what kid hasn't had a "I hate school" moment -- or moments -- and refused to go to school? The Wall Street Journal reports on extreme cases known as "school refusal behavior."

These are the kids who may be absent for weeks or months. Some may cry or scream for hours every morning in an effort to resist leaving home. Others may hide out in the nurse's office. Some kids who miss school are simply truant—they'd just rather be doing something else. And sometimes there are genuine reasons to fear school, because of bullying, for example. But in about two-thirds of cases, a psychiatric problem, most commonly an anxiety disorder, is the cause, according to research led by Christopher A. Kearney, professor and director of clinical training at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

As the story notes, this can be debilitating for the whole family. And left untreated, these kids can fall behind academically as well as suffer long-lasting effects as adults, such as depression.

According to the article, children can overcome school-refusal behavior and the anxiety disorders that often underlie it through cognitive behavioral therapy, in which patients learn to change their behavior.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: School's In

August 24, 2010

Back-to-school rituals

(The Baltimore Sun)

Monday was little J.'s first day of day care. To commemorate the occasion, I put him in one of his cutest outfits and took pictures.

That got me thinking about back-to-school rituals as a new school year begins. Some schools in the area have already started.

How do you get your children and family ready for a new school year? Do you go on a trip each year before school starts to enjoy the last days of summer? Do you share a special meal the night before the first day of school?

Share your story here.

Posted by Hanah Cho at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: School's In

August 17, 2010

What's next on the school supply list?

Associated Press

Little J. is still several years away from kindergarten. But the way school supply lists are growing, I wonder if he will be asked to bring his own desk. (I'm only half kidding here.)

With the recession tightening already-squeezed budgets, schools are asking students to bring items that go beyond notebooks and pencils, according to The New York Times. One elementary school in Moody, Ala. asked parents to bring:

Two double rolls of paper towels, three packages of Clorox wipes, three boxes of baby wipes, two boxes of garbage bags, liquid soap, Kleenex and Ziplocs.

Wooh. That's quite a list.

Continue reading "What's next on the school supply list?" »

Posted by Hanah Cho at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: School's In

August 12, 2010

Healthier school menus

(Staff photo/Barbara Haddock Taylor) Hampstead Hill Academy food manager Gwendolyn Moore prepares the cafeteria line for "Meatless Monday," a new feature for Baltimore city schools.

These days, school cafeteria food is not all pizza, hamburger and sloppy joes. Many schools are offering organic produce, vegetarian meals and other healthier alternatives.

My colleague John-John Williams IV reports that some Maryland schools are pushing for and have achieved more nutritious options even as the nation's schools have adopted the strictest health standards in history.

Some like Centennial Lane Elementary in Ellicott City have introduced more healthful snacks to students instead of the sweets and other treats. Baltimore City has adopted "Meatless Mondays" and has shifted to an effort to serve locally grown organic food. In Baltimore County, a parent group is pushing for more healthful foods. And nationally, the country's first lady is leading an effort to get children to eat more fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods.

Continue reading "Healthier school menus" »

Posted by Hanah Cho at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Food and Recipes, School's In

August 11, 2010

Would you hold your child back a grade?

More parents are considering this option for their children to "encourage their mental, social and physical development," columnist Sue Shellenbarger writes in the The Wall Street Journal.

More children are being held back a grade because they have failed standardized tests, fueled in some places by the 2002 federal No Child Left Behind law.
Now, however, being held back a grade is considered less of a stigma by parents who see their kids struggling or performing at average levels and think repeating a grade would put them closer to the top of their class, school officials say. Some believe an extra year of maturity would help kids who are lagging behind their classmates socially.

There are pros and cons to this approach, and research is not clear on whether students benefit from being held back, according to the article.

I'm sure it's hard for any parent to consider holding back a child, but at the end of the day, you have to consider what's best for her or him.

Have you wrestled with this dilemma? If so, how did you make your decision?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: School's In

Does your child have a cool homework space?

Baltimore Sun columnist and Garden Variety blogger Susan Reimer is looking for parents who have created a cool homework space for their kids for a story on the subject.

If you have such a space, please contact Susan at susan.reimer@baltsun.com

Posted by Hanah Cho at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: School's In

August 10, 2010

Back to school

Liz Atwood talks about kids returning to school in a few weeks in this week's Tween Tuesday.

I don’t know about you, but I dread the thought of another school year about to begin. Yes, I know, there’s some comfort in getting back to the routine, but I do not relish the thought of being the homework enforcer or the report card monitor.

School seems harder for my boys than it was for me. I liked school and was a good student. My sons, especially the 9-year-old, dislike the rigidity of sitting still in a classroom. So I was intrigued by a recent article in The Washington Post that noted schools are increasingly gravitating toward single-sex classrooms. Some researchers have found, and most parents probably would agree, that girls and boys learn differently.

But whether they need different approaches in the classroom is a matter of debate. Personally, I would like to enroll my boys in a single-sex classroom if it were available at our public school.

What about you?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: School's In, Teens

August 3, 2010

Back to school shopping

Liz Atwood talks about back to school shopping in this week's Tween Tuesday.

Stop by Target, Wal-mart or your favorite department store and you’re likely to see that summer is over. While we still have a few more weeks until school begins again, already the stores are ready for the back-to-school shoppers and the papers are filled with ads for notebooks, glue sticks and new clothes.

According to a recent report from the National Retail Federation, the average American family will spend $606.40 on clothes, shoes, supplies and electronics, compared to $548.72 last year. The federation says the increase is due to necessity: the kids have outgrown the clothes and backpacks that they might have reused last year.

I am postponing back-to-school shopping as long as I can. I know that I risk not having the choices I would have if I shopped earlier (ever notice how those marble notebooks fly off the shelves?), but somehow I am just not ready to get back in the school routine. When I do, I can’t imagine I’ll be spending close to the NRF’s average. But then again, I have boys and they don’t seem to need as many clothes as girls.

How about you? Have you started your back-to-school shopping yet? How much do you expect to spend?

Posted by Hanah Cho at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: School's In

April 28, 2010

Bullying in Baltimore schools

Our story of a local third-grader who was bullied so constantly that she had (at least) thoughts of suicide and ultimately had to switch schools is getting lots of traffic on our site today.

The child has cerebral palsy and uses crutches, which particularly broke my heart.

But this is a problem that resonates with many parents.

The problems at Gilmor Elementary School are extreme, according to several people quoted in the story. But I am curious about bullying at your school. Has your child been a target? Do you see it happening in the halls? And if it's your child who's the bully, how do you handle it?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: School's In

November 16, 2009

American Education Week

This is American Education Week, a week parents and grandparents are invited to observe children in action in the classroom. Are you going?

I've attended several years, and though I stayed only about an hour each time, I found it helpful to watch the teachers in action. I got insight into their methodology, especially in reading, and even started using some of the same language ("Say it fast!" I'd say, moving my finger across a word from left to right as the teachers did) when I helped my kids at home.

I'm not sure I will make it this year, and I am feeling guilty. I think it's important to show up regularly at school -- my husband and I were both there last week, making separate presentations. But having used some work time for that, now I'm not sure I can break free again so soon.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: School's In

November 6, 2009

Malia Obama's very public science test

malia%20test.jpg
The other day, in a speech about his administration's education priorities, President Barack Obama revealed a very personal experience.

His daughter, Malia, had come home with a disappointing grade of 73 percent on a science test.

According to the president, the two had a conversation about what she could do better, and the moral of the story is that hard work pays off. Malia reportedly scored 95 percent on the next test.

I was driving to work when I heard this story on the radio, and I have to admit it sort of stopped me in my tracks. With all the talk about privacy for presidential kids, this struck me as a potentially very sensitive matter for Malia. What child wants the world to know she got a bad grade?

On the other hand, the story was inspirational. A lot of parents will probably cite it during nightly homework struggles with their own kids.

According to this piece on Politics Daily, the president departed from his planned text to tell Malia's story.

He may very well have asked her permission, to be sure. But as parents, what do you think about the president sharing his daughter's grades?

(Associated Press photo)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: School's In

August 19, 2009

"FD" is the new "F"

What would you do if your child came home from school with an exam grade worst than “F”? That might be the case someday.

Already, some college students in Canada face the prospect of such a grade -- and getting it would be their own fault.

The big talk in academia these days is a new low in grading standards recently introduced by Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.

According to the Calgary Herald newspaper, the low grade is called “FD”, which means “failure with academic dishonesty.”

The grade is designed to address those who cheat, and is said to be in response to students who copy data from the Internet instead of turning in original work.

Only department heads, not teachers, can issue “FD” grades, and students can appeal to have the grade changed.

But get this: If the school determines that the grade is valid, the “FD” stays on a student’s transcript not only during his or her entire college tenure but for two additional years after graduation.

Try getting into graduate school or landing a job with an employer that asks for transcripts with an “FD” on your record.

Continue reading ""FD" is the new "F"" »

Posted by Joe Burris at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: School's In

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About Hanah Cho

Hanah Cho joined The Baltimore Sun in 2003, just a few years out of college. While covering everything from education to workplace issues to financial services, she also got married and became a first-time mom in December 2009. Now, she’s trying to juggle work and life demands without losing her sanity.

She lives in Columbia with her husband and infant son.

Kate Shatzkin authored Charm City Moms until June 18, 2010.

Follow @charmcitymoms on Twitter

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