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my pyramid

23 Feb 2010 by Just Precious

Image via Wikipedia

In our call last week, Secretary Vilsack shared that a new Food Pyramid is planned to be unveiled later this year to reflect the findings of many different studies, and to encourage, or course, healthier eating. Here’s the big surprise, many active parents don’t realize that the pyramid has changed since we were in school.

While its true that the pyramid will be changing, that doesn’t stop the need to learn healthy eating in the mean time. The Department of Agriculture created several great webpages to teach children and families basics of healthy eating, starting with the pyramid.

My Pyramid for Kids includes an interactive game where kids ages 6-11 race through space learning about healthy eating. Also are links for parents, a worksheet, a coloring page and teacher resources.

The Preschoolers Pyramid page was built for 2-5 year olds. On this page you and your kids can create a “pyramid plan” for your kid, based on his age and amount of daily activity. Parents can also learn ways to be more healthy with your children. Note that this page is not for Preschoolers to play but for parents to learn how to better help their children.

There’s also a page for moms and moms-to-be which focuses on pregnancy and breastfeeding health. Easy to read, its worth checkign out if not for review, than to answer quick questions if you fall into either of these catagories.

What’s the point? Well, if we want our children to make wise choices in eating, its going to have to start at home. Parents need to make sure that their children’s plates are colorful, serving the correct number of grains in relation to dairy. And we need to teach our children, outside of school, what’s important.

Additionally, if your schools aren’t teaching your children about healthy eating, its your job to encourage the School Directors to put health back into the curriculum. And there’s no better way to do that than to come armed with knowledge, as well as suggestions for teaching.

Tips for Teaching Your Child To Eat Healthy Foods {Looney Tunes Eating Right Kids Program} (momblognetwork.com)
Talk with your Teens about Diet – Part 3 (connectwithyourteens.blogspot.com)
Sarah Newman: Fight Childhood Obesity By Supporting Public School Nutrition Reform (huffingtonpost.com)
Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack Speaks with Mom Bloggers (svmoms.com)

Category: parenting Tags: Curriculum, MyPyramid, school, United States Department of Agriculture 2 Comments

Teachers: Take Advantage of Your Parent Volunteers

21 Feb 2010 by Just Precious

: Image by bx1935 via Flickr

I’m a parent volunteer. A volunteer mom. A PTOer. PTA member. Whatever your school calls the women in the halls that don’t get paid, that’s me. Like so many other parent volunteers, I do this out of love for my children, the school that I’ve chosen for them, and for their future.

A former teacher, I recognize that many teachers don’t appreciate me. I remember my across-the-hall coworker rolling her eyes behind 2 of my role model moms commenting, too loudly, “Get a life! Or at least a job!” (I know… how rude! Believe me, I am so thankful she won’t be my kids’ teacher.)

And then there was one of my son’s teachers telling me that they call the Holiday Shopping Bazaar the Holiday Shopping Bizarre. She said this to me: that year I was the bazaar chairperson.

So, I know some think we’re crazy. But there are the teachers who do get it. They understand that we’re there to help them.

There are several reasons that parents volunteer. Among them:

Letting your children know that what goes on at school doesn’t always stay behind closed doors
Allowing your children to see that you are interested, aware and involved in their education
Supporting, and getting to know, the adults your child spends a chunk of his day with
Creating relationships with people similar to you
Offering opportunities to make a difference in not just your child’s education, but within the educational system

Teachers, there are so many things you can do to involve parents in your classroom. Lean on them. Take advantage of their interest in your classroom and in helping you. We want to be there. Please, welcome us. You don’t have to agree with our methods or our motives. Just recognize that we are what you have. We come with our children; your students. Make your room a welcoming place and embrace what we have to offer.

Category: education, parenting Tags: association, education, Organization, parent, school, Teacher 2 Comments

Always in support of the IEP

11 Nov 2009 by Just Precious

A recent friend’s facebook status read:

…is PISSED at his kindergarten teacher!… now they are trying to get him labeled IEP, more money for the public school, … already had him tested over summer and educationally speaking he is fine, I have the documentation! He is SO smart he shocks us!!He has other issueses from [an injury] but NONE having to due with intelligence

I’m paraphrasing. As an educator, this status frustrated me. Reading it made me want to reach through the computer, grab her and shake her. “Do you know how wonderful a kindergarten IEP is?! Do you know how far ahead of the game you’ll be with a little Individualized Education Plan in place?!”

Once one has an IEP, it can never, ever be taken away. It will always be in the child’s file, even if you move to a different system, even if the child “graduates” from the IEP. An IEP allows for a group of adults and, at times, the child, to discuss and analyze the child to determine the best method for that child to learn. Special services may be determined necessary. And, really, why not?! Why not get everything there is from the public educational system? Why not bring a little attention to your child, in a positive, forward thinking manner? Why not accept smaller classes and a lower student:teacher ratio? Why not, possibly, offer a child special testing conditions, special learning conditions, and special consideration and attention to help the child succeed?

Having your child pin-pointed as a child in need (any need) isn’t a bad thing; its a good thing. With overcrowded classrooms and under-assisted teachers, getting your child out of the middle (where students needs are often overlooked) and into a specialized plan should be considered a goal. Its a way to help your child to succeed.

Its also important to know that a teacher can’t just send a note home and write an IEP. Screenings take months of discussion, meetings and assessments. The process begins with a referral to assess. What follows is a stream of events that call for approvals, signatures, discussions and observations. This timeline gives an example of the timeline in California. Its a great example, though it may change from state to state.

An IEP opens doors for students. It defines their learning styles, needs and offers suggestions (usually practices) that helps the student to succeed.

More IEP Resources*:

IEP Process

Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (M-Team or MDE)

IEP Guidelines

Teacher resources and key terms and definitions

*Just Precious does not guarantee the information in the resources to be correct. We recommend them only as articles for further reading. Image created by Dominik Gwarek.

Category: education, parenting Tags: assessment, iep, learning disability, school One Comment