"Why teach music?” It’s a question you see all of the time. In a day and age where many other schools’ music programs are cut or eliminated for a myriad of reasons, Independence has found itself in quite the opposite situation. Where some schools have trouble recruiting students for their ensembles, we have seen our participation hit 100%. When some districts offer music only as an after-school activity, our school requires it as part of the curriculum. That brings us back to the question: “Why teach music?” It also begs, “What is music? Why is it important?”
The Independence School believes a positive partnership between school and home is essential to a student’s success. As Parent-Teacher Conference Day approaches, please consider these tips to make the most of the time you have with your child’s teacher.
Mindfulness is a powerful tool for children and adults alike. By helping your child practice mindfulness, you’re teaching them how to manage stress, improve focus, and develop emotional resilience. The best part? You don’t need fancy tools or a lot of time to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life.
Teachers often discuss something called the “teachable moment.” These fleeting instances happen outside the curriculum or daily lesson wherein we take advantage of a coincidence or a happening outside our control. A snake slithers across the courtyard. A student abruptly brings up something he witnessed on the way to school. A child has an embarrassing accident that leads to a lesson about compassion and empathy. Teachers love these moments, and I am no exception.
As we approach the end of September, I find myself reflecting on the many channels of communication between school and home. With so much contact from the school, I am left to consider what the school needs to hear from me? To that end, I’d like to suggest four strategies that I’ve found enhance the Parent-Teacher partnership:
In what setting do students have the opportunity to work on social skills, problem-solving, conflict resolution, peer relationships, and overall health while simultaneously preparing themselves for greater academic gains? Recess!
Think of a penny! Quick! Are you picturing a copper-colored, small, round coin with a smooth edge? Is there a President’s face on it? If so, which way is it facing? Are there any words? If you are not able to answer some of these questions, you are not alone. This conundrum is the same for much of what our students experience when preparing for assessments in school. They may think they “know” their material, when, in fact, they are merely “familiar” with it. We call this an illusion of knowledge.
Schools can learn a lot from tangential industries. Granted, schools are not retail establishments, car rental companies, or tech firms. Still, parents buy the product an independent school sells and expect to receive the product they purchased, even though the buyer is not the consumer in this case. The student is the consumer of the product. It is a business with many layers and complexities, where we must demonstrate value in everything we do.
What we knew before the pandemic was that young people were struggling with mental health issues, particularly anxiety and/or depression. This was a national challenge as rates of depression and anxiety were on the increase, however there was a lack of resources (psychologists, guidance counselors, etc.) to meet this need. Read more for how fostering independence can ease children's anxiety.
Sign up for our blog, today!
Required
What Lies Behind the Decision To Pay?
Have you ever wondered why parents choose a private education? Public and private schools are not the same, and neither is the experience they provide.
Download a copy of our free guide "Why do Parents Choose Private Education" and learn more about the top reasons behind the decision to pay.
REQUEST YOUR COPY TODAY