I have been a teacher for nearly thirteen year.  It is a job that I love and cherish with my heart, because it was my “calling” from God.  Science is the subject that I teach and nearly half of my students are intimidated by it, because science was not taught during the elementary grades.  While in the fourth grade, students may spend fifteen to twenty minutes per week on the subject.

I have noticed during the past few years that the reading and comprehension skills of students are very low.  Many read or “call words” and cannot comprehend what they just read.  Most of the information from the textbook has to be “spoon-fed” to the students.  I will assign reading from certain sections in the textbook and ask questions from the reading.  Nearly all the students look at me as if I was speaking a foreign language.  I tell students to read the selection more than one time to get a better understanding the meaning.  Since some students skim or look over words, their grades begin to decline in more than one subject, because they do not comprehend what they have read.  More sophisticated reading skills, such as interpreting and analyzing need to be taught during the middle school grades and beyond.  During the middle and high school years, students move from class to class and different skills are required.  A student must not be only able to sound out words, but understanding plots to read longer, due to more complex texts in subjects such as science, literature, and social studies.

Many middle and high school students are at risk of becoming dropouts, due to the lack of basic reading skills.  Studies have shown that there are more than six million students are classified as “struggling readers”.  The MS Department of Education wants all students to score at proficient level on the MCT2 by the year 2014.  With the poor reading skills of many students, this may only be “wishful thinking” to those who are in charge of education.  To accomplish this goal, everyone, such as parents, teachers, relatives, friends, neighbors, and churches must be involved in this process.  Children must read every day even when there is no assignment, especially during the holidays or summer months.  All parents need to be proactive, rather than reactive when it comes to a child reading abilities.  Ultimately, parents must be held more accountable and be more responsible for their child’s education.  It is not all left up to the child’s teacher or school.  If a child fails due to poor reading skills, then that child probably will not be a productive member of society.

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With something as simple as a , you, as an individual, can help bring awareness to the things you care about the most in simple, yet powerful ways – without ruining your bumper.

You can say a lot with a little. A Pink ribbon helps remind countless women to periodically check for the early signs of breast cancer. A yellow ribbon reminds us to Support Our Troops overseas: keeping them in our thoughts and prayers, sending letters and care packages. People are frequently willing to show their support while contributing to a worthy cause.

Fun, simple items can help inject creativity and personality to rally support and involvement. Churches, Charity organizations, schools, and clubs can start Fund Raising campaigns to support their associations and activities. As an added benefit, a donor may proudly display the souvenir and further raise awareness for the cause.

Joe Kivett, owner of SupportStore.com has been twice featured in Entrepreneur Magazine. He began his e commerce efforts with a home-made website with 1 product to several site with over 1,100 products delivered to over 47,000 satisfied customers.

Whether it’s for your favorite team, church affiliation, or your child’s elementary school, keep in mind the simple, creative you can raise Support for the things that matter to you. We can all do our part in changing our own little parts of the world.

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Unlike parent-teacher conferences, which can be very taxing for both the teachers and the parents, parent-teacher parties are more relaxed and easy going. The only hurdle you have to overcome is this phenomenon called “parental apathy to PTO parties”, which becomes an issue if the only type of meetings that these parents have attended are related with their children’s behavioral and academic performance.

Questions like “do we HAVE to go?” will crop up, which means your PTO party must rock these parents’ imagination and spark their interest enough for them to attend.

Planning for the Parent Teacher Night should be done at least six months prior to the event. This will allow you to conduct surveys and give out questionnaires for parents to answer. In fact, you can start planning for the next PTO party a week after the last one. Check out the log for the names of the parents that attended the event and contact them for feedback.

You can send an email asking them a few questions, or one that directs them to a page on your school’s website where they can fill out a feedback form. Remember to mention the magic words, “this will only take a few minutes”. A simple rating system can be used to avoid complicating the feedback process, but make sure there’s a space for the parents to tell you in their own words what they thought of the party.

Also, explain on the page (or the email) that you are going to use their suggestions to make the next party more memorable. This will make parents feel invested in the next party because it will seem like they contributed in the planning somehow with the feedback they gave.

When you’re done asking for feedback and collating survey results, it’s time to plan for the next party. First, decide on a theme. To do this, you must have a clear idea of the commonalities among the parents. Will the majority of the parents appreciate and attend a 1980’s themed party? Should you hire a 90’s rock band or a DJ who’s familiar with ballroom dancing CDs?

Next, make a list of the food items you will be serving. Because of the cross-cultural nature of the parent community in most schools, you must prepare an open buffet with food elements that most folks can appreciate. Assign one of the teachers to attend to the parents who are getting food from the table. They may have questions on specific dishes that need to be answered immediately (e.g. questions about the presence or absence of meat products, low fat ingredients, etc.).

Assign a host and a front door attendant to usher in the attendees. Make sure the people with these responsibilities are approachable and well-liked. Remember, the usher is the one that greets every parent at the door and hand them the party program, which means that his or her likability will make the parents’ feel glad they attended the party instantly. The host or the program manager is responsible for making sure the parents don’t leave early.

Finally, create compelling invitations that will be distributed a month or two before the party. Don’t rely on a simple bulletin board notice to get the parents’ attention. An invitation is more personal and a more reliable way to inform parents about the PTO party.

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So, what you want to give to them? Money? No, that’s not a useful help. They will become a beggar and every time they need something, they will just ask for money. The best way to show our compassion to them is by donating to reliable charity organizations. Now, you can donate car for kids. It doesn’t mean that you give car to them but your car will be sold and the money will be used to help them by schooling them, buying them books and any other important things. There are so many organizations that accept car donation children and the one that is reliable is Childrenscharity dot org. They are approved by http://www.usbg.gov.

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If you have children, late July, August and early September represents more than summer ending, cooler weather and fall foliage. School begins once again for millions of kids across the country. Getting your child prepared, regardless of whether they are in Kindergarten or a senior in high school, is a must. Here are some tips to make the transition from several weeks of summer fun to school days and homework easier.

Children in Kindergarten – 5th grade

1. About a week before school starts, have your children go to bed at the time they will when school begins. Set their alarm or wake them up early. It’s difficult for some kids to adjust to going to bed and getting up earlier after having an entire summer of sleeping in or staying up late. Many young children need to be on a schedule and preparing a week or so earlier will pay off, especially if you have a night owl or late sleeper.
2. If you have a school supply list (many school districts post them on their website or hand them out the last day of school), buy the supplies early. For the child who is not organized, this is a good way to begin the school year off on the right foot. Label everything and get the backpacks ready the night before school starts. Buy some extra supplies to keep at home if your child is one to lose or forget their pencils or markers at school. They will probably need some basic supplies for homework time. Nothing is more frustrating than sitting down to do homework and discovering the basics are missing.
3. If you have a Kindergartener, walk to school two or three days before school begins (or drive if they take a bus or you will be driving them). This helps acquaint them with what they will actually be doing that first day and can work wonders for alleviating the first-day jitters. If your child is especially anxious, ask if you can let them visit their new classroom for five or ten minutes the day before school starts. Many principals will let the Kindergarteners come to the campus prior to school starting.

Middle School

1. Many sixth graders will be attending a new school for their middle school years. Oftentimes, the campus is much bigger and can be intimidating. Of course pre-teens may not admit they are nervous, but most parents are. Suggest a bike ride over to the school sometime during August just to look around. Many middle schools conduct orientation anyway a couple of days before school actually begins, but an extra trip without all of their peers might be worthwhile.
2. Just as in elementary school, it is important, if not more so in middle school, to have all the school supplies ready, especially an organizer. Some schools make it mandatory for the students to purchase an organizer directly from the school. Get in the habit from day one of checking it and being sure homework assignments are recorded. Visit the school website and see if homework and grades will be posted on the site. This is an excellent way to stay involved with your child’s progress throughout the year.
3. If your student struggles with the basics; math or language arts, consider hiring a tutor for some review sessions before and during the first semester. Also, it is quite common in middle school for students who are excelling to be moved to Honors classes sometime during the year. Being in an accelerated class is a good way to prepare a student for Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school, which count as college credit.

HIGH SCHOOL

1. Find out when the PSAT and SAT exams will take place. If your student is not a good test taker, consider enrolling them in a test prep class. As colleges become more and more competitive, test scores make a difference. One can take the exam more than once if they are not happy with the score, so plan ahead and register early.
2. Stay tuned in to your student’s school and social schedule. There is a tremendous amount of freedom in high school and even the most academically gifted students can be distracted by all of the things that are associated with the teenage years. Establish a curfew for school nights and limit the amount of time that is spent at a part-time job or involved in sports, especially if time management and study skills are not your child’s forte.
3. If your son or daughter is college-bound, start doing your research and be sure to attend the college nights that many high schools sponsor. Know what is expected on college applications. It is no longer a simple process like it was for the baby boomer generation. Test scores, a formal essay, volunteer hours, and class selection in high school are all important factors in getting into college. Take advantage of the many companies that exist today solely for the purpose of assisting you and your student select the right college for them.

Regardless of the age and grade of your children, stay involved. Volunteering on any level, whether it be reading stories to your elementary aged child’s second grade class, helping in the computer lab in middle school, or being on a committee for peer counseling in high school, it is important to know what is happening at the place your children spend a large part of their week. With so many parents working, many Parent Teacher Associations have their meetings in the evening, so more parents can attend. There are activities that need volunteers that do not involve daytime hours such as calling parents in the evening for a fundraiser or helping with a weekend car wash at high school.

These tips can help your children get back to school the right way and prepare them for a year of learning and fun. For additional articles on raising kids, starting a business, or educational issues go to http://www.hometutoringbusiness.com.

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So you want to have an elementary school play, but how do you choose who gets each part. Since elementary students are quite a bit different from middle and high school students here are some ideas that you might find helpful in choosing parts.

First the students need to want to do it enough to give up some of their time. So schedule tryouts during recess or lunch time. If the student is willing to give up their recess or lunch then they really want to do it.

I rarely give students a long wait to try out. I tell them on Monday that we will be having tryouts that week so be sure to listen and watch the bulletins. If a student really wants to participate then they will remember and keep watching for the tryouts. This gives you an idea of which students really want this experience because they will stop you in the hall and ask/

Second, the students must be willing to speak loud enough to be heard. The first try out I have them line up, then I stand at the back of the room. The student is then requested to say any nursery rhyme that they would like to repeat. This way you can see if you can hear them and if they speak clearly. Then I have them say the nursery rhyme again, but I see if they can act a little so I ask them to say the nursery rhyme as if they were “a little old lady” or “like a cheerleader” etc. If they are too shy to do a little acting then I put them on the list for short speaking parts. Those students that speak loudly, clearly and do a little acting I put on a short list to have read parts.

This try out also tells me whether a student will freeze or is one of those students that have to be talked into doing something. If I have to talk a student into doing something and they are unwilling to try something without a long explanation then I do not want them to be one of the major speakers because I do not have time to do this all the time. I need someone that is willing to listen to instructions and do it instead of having to be talked into doing it.

During the tryout I watch those students that are not speaking, also. Can they stand and listen and not have to be told to settle down. If they cannot control themselves then you will have trouble with discipline during rehearsals. If a student can be courteous and stand and listen and watch their fellow students respectfully then they we be good during rehearsals usually.

All students that tryout are given some kind of part. Some of them will want to try out for several things like speaking, solos, dancing, and anything else that is offered. These students are easy to place because there are many places to put them. There is also that student that does very poorly at tryouts but wants to be in the play really badly so you invent a part for them or make them the student director or maybe your gopher person.

I had students that did the lights, that turned pages for the pianist, students that took care of the microphones and tapes. There are many places that students can work and take the work load off of you.

So remember even if they are trying out for a speaking part and they do not get it make sure that you give them something to do. One line parts are great for students that want to be front and center for their minute of fame even though they are very quiet. So don’t overlook anyone give them all a chance.

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If you have children, there is the inevitable chance that you will encounter an elementary school fundraiser. It comes with the territory of putting kids through either public or private school. Fundraising can be a great way for parents to help support local schools, expand their child’s educational well-being, and increase their child’s social skills.

There never seems to be adequate funding available for educational purposes. Holding a fundraiser can help bring in extra revenue so schools can offer additional programs and activities for kids of all ages. Your level of involvement will vary depending on how much you choose to participate in a school fundraiser.

When it comes down to holding the fundraisers, volunteer parent groups, such as the PTA or PTO, are usually the ones left to spearhead the projects. If you find yourself becoming actively involved in a volunteer parent group, you can bet your bottom dollar that you will have to participate in a fundraiser.

But it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. In fact, many fundraisers act as a social gathering place for parents and kids alike. It is also a chance for parents to work with their children and find out what their day is like at school. You can meet other children, teachers and school officials by working with a fundraiser.

If you have played a role in an elementary school fundraiser, you may already have a great idea that has been tried and tested successfully. If so, then great! Stick with it because there is no need to fix something that isn’t broken. As long as your method continues to raise substantial funds, then there really isn’t a strong need to change things up.

Here are just a few ideas to consider for fundraisers:

- Auction off dollhouses
- Auction off kids’ artwork
- Hold school carnivals or play days
- Sell specialty items such as candles or flower bulbs
- Host a bake sale or chili supper
- Sell wrapping paper and ribbons around the holidays

But if your school is looking for a new and fresh way to raise money, then there are plenty of options available. The best place to start looking for new ideas is by going to the Internet. There are countless web sites dedicated to elementary school fundraisers that will help spark an idea for your group. You may even find personal testimonies on what projects worked and why they were successful.

It is also important to realize that fundraising takes organization, and your volunteer group needs to maintain that practice in order for your fundraising project to be triumphant. Delving out responsibilities and following up on tasks is essential to successfully raising money.

Another thing to realize if you are holding a fundraiser that sells products is the items need to be of a quality nature. You don’t want to pawn off something on your customers and have them disgusted with their purchases. They will remember it the next time you hold a fundraiser and you may find yourself losing paying clients.

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So you want to teach. Let me give you a preview of what your life will be like if you succeed in becoming an elementary school teacher. If you become an elementary school teacher this is what you might expect.

For nine months of the year your life will not be your own. You will share it with twenty or thirty students that will worm their way into your heart so much that you will protect them as if they were your own. You will take pride in the accomplishments and cry with them when they cry. You will find yourself being their personal cheerleader and shoulder to cry on.

You will find yourself paying for instructional materials because the district doesn’t have the money. You will be buying rewards for the students and sometimes giving lunch money for those that are hungry, but forgot their money. When it comes to preparing your taxes you will be scared to tell the accountant how much you have spent on school because they won’t believe it.

Even though people think you have a short day you will find differently. You do not get coffee breaks, you have to sneak bathroom breaks and recesses and lunch time are most often spent helping students do their work. You will come early to get prepared for the day and stay late to do the same. You will take work home and spend your own time getting prepared.

Then there are those three nice summer months that everyone thinks you get. You will find yourself using the summer to take classes and prepare new materials for the next year. Reviewing and getting acquainted with new curriculum will occupy part of your summer. Additional school hours will be needed to recertify so you will take classes, which you will have to pay for, not the district. Your three free summer months are now shot you might get three weeks.

In class you will be asked to keep a child’s attention for seven to eight hours. Keep that attention when they are hot and there is no air conditioning, when they are cold and the furnace is broke. Keep their attention during the first snow storm when everyone wants to be outside and during the first signs of spring when even the teacher wants to be outside.

When the weather changes so do the students so you need to be prepared to change your methods with the weather. The students will change with what is for lunch or what they had for breakfast. Any little change in the environment will change the students and you need to be ready to adapt to that change.

You will be expected to be a disciplinarian, a judge, a counselor, a therapist, a nurse, a detective, a student, a surrogate parent and any other number of roles that seem to be thrusted upon an elementary teacher.

The one thing that you need to remember is that above all else you are a teacher. It is a noble profession. Money will never be your reward, but the results of your instruction will fill you with pride. When the child reads his first novel, or writes their name for the first time, will bring a smile to your face and will tug your heart because that child will look up at you and say “Thanks.” That one word makes it worth all you do.

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In recent times, the career ground of elementary school education in the United States has become highly rewarding and the most favored occupation. In past few years, this career option has gained enough recognition and turned out to be one of the few career areas that offer better job prospects and salary that are complemented with solid benefits. In fact, this is one of the few professions that provide you with opportunities to handle important responsibilities like assisting children with educational and emotional development in the beginning of their academic years. These days many elementary school teachers primarily play the role of instructor for small children in several subjects. Adding to this, in some cases, two or more teachers also team up to cover a class.

Functioning as an elementary school teacher, you don’t just educates or teaches children, but perform the important task of making the basics of all the subjects, so that they never face any problem while studying difficult topics in the higher standards. The most important thing that you need to understand is the learning problems faced by the small school students and to offer teaching solutions to overcome from these problems. As a result, this can be only possible if you as an elementary school teacher receive proper training and education. We can certainly say that elementary school teaching is a physically and emotionally demanding occupation that requires a high level of energy. Though the profession has its own rewards, but it also demands skills so that you can perform your role more efficiently.

Now if you are looking forward to making a career as an elementary school teacher, you must be at least a graduate from a well recognized university in a subject which you would like to educate. At a minimum, you must include the completion of a bachelor’s degree. These days, many states of the United States require a specified number of education credits that needs to be earned over the course of study in order to teach in a public school. Though there are some states as well that look for teachers who have earned a master’s degree within a certain amount of time after starting to teach. Nevertheless, in recent times enrolling in a professional development school after bachelor’s degree is also increasingly more popular option.

Apart from all this, you even need to obtain a teaching certification. Today in many states of the United States the licensure is generally granted by the State Board of Education. Ultimately, this licensure can be granted to you by the State Board of Education, if you have passed all the educational requirements and completed a test based on proficiency in basic reading, writing and teaching skills. Though, it is also important to understand that the requirements may even vary by state.

There are many private schools also that do not look or require any certifications. In fact, many private schools are exempt from meeting state licensing standards, although they mostly favor candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in childhood education for elementary school teachers. They generally look for the candidates among recent college graduates. Besides this, many private schools associated with religious institutions desire candidates who share the values that are important to the institution. In addition to this, many private schools even conduct live teaching tests where you as an aspiring teacher will be asked to teach a class of students and based on your teaching process and the quality of teaching grades are given.

At times, you may even have to appear for an interview with the senior school management before you are selected as a teacher. Though, you may keep yourself updated about the elementary school teacher jobs by joining associations like the American Federation of Teachers.

The future prospect for elementary teachers is surely very good. In next few years many job openings are going to boom. The ratio of additional jobs is expected to grow as the demand of teaching jobs in poor and urban schools after a couple of years is also going to increase.

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Many of us adore children, but can you handle a large group of them at one time?  If you want to pursue a career in education, you must be passionate about children and teaching.  Demonstrating patience and understanding is crucial to becoming a successful teacher.  Still interested?  With a rewarding career such as this one, you should ask yourself, “is this the right career for me?”

A four-year bachelor’s degree in primary education is needed, and involves instruction in Children’s Psychology, Teaching Strategies and other specific courses that teachers are preparing to teach.  In fact, students have a variety of options, including taking online courses.  Along with course instruction, students are required to gain real-life experience by student teaching for approximately one semester.  Here, you will assist the teacher with classroom discussions and work closely with children.  After completing your coursework and student teaching, you will need to pass a state exam in order to hold a teaching license.  You will be tested on basic components such as reading, writing and teaching. Once you have obtained license, you are well on your way to becoming a teacher!  Although a bachelor’s degree is the most sought out degree as an elementary school teacher, you can always continue your education and pursue a master’s degree.  According to the US Department of Labor, the average salary for an elementary school teacher in 2008 was $52,240 per year.

In order to help decide if this is the right career for you, you should understand the responsibilities of an elementary school teacher.  Most elementary school teachers instruct one class of children in multiple subjects such as writing, reading, mathematics, science and social studies.  In addition to planning out curriculum, you will also be responsible for evaluating students’ work, assigning homework and tests and maintaining class discipline.  It is essential to be a clear communicator because students will rely on you to understand class concepts.  Having multiple teaching strategies is necessary because all students learn in different ways.

Becoming an elementary school student has become one of the fastest growing careers within the past decade.  Teachers should expect to work Monday through Friday and have winter, spring and summer breaks!  If you consider yourself to be a strong communicator and enjoy working with children, this career may be the perfect one for you.

For more information on determining whether or not a career in teaching is right for you, visit informative websites, like http://www.freecareerinfo.com

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