Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Too much homework? Interesting article - feedback always welcome!
November 17, 2009
Family negotiates homework ban
By Erin AnderssenFrom Wednesday's Globe and Mail
Faced with frenzied nights and kids overloaded with work, the Milleys decided to take matters into their own hands
Shelli and Tom Milley were exhausted by the weepy weeknight struggles over math problems and writing assignments with their three school-aged children. They were fed up with rushing home from soccer practice or speed skating only to stand over their kids tossing out answers so they could finish and get to bed.
And don't even get them started on the playground that their daughter, Brittany, had to build in Grade 3 from recycled materials, complete with moving parts. Or the time their eldest son, Jay, was told to cut pictures of $1-million worth of consumer goods from a catalogue.
So last week, after two years of trying to change the homework policy at the children's school, the two Calgary lawyers finally negotiated a unique legal contract: their kids will never have to do homework again.
"We have struggled constantly as a family with excessive amounts of homework," said Ms. Milley, who left her practice to stay home with her children. "We just blindly accepted the way it was."
But after many long stressful nights of getting 18-year-old Jay through his high school homework, they weren't prepared to repeat history with Spencer, 11, and Brittany, 10. Being lawyers, she and her husband decided to make it official.
The "differentiated homework plan" spells out the responsibilities of the students: to get their work done in class, to come to school prepared, and prep for quizzes. But their teachers will have to mark them based on what they do in class, and cannot send work home that factors into their grades.
For the Milleys, this means a school year that would make many homework-stricken parents envious: they are free to hang out as family without long division and English comprehension questions hanging over their heads.
“It was a constant homework battle every night,” Ms. Milley recalled. “It's hard to get a weeping child to take in math problems. They are tired. They shouldn't be working a second shift.”
It's not as if, the couple pointed out, they don't value education. They know firsthand the work involved in earning university degrees. But they wanted the academic work done at home to be on their terms, based on where they knew their children needed help. Brittany, for instance, was struggling with spelling, but “we never had any time to focus on that because she had so much homework,” Ms. Milley said.
It's not as if, the couple pointed out, they don't value education. They know firsthand the work involved in earning university degrees. But they wanted the academic work done at home to be on their terms, based on where they knew their children needed help. Brittany, for instance, was struggling with spelling, but “we never had any time to focus on that because she had so much homework,” Ms. Milley said.
And there were plenty of frustrating nights, she said, when her kids were so tired, “we'd stand over them, saying, ‘write this, write that.' ” If that's what families are doing, she asked, “how do the teachers even know whose work they are marking?”
Two years ago, Ms. Milley began collecting studies on homework, most of which suggest that, particularly for younger grades, there is no clear link between work at home and school performance. Working with the staff at St. Brigid Elementary Junior High School, she formed a homework committee, although no firm changes resulted. This fall, the couple began negotiating the legal document that decided the matter.
“We think it's a parent's right to choose what's in our children's best interests,” said Ms. Milley.
“But we're thankful the school did the right thing.”
Prompted by issues raised by parents, the Calgary Catholic School District is officially reviewing its homework policy to create more concrete guidelines for schools. Other parents and teachers have worked out homework deals, although more informally. “We know it's not one size fits all,” said Tania Younker, a district spokesperson.
The contract the Milleys and their children signed doesn't go just one way. While preventing teachers from giving penalties when homework isn't done, it also puts clear expectations on the students and their parents – to practice a musical instrument, for instance, and read daily, two activities more clearly linked to academic success, Ms. Milley suggested, than racing through leftover schoolwork. And the parents agreed to make sure their children have “opportunities” to review class work and study for tests. (Although that may as well be homework, Ms. Milley observed wryly, noting that, by her count, Spencer, has had roughly 28 quizzes and tests in about 38 class days of Grade 7.) The bottom line: the Milley kids won't be doing any school-assigned work at home any time soon, although Jay, now in first year university, must resign himself to being a trailblazer for his younger siblings.
“Why were we putting our family through that stress,” wondered Ms. Milley. “If we don't want it all, we shouldn't have to have it.”
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Amusement Park Art Projects!
Take a look at our cooperative art work!
More great work, Grade 2A!! Keep it up. . .
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Good ol' parenting advice (from a recent article in the Muslim Link)
World-seasoned educator shares knowledge with Ottawa
Staff Writer
If there is was just one line that would sum up Maria Khani’s perspective on the role of parents in their children’s lives, she says it’s this one, found written on a t-shirt during one of her many trips:
"Don’t blame me, blame my parents!"
In other words, parents are responsible for how their children turn out, says the educator, activist, and world-traveler.
Khani, who currently resides in the U.S., was in Ottawa on a personal visit in May and she offered to share her experiences and reflections with the community.
An engaging storyteller, Khani filled the ears of audiences with advice ranging from how to make your child love to get up in the morning (without wanting to hit you with a pillow), to how to instill a love of Islam in his or her heart.
Here’s are some of her tips:
1- Play
Quoting a saying of Imam Ali, may God be pleased with him, where he says children should be played with until the age of seven, after which they are disciplined for a further seven years, and then befriended for the next seven years, Khani suggest ways to do it.
For example, prayer times should be a time of great joy for young children, not something that is rushed. Parents can tickle and play on the prayer mat and display affection before starting, so that children have a positive association with this important ritual.
2- Love
Parents can nurture love within the home and love for Allah and His Prophet through gentleness and warmth.
Pick up the Quran, take your child in your arms and read together. Ask him or her to point out words they know or that you want them to learn.
Move beyond memorization alone, and capture your child’s imagination by telling them the stories that would make a typical fairy tale pale in comparison. Flying creatures? Al-Buraq. Miraculous objects? A Pen, which wrote about everything that would happen. Look for topics that would engage children – study the animals in the Quran and work on crafts that relate back.
Make the adhan a fixture in your home.
3- Encouragement & Support
Respect is key to the success of any family, and translates to communities where children are heard and are encouraged to participate. This starts at home. Parents should make time for their children – why do teachers often know more about our own children than we do? If that’s the case, more time with your child is in order.
Respect your child’s needs. No one likes to get up in the morning and immediately head to work, for example. Give children at least one hour and a half before they have to leave the house, or start an activity. How best to wake them up? Massage them, kiss them – make waking up a bonding activity that everyone looks forward to. Make sure children are well fed before starting the day.
4- Teach generosity
Encourage children to share with others. Only buy them what theyneed, not what they want. Let them give of their time and their effort, and they will soon prefer to give, rather than receive.
5- Muslim versus mainstream
Make Eid an awesome party. Talk about the point of celebrating achievements – for birthdays, celebrate mothers who achieved giving birth and raising children! Show how every day is St. Valentine’s Day, or Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, through promoting love and respect in the family.
Teach about sensitive issues – like sex education – through references to the Qur’an and Sunnah (which a parent can slowly impart between grades 4 to 7). Other health topics from the Seerahinclude information on how to keep bodies clean.
For daughters, show the honour of hijab, emphasizing its beauty as something a woman voluntarily does for the sake of Allah. Mothers should talk about how they feel about their hijab, and share their own experiences with it.
6- Father’s Role
Parents should consult each other on how to raise their children. In Surah Al Baqarah, Allah Talks about the decision to wean a child as one that both parents should make.
". . . but if both desire weaning by mutual consent and counsel, there is no blame on them," (Quran, Chapter 2, verse 233)
Nowadays, many fathers have given up this responsibility, but it is important for them to remain involved in the upbringing of their children.
7- Remember the goal
When Prophet Zachariah called on God to grant him a son, he wanted someone to carry on the Prophetic tradition. The aim of having a child was to raise someone up who would carry on the mantle of righteousness.
"And surely I fear my cousins after me, and my wife is barren, therefore grant me from Thyself an heir, Who should inherit me and inherit from the children of Yaqoub, and make him, my Lord, one in whom Thou art well pleased." (Quran, Chapter 19, verses 5-6)
Remember, Prophet Noah lost his son because his son’s actions had cut him off from his own father (which shows that ultimately, even the best parent cannot be sure of the outcomes.)
"[God] said: O Nuh! surely he is not of your family; surely he is (the doer of) other than good deeds, therefore ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge; surely I admonish you lest you may be of the ignorant. "(Quran, Chapter 11, verse 46)
Raise your children with love and kindness, and pray that God will save us all.
Imaginary animals project: Part Two!
Thanks Grade 2A for all your hard work! It was great to hear about everyone's imaginary animal!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Chocolate Chip Granola Recipe (A popular class reward!!)
The students asked me to post this recipe, of last Friday's class reward:
Chocolate Chip Chewy granola bars
4 and a half up quick-cooking oats
1 cup flour
1 t/spoon of baking powder
1 t/spoon of baking soda
1/3 cup of brown sugar
3/4 cup of softened margerine or butter
half a cup of honey
1 cup of raisins or chocolate chips (add in final stage)
mix all together very well.
flatten it into a greased, large cooking tray. Cook on about 375-400 approx. 15 mins. Check often to avoid burning. When the edges are brown, it should be close to being ready. Test the middle - if too soft, leave a few minutes longer, but don't wait until hardened.
Take out of oven, let cool 15 minutes. Cut pieces, let sit for another 10 minutes. Then ready to serve.
May Allah Put blessings in all your food, ameen.
wa'Salamu Allaykum
p.s. The remaining animal presentations will be taking place on Monday, insha'Allah. More photos will also be posted soon! Jazak'Allahu Kheiran for your great work, Grade 2A!
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