The End of the Molasses Classes Part 2

The Teaching Blog Addict Book Club is doing another book study,  this time reading The End of Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck--101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers. I LOVE this book!

Parent involvement can make a HUGE impact on your classroom. Ron Clark has lots of excellent ideas to keep in mind. My favorites?

25. Be prepared for the long haul if you want your child to succeed. 

This point is very important. Helping your child get an amazing education is a full time job. You can't just come in for conferences and forget everything the teacher said. You and your child must be committed to reaching your goals. It takes a lot of work, but it pays off in the end.

27. Realize the impact of gratitude and appreciation.

Everyone likes to be appreciated. And if they think you like them they are much more likely to go out of their way to help you. A simple note, a small treat, taking the time to say hello can go a long way in the mind of an overworked and underpaid teacher. I still remember the parent who brought whiteboard markers and a giftcard to use for art projects in my classroom. She expressed her gratitude and love and inspired me to work even harder with her son that year.

31. Show them how to study. Realize it won't come naturally. 

Students and often parents will not know how to study unless you show them. Teach them different methods and have them discover what works best. Do they love mnemonics, movement, music, flashcards, or summarizing?

I love this book and can't get enough of it. I HIGHLY recommend it to all teachers, parents with children in school, and people who come in contact with schools in any way.