Dear Teacher,
My 7-year-old daughter recently confided in me that some friends of hers were breathing felt-tip markers to get high. I pointed out to her that this was a very stupid thing to do and could even kill them. What else should I have said to her?
Dear Parent,
Unfortunately, children are discovering that common household products are the easiest way to get high. Depending on the level of dosage, users can experience slight stimulation, less inhibition, loss of consciousness, and even death.
The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition states that one in five eighth grade students have used inhalants. According to the Coalition, education about inhalants should begin as early as age 4. Here are some of their suggestions for talking to 7 to 10 year olds.
• Be a good role model when using cleaning products, solvents, glues, and other products. Let your kids see you reading labels and following instructions, and point out the importance of doing this.
• Stress the importance of oxygen to life, as inhaling many substances results in oxygen deprivation.
• Talk with your children about the term “toxic.”
• Discuss and discourage “body pollution” and introducing poisons into the body.
Organization is key
Dear Parents,
Being organized is the number one skill that will lead to your children’s academic success in school. You will need to start early to develop organizational skills in your children. A big part of this lies in establishing routines.
What your children do to get themselves ready for school each day and to handle assignments should increase at each level until they are doing everything without any parental reminders. Here is our list of organizational skills that children need to acquire when they first start school:
• Bringing home their school bag daily
• Showing parents the contents of their bag
• Putting everything returning to school the next day in their school bag before going to bed, or at another selected time
• Keeping the school bag in the same spot every day
• Selecting clothes to be worn the next day with their parents before bedtime
Algebra in 8th grade
Dear Teachers,
Our state has now mandated that Algebra 1 be taken in eighth grade. What are the benefits and disadvantages of taking this class as an eighth-grader rather than as a freshman? How is my child, who is no math whiz, likely to be affected?
Dear Parents,
Algebra has been called the gateway to learning higher math. If it is not taken in eighth grade, most students will not be able to take calculus their senior year of high school. Also, they might not have sufficient math courses to take some Advanced Placement science classes. Furthermore, many selective colleges do expect applicants to have taken calculus in high school.
Educators have differences of opinion on whether eighth-graders should take algebra. On one hand, there are those who say that students who are ready should take algebra. This generally boils down to the students who have successfully passed a pre-algebra course.
Other educators endorse students waiting until ninth grade before taking algebra. This group believes that algebra is such an important course that it should not be rushed through in elementary or middle school, where many of the math teachers do not have sufficient training in teaching the subject. They also point out that if there are any concepts that are not mastered in algebra, these concepts will trip students up in later math courses.
Best smart apps
Dear Teachers,
I’d like my children to use some of the best educational apps on mobile devices, rather than just playing games. are the cream of the crop?
Dear Parents,
We have found one onlne list that stands out — the list from Parents’ Choice. Its awards program honors the best material for children, including books, toys, music and storytelling, magazines, software, video games, websites, and now apps.
The awards committee has been looking for products that entertain and teach with flair, imagination, and inspire creativity for almost 30 years. The judges look for products that help children grow: socially, intellectually, emotionally, ethically, and physically.
Above all, products must not extol violence. Look for the free Dear Teacher iPhone app in the App Store that is coming sometime this month. It offers immediate access to such topics as your children’s reading level, kindergarten readiness, and much more.
Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com or ask them on the columnists’ website at www.dearteacher.com.
© Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2013
Distributed by King Features Syndicate
