Honoring Florida’s Teachers

Here’s why we should show our children’s teachers our sincerest appreciation

Teachers are society’s most dedicated leaders. They inspire our children’s imagination, lead our children to academic success, and prepare them for a competitive future. Each day they transform standards and curriculum into creative learning exercises, making learning fun and exciting.

Since 1984, the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has designated the first full week in May as Teacher Appreciation Week. In honor of Florida’s more than 192,000 teachers, the Florida Department of Education has developed ways for parents, students and alumni to share their admiration.

The department’s Facebook page features an album of “apple icons” designed for Floridians to share with their families and friends. The apples highlight the achievements of the sunshine state’s valued educators and tools for social media users to honor their favorite teacher.

Recognizing a teacher’s hard work can make him or her feel appreciated and increase communication with parents. Florida’s current Teacher of the Year Alex Lopes believes in the importance of building strong relationships with his students’ parents, motivating him to become a better teacher.  “The more I gave, the more they gave back and inspired me not to take anything for granted,” said Lopes.

The National PTA’s Activity Ideas Webpage offers great gift tips, from homemade crafts to coffee shop gift cards and other ways that parents and students can honor their teachers. It is important to remember that even a simple thank you can make a teacher feel appreciated. It can strengthen parent/teacher relationships and not only open up the lines of communication regarding your child’s education, but build mutual respect.

Check out the department’s Pinterest boards for more ideas!

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Each year on the fourth Thursday in April, children from across the nation leave their book bags at home and embark on a normal work day with mom or dad. This year’s event on April 25, 2013, marks the 20th anniversary of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day and is an occasion for parents to give their children a real-life experience in the workplace. This hands-on experience is another opportunity to prepare students for college and future careers.

Beginning as a way for young girls to gain self-confidence and inspiration for future careers, the program has expanded through the years to include boys and children from residential programs and shelters. The Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation encourages parents to use this annual event to show their child the value of a quality education and to start a dialogue about the child’s career aspirations.

Not only is this event a great way for your children to see you in action, they can also develop important professional habits from watching your example. To make the most of your day, check out the foundation’s planning tips webpage and activities planner for fun and engaging activities.

A little time spent planning can transform this event into more than just a career-shadowing day for your child. Talk to your employer today to find out what paperwork, if any, is needed.Visit Forbes’s Do’s and Don’ts for a complete list of useful tips for bringing your children into the workplace.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is a great opportunity for children to see their parents as the dedicated professionals they are, committed to bettering their workplace and community. With their parent’s example, children will see their education and hard work as a vehicle to a successful, productive career.

School Libraries: An Educational Resource

Guest Blog by Kourtney Berry

The efforts of Florida’s educators are often supported by a team of school staff members, especially school librarians dedicated to helping students succeed academically. However, it is too often we overlook the tremendous resource they provide to Florida’s more than 2.7 million students.

As we recognize April as School Library Month, it is important that we acknowledge the essential role strong school library programs play in a student’s educational career and encourage students to take advantage of these extra learning opportunities.  The American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) offers several tips and tools to parents on how school libraries can supplement their children’s education, including

-  Introducing yourself to your child’s school librarian;

-  Asking what resources are available to your child; and

-  Modeling good reading habits.

The association also suggests reading aloud with your children to cultivate greater academic development. To get started, ask your child’s school librarian about checking out an age-appropriate book and let the librarian know if your child needs extra help in a specific subject. School librarians are research experts who collaborate with classroom teachers to help students master research skills.

The School Library: What Parents Should Know explains how to measure your child’s library performance. Go and see what your library has to offer! Libraries offer much more than books, including book clubs, summer reading programs and electronic resources that can be accessed from your home. Visit the Florida Electronic Library (FEL) for more information on digital resources.

Are you interested in getting involved with your child’s school library services? For more information on how you can improve literacy education in your children’s schools, visit the AASL’s Parent Advocate Toolkit.

The Benefits of Nutritious Eating

Guest Blog Post by Angelia Rivers, Bureau Chief Family and Community Outreach

We all know that eating nutritious, well-balanced meals are vital to a child’s physical development. However, healthy options also fuel brain development and student achievement. According to an article from The Wall Street Journal, students who ate breakfast that morning performed better on cognitive and memory tests than those who did not.

With today’s busy family schedules, it can be difficult to prepare healthy breakfast items and get the kids up in time to eat them. That is why the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrates National Nutrition Month, providing tips and resources to parents and teachers.

The academy’s Breakfast Basics for Busy Families explain the correlation between skipping breakfast and reduced concentration and cognitive function and how parents can give their children a breakfast boost. Whole grains and protein-rich foods, the academy suggests, are critical components of breakfast meals that keep children full and focused.

School districts across Florida are also focused on providing healthier school lunch options to the state’s more than 2.7 elementary, middle and high school students, with lower sodium content and larger servings of fruits and vegetables. Lunch choices also have a tremendous impact on students’ afternoon energy and concentration levels.  Whether students are eating from the cafeteria or their packed lunch, they need the essential nutrients to get them through the school day.

Are your children excited about healthy eating? Spice up your family’s meal schedule and keep their food choices interesting with these Back to School Nutrition tips. For more information about what should be on your plate, visit Get Your Plate in Shape.

Commissioner Tony Bennett: Looking At and Beyond the Scoreboard

To say education is a family interest is an understatement. I’ve spent nearly three decades in education as a science teacher and principal as well as district and state superintendent. My wife, Tina, had a successful career as a teacher and high school principal. Also, one of my daughters, Trisha, recently joined the teaching profession and I could not be more proud. I’m sure many Floridians can relate to this background as it is not unusual to have a family full of educators.

In my opinion, our students are best served in education when parents, educators, and communities communicate on issues facing our classrooms. That is why I will not use a top-down approach to Florida’s education reform. I want to hear from all Floridians because we are all stakeholders in our students’ education. My goal is to utilize the best ideas for student success regardless of their origin. The best change comes from collaboration.

Today, I brought out the infamous student achievement scoreboard that I kept outside my office as Indiana’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction. In my new position as Florida’s Commissioner of Education, I will keep the scoreboard up as a constant reminder to me and my colleagues of the importance of accountability in measuring teacher and student success.

Parents should feel confident that when their child graduates from high school he or she will be ready for today’s competitive environment. In turn, teachers should be praised for the tremendous work they do to transform their classrooms into launching pads for success.

I believe that a strong accountability system must be met with a strong network of resources. Over the next few weeks, I will begin working with Florida’s school and community leaders to determine how we can create a seamless education system.

Great things are ahead for Florida’s students, educators, and parents. If we work together we will create an even brighter future for the Sunshine State. I look forward to sharing in this endeavor with all of you and to building a path of success for all Florida students.

School Safety

By Commissioner Pam Stewart

As a former teacher and principal, I know that creating an environment where learning is fun and stress-free is just as important as the day’s lesson plan. For most children, the classroom is a wonderful place where they can explore and learn, leaving any anxieties behind.

The recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School reminds us that there are people in this world who seek to create an environment of fear by targeting our youngest citizens. No parent should have to worry whether his or her child will make it home at the end of the day.

That is why every school district in our state has developed individual school emergency plans, using local resources and partnerships. Our state’s superintendents create these plans in conjunction with law enforcement officials, parents and teachers. In every plan and during each drill, your child’s safety is our top priority.

While we are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of Florida’s classrooms, we need your help to alleviate the fears of students who may have watched coverage of Friday’s shooting. As parents, you not only have to deal with your child’s questions, but also your own emotions.

Here are a few strategies from national crisis intervention associations  to help you and your family.

• Minimize television viewing of this event.
• Encourage your children to talk and share their feelings.
• Remain calm as you discuss these events with them and with others.
• Let your children know it’s okay to feel upset.
• Assure your children that they are safe and are taken care of at home and at school.
• Keep in perspective that these events are extremely rare.
• Maintain a normal routine at home.
• Point out the heroic efforts of teachers and first responders.
• Be a good listener.

If your child wants to talk about a traumatic event, it is important to let them. Encourage your children to help those in Newtown, Connecticut, by sending letters of sympathy and concern. Monitor your own reactions to trauma and model good self-care. If your child or teen does not want to talk about it, be careful not to insist, but keep an eye on them for signs of distress.

As we reflect as a nation in aftermath of this terrible shooting, please know that Florida’s educators care deeply about your children, their education, and everyone’s safety.

The following are resources from professional associations to support educators, families, schools and communities in the aftermath of a crisis.

For parents:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Helpful guide to how children react differently to trauma than adults. “Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope after a Disaster or Traumatic Event.”

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

Resource guides for parents and caregivers. “Helping Children Cope With Crisis: Care for Caregivers” and “Tips for Teachers and Parents Following School and Community Violence.”

My Florida Families Blog

Blog from the Department of Children and Families. “Helping Kids Cope With Tragedy.”

For educators:

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

Resources for school personnel with individual guidelines for key school personnel (including superintendents and principals).

The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)

Resource guides for preventing school emergencies.

The National Education Association (NEA)

School Crisis Guide for educators and administrators about how to respond to a school crisis, including providing advice for educator and parents on addressing these incidents with students in an age appropriate way.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” — Benjamin Franklin

Thank you to the parents and families who have joined our Just for Parents online community to learn more about Florida’s education system.   Education issues are at the forefront of public policy debates, so please invite others to join as well.

It is my vision that our Just for Parents online community become a primary resource for each parent to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in Florida’s education system.  Florida is leading the nation in raising the bar on performance expectations and improving student achievement. We are working every day to create a path that leads all of our students to performing at or above grade level.  We believe we are on the right path for 100 percent of our students to be successful and will not stop until we reach that goal.

The purpose in developing this Just for Parents blog is so you get information directly from the Florida Department of Education on issues that are impacting your children, your schools, and your community. But this isn’t just a one-way street. As your child’s greatest advocate, we want to know your thoughts.

We need your feedback on topics and issues you would like to discuss so we can provide the information you need to make this blog a valuable resource that helps answer your questions and concerns.

Thank you for your support of education in Florida and we look forward to your input as we move ahead to implement the Common Core State Standards in all grade levels.  Our goal is to guide improvement in student achievement so each student is prepared for success in college, career, and life.

Sincerely,

Pam Stewart
Commissioner