Back to School Stories

By Sarah R. Smith
(336) 758-5237
July 17, 2001

K-12 STORY IDEAS

GETTING IN GOOD WITH THE TEACHER-Much of a student's success in school is dependent on parental involvement, says Donna Henderson, associate professor of counselor education at Wake Forest University. A former teacher and school counselor for 12 years, she suggests several ways to open the lines of communication between parent and teacher. "Don't wait for a problem to talk to the teacher," she says. "Parents should communicate with the teacher to discuss the student's needs and the teacher's expectations before there is a chance for misunderstanding."

SAY 'SI' TO EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION- It can improve your brainpower, listening ability and your competitive edge in the workplace. Foreign language education has long been required in high school, but Wake Forest Associate Professor of Education Mary Lynn Redmond says it should start much earlier. "The work force has an increased demand for people who can speak foreign languages at a sophisticated level," she says. "School administrators have to think out of the box and look at foreign language study as a regular part of the curriculum." Redmond is a past president of the National Network for Early Language Learning and edited the book, "Teacher to Teacher: Model Lessons for K-8 Foreign Language." She directs foreign language education and supervises student teachers at Wake Forest and has advised local school districts in developing foreign language curriculum.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES OF MIDDLE SCHOOL-Elevated expectations from teachers, parents and peers make the transition to middle school a tough time for 11-year-olds. But parents can help ease that transition, says Christy Buchanan, associate professor of psychology at Wake Forest and an expert on adolescence. "It is important for parents to be aware of the stresses entering middle school can cause," she says. "Adolescents are going through a lot of changes, both physically and cognitively." Talking with students is crucial, adds counseling expert Samuel T. Gladding, professor of counselor education at Wake Forest. "Regularly give the child time to talk about difficulties and to brag about achievements," he suggests. Sharing stories of their own memories from middle school is another way parents can connect with their child.

PREVENT OVERSCHEDULING OF KIDS NOW- The start of the school year is the best time to prevent overscheduling children, says Wake Forest counseling expert Samuel T. Gladding. "Don't wait until family members have signed up for more activities than they can handle," he says. "Work out a schedule that allows for curiosity, exploration, spontaneity and serendipity." Gladding, father of three school-age sons and the author of "Family Therapy: History, Theory and Practice," says a good rule of thumb is two activities per child. More than that, he says, asks for trouble.

HIGHER EDUCATION STORY IDEAS

FROM A 'ROOM OF ONE'S OWN' TO A ROOM WITH TWO-Today's children are accustomed to sleeping in their own room and using their own bathroom. When they head to college, adjusting to living with a roommate in close quarters can be stressful. Connie Carson, Wake Forest's director of residence life and housing, says parents can help prepare their children before they start packing. "For first-year students today, who haven't ever had to hash out with another person how much quiet time they need or what items are off-limits for borrowing, it can be tough feeling comfortable setting boundaries," says Carson. "Parents can help ease this transition by simply discussing these things with their child before the student comes to school." Like many schools, Wake Forest matches freshmen with similar lifestyle preferences in housing assignments. Freshmen also sign a "Roommate Agreement" that outlines particulars like music level, cleanliness and sleeping patterns.

BRING THE ALARM CLOCK, LEAVE THE EXTENSION CORDS-Students may be tempted to pack up their entire bedroom when they leave for college, but less is more in most university residence halls. "The first step is being realistic about the space you're going to be in," says Connie Carson, director of residence life and housing at Wake Forest. "We provide students with a description of their new living area, including room dimensions, wall color and furnishings, so they know what to expect." Among the items to leave at home, Carson lists halogen lamps, candles and electrical cooking devices. Must-haves on the Wake Forest list include UL power strips, a shower bucket and memo boards.

THE KIDS ARE GONEÖNOW WHAT? - The transition to college can often be harder for the parents than the student, but helping parents understand the changes their freshman will experience at college while encouraging them to focus on their own relationship can help, says Johnne Armentrout, assistant director of Wake Forest's counseling center. She leads a "College Transition" program for parents of Wake Forest freshmen each fall. Like many university orientation programs, it helps prepare parents for their child's first year of college; but unlike most other programs, the Wake Forest workshop dedicates an entire day to nurturing the parents' relationship. Armentrout calls it a mini marriage retreat. "We ask the parents to think back to when they were dating and remember what they used to do together before they were parents," she says. "Anything that makes the parents' lives happier and more stable will help the student."