Smiling Mom

School is back in session and many of our kids are ending yet another summer of fun and relaxation.

In my ten years of teaching, I’ve encountered many children who could have benefited from some basic household routines.  As a result I’ve compiled a list of healthy habits & routines that help make the transition from summer to school much smoother.

1.  Bedtime, bedtime, bedtime.
Your child’s body, age 12 and under, on average requires 10-11 hours of sleep per night.  Every night.  If you have a teenager, they generally require 8 1/2 hours to 9 1/2 hours of nightly sleep.

Why is this information important?  It’s simple.   Kids perform better, are able to focus more, and have better days when they are fully rested.

…sleep deprivation adds up over time, so an hour less per night is like a full night without sleep by the end of the week. Among other things, sleep deprivation can lead to:

• decreased attentiveness
• decreased short-term memory
• inconsistent performance
• delayed response time

2.  Eat a healthy breakfast each morning.

Make sure that your child’s breakfast consists of high-fiber and nutrient-rich whole grains, fruits, and dairy products.    Limit the amount of highly refined sugars and carbohydrates your child eats each morning.  More sugar in the morning equals a less focused student.

Evidence from the report suggests that eating breakfast may improve cognitive function related to memory, test grades, and school attendance.

Eating breakfast, a healthy breakfast, is important.  VERY important!

3.  Pack a healthy snack.

Around 5 1/2 hours passes between the time a child eats breakfast to time lunch is served.  That’s a long time to ask one of our students to be without food, calm and on task.

Remember to pack a healthy snack each and every day.

Not cookies or sugary, prepackaged foods. But healthy foods such as fruit, vegetables, cheese, or dried fruits & nuts.

4. Routine, routine, routine!!

Create a routine your child can count on for the after-school hours.  Have a special spot for homework completion and make clear how much rest time your child has prior to beginning homework.  Have a set dinnertime and bedtime.

Having a family routine can create a sense of security.  When a child feels safe and secure at home, he/she always performs better at school.

Good luck and have a wonderful school year!!

Original Silicon Valley Moms Blog post.

My dad is currently an elementary school principal and has been an educator for more than 20 years, and in one month is retiring.

Jeff King has spent the last couple years as a co-principal of an Los Penasquitos Elementary School. He’s reinvented himself numerous times over his past twenty-something years in the business. He started as a 2nd grade teacher, spent time doing administrative work in the district office, as a middle-school math teacher, then a middle school vice principal, elementary school principal, high school principal, and finally is finishing up his years as an elementary school principal yet again.

But more importantly my father has begun a revolution. It all started with a dream, and morphed into a reality.

His dream? He believed that all students could learn and be successful.

Revolutionary:
-adjective
1. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of a revolution, or a sudden, complete, or marked change: a revolutionary junta.

The day he became principal at Los Penasquitos Elementary School, he began a revolution. Over the past eleven years with the tireless effort of all Los Pen teachers, support staff, and their two principals, Jeff King and Damen Lopez, Los Pen went from a school that was “doing as well as could be expected” educating some of the poorest kids in the community; to a school who routinely out performs their other more affluent neighboring schools.

Revolutionary:
-adjective
2. radically new or innovative; outside or beyond established procedure, principles, etc.: a revolutionary discovery.

Educating poor and underprivileged kids is my dad’s life work, his passion. I, as I’m sure many of his colleges, have gotten an earful on more than one occasion about why it is possible, important, even critical for all underprivileged children to be educated.

He along with Damen believed they had a message that must be shared with a larger population than just one elementary school. They believe that all children in low-income areas have the right to be educated and successful. As a result, Jeff and Damen started TurnAroundSchools, a company providing training for teachers based on the following principals:

* All children, even those who live in poverty or who are learning English, can be academically successful and attend college.
* Public K-8 schools have to power to make that dream a reality.

Now my dad along with Damen is educating teachers, principals, and superintendents in masses so they can begin revolutions at their own schools.

Jeff King.

A man who can be quite impossible and rarely takes no for an answer.

A father, husband, educator.

A revolutionary.

-noun
1. a person who advocates or takes part in a revolution.

Since I cannot be there on Thursday to toast my dad at his retirement party, I’d like to say the following:

You are a man who has changed the lives of thousands of students and teachers. You believe in the unique ability of each individual you come across. Because of you and your leadership, many children who previously did not have a chance, do. Because of you, lives have been changed. Because of you, I am a better teacher. Because of you, this world is a better place.

The mark you leave on education is one of high expectations, a belief that all students can learn, hope, and success.

You have inspired teachers to greatness, and children to dream dreams they never believed they could. Because of you, we all are better.

As I’m sure your staff is, I am saddened to see you retire. But we know you have great things in store. We know that you’ve been called to make a difference in many more children’s lives.

You have begun a revolution.

And we are so proud.

***************************************

Now it’s your turn… do you know Jeff King? Is there a funny story that sticks out in your mind that you’d like to share? A thought or toast? Please leave a comment and I’ll make sure he reads each and every one. Thanks!

I am a public school teacher and I work in one of strongest academic districts in the Bay Area. The school I teach at routinely ranks in the top five in California. It’s that good!

My school is also a ‘choice’ school, meaning that it is students come from all over the school district. You have to choose to send your kids there. Therefore school admission is based on a lottery. When a child’s number is called a parent almost always pulls their child out of their current private or public school to enter ours.

I know what great teaching is all about. I’ve seen both sides, the good school environment and the bad.

This is the best.

So why am I fretting about school?

Simple. I don’t live in the school district in which I teach.

Teachers can’t afford to buy a house there.

I have two children. My oldest will enter kindergarten a year from September and he cannot go to the my school.

Kinda stinks, doesn’t it?

Often one of the benefits that many school districts offer their teachers is automatic admission for their children. On top of it being very convenient for us, it also ensures the district that we teachers stay put for the duration of our children’s schooling careers. Teacher retention is quite a problem in Silicon Valley. It’s a win win.

But since my school is a choice school, my own children don’t even have an option of attending.

So I fret.

I’ve seen great. I teach at great. I want great for my kids.

The school district in which I live is alright. It’s neither great nor bad. My kids will probably do fine while attending school in this district. But then I think, Is alright good enough for my children?

No.

My husband and I have discussed private education, moving, public schools, private schools again…. But truth be told, two public servants living in Silicon Valley simply cannot afford a mortgage and one private school tuition, let alone two tuitions as my daughter enters school.

So we’re stuck. Private school costs too much, while public school just might not be great enough.

When it comes down to it, I’m just as confused as the next mom trying to do her best by her kids.

Any suggestions?

Originally posted at Silicon Valley Moms Blog

My teaching staff is hilarious!! Ours school’s filled with people who just love to teach. They have that passion for life. You know?

Now what’s a good teacher if she/he can’t have a little extra-curricular fun once in a while?

Check out these two videos my staff mates made. One is a challenge issued an invitation to play Wii’s Guitar Hero after school on Friday. The other is an acceptance video. Trust me, it’s worth your time!

Youtube videos mess up the layout of my site, so bear with me!
The Challenge

The Acceptance