Capture the Moment

Dr. John A. McMillan WI Contributing Writer

In the past, the first days of school sparked anxiety around these types of questions, “Who is my child’s teacher?” or “How will my child transition from middle to high school?” With former-President Donald Trump out of office, a government where bipartisanship is a curse word, and where COVID-19 eclipses everything, today’s first days of school conjure new forms of anxieties that are paralyzing parents with fear.

Parents are sending their kids to school with the mind-frame that it is a life-or-death move, and to think about it; it really is. Nonetheless, many parents and students will reluctantly confront these elements and go to school in various forms. Whether the schools be virtual, parochial, charter, magnet or private in nature, there are a lot of universal things that parents and students can do to prepare themselves for today’s brave new education world, but all they really need to do is R.A.P.

The R in this acronym stands for REFLECT. Before families begin to get into the flow of school, the first thing they must believe about all challenges is “this too shall pass.” Not only do they need to become philosophical, they need to tap into their spirituality to spark the positive attitude necessary to engage the school year. As stated previously, fears about COVID-19 double the anxiety that many families currently have, so mental health needs consideration in this reflection process. Parents should take an accurate account of their children’s mental health.

First, let your children know they are loved and supported, let them lead open and honest communication about their lives, watch for and address behavior changes, and model healthy coping skills to deal with problems. Parents should also monitor their own mental health. Understand, that it is important to seek counseling where there are deficits in life. For example, if people are suffering financially, they should seek help from a financial advisor. Reflection can give families the courage to face the educational climate without fear.

Next, families need to ADJUST. There is a saying that, “No man steps in the same river twice…the water is constantly moving, and he is not the same man.” Education is based on knowledge which changes every day, and families must keep up. Also, rules, policies, and practices that were relevant last year may be deemed ineffective today. There are too many times when educators hear, “it wasn’t like that last year.” Families have to adjust to this pace.

The best way for them to do this is to learn their district and what it has to offer. They should research who to contact to handle certain issues. Once they find out this information, they should not only hold these officials accountable, but they should also remember to be an ally of the school and hold their children responsible when necessary. It is important to remember that school officials are the professionals, but they are also human. They are under the same pressures as everyone else. They have to know that the families trust and are working with them.

Once the reflection and adjustments are made, PREPARATIONS have to take place. Understand that failing to prepare is preparing to fail. The best way a family can prepare is to set educational goals for their students to achieve. For instance, several states offer the Hope Scholarship which is granted to all high school students who maintain a 3.0 grade point average. It is extended through four years of college as long as the GPA is maintained.

Parents should prepare and focus their students on getting this scholarship as a goal. Preparation comes about when families understand what a district has to offer as far as benefits and resources and in turn mold their students in that direction. Another way for families to prepare is to get all contact information from teachers and work as a team with the teacher. This sets the tone for both the student and the teacher and it helps foster a better relationship. Education is a precious resource that helps young people succeed. Parents have to model and lead young people through the process, so that they are ready for life. R.A.P is one way to help.

Dr. John McMillan is an Assistant Principal and administrator who has worked in public education for more than 20 years. Ten of those years he served as an English teacher, and five as the Smaller Learning Community Coordinator. Dr. McMillan is dedicated to serving all students in an effort to increase their self-awareness, self-efficacy, and self-reliance while assisting them in reaching their goals of graduating from high school and becoming global

citizens of society. BTS

Recent & Recommended Books to Promote Academic Excellence

By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer

Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice By Denisha Jones, Jesse Hagopian

Since 2016, the Black Lives Matter at School movement has carved a new path for racial justice in education. A growing coalition of educators, students, parents and others have established an annual week of action during the first week of February. This anthology shares vital lessons that have been learned through this important work. In this volume, Bettina Love makes a powerful case for abolitionist teaching, Brian Jones looks at the historical context of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in education, and prominent teacher union leaders discuss the importance of anti-racism in their unions. Black Lives Matter at School includes essays, interviews, poems, resolutions, and more from participants across the country who have been building the movement on the ground.

Closing the School Discipline Gap: Equitable Remedies for Excessive Exclusion By Daniel J. Losen

Educators remove over 3.45 million students from school annually for disciplinary reasons, despite strong evidence that school suspension policies are harmful to students. The research presented in this volume demonstrates that disciplinary policies and practices that schools control directly exacerbate today’s profound inequities in educational opportunity and outcomes. Part I explores how suspensions flow along the lines of race, gender, and disability status. Part II examines potential remedies that show great promise, including a district-wide approach in Cleveland, Ohio, aimed at social and emotional learning strategies. Closing the School Discipline Gap is a call for action that focuses on an area in which public schools can and should make powerful improvements, in a relatively short period of time.

FALL 2021 FALL 2021 DISB HIGHER DISB HIGHER EDUCATION EDUCATION SERIES SERIES

Oct. 14 Oct. 14 FAFSA Completion FAFSA Completion

Oct. 21 Oct. 21 Scholarship Scholarship Strategies Strategies

Oct. 28 Oct. 28 College Selection College Selection

Are You a College Bound High School Senior?

Join the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking Student Loan Ombudsman for a series of workshops designed to help high school seniors prepare for college.

Learn how to complete the FAFSA successfully; create a targeted strategic plan when applying for financial aid; research, apply and compete for scholarships and grants; and evaluate colleges and the cost of attending school.

i

DATES

Thursday, October 14, 2021 Thursday, October 21, 2021 Thursday, October 28, 2021

TIME

5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Ricardo Jefferson Student Loan Ombudsman dcloanhelp@dc.gov disb.dc.gov/studentloanhelp

Teaching Reading in Today’s Elementary Schools By Betty Roe, Sandra H. Smith, Nancy J. Kolodziej

This book sets the standard for reading instruction to ensure that aspiring teachers are able to help students learn the mechanics of word recognition, how to comprehend what they read -- and enjoy the process. The book advocates a balanced approach to reading, presenting newer approaches with more traditional approaches that have proven value, such as phonics, vocabulary instruction, and strategies for literal and higher-order comprehension. Practices are featured, such as use of recent technologies for literacy learning, varying approaches with attention to dealing with the many types of diverse learners in today’s classrooms and use of close reading techniques with appropriate materials to enhance the learning experience.

Nurturing Your Child’s Math and Literacy in Pre-K–Fifth Grade: The Family Connection By Mary Mueller, Alisa Hindin

TO REGISTER bit.ly/3yzTDZr

With recent changes in the curriculum and standards in language arts and mathematics, parents often are challenged to find ways to help their children be successful in their learning endeavors. While parents want to be involved in their children’s education, they are often unsure of their role in their children’s learning and the best ways to help their children to succeed academically. Moreover, with the changes in how math and literacy are being taught, parents often struggle with helping even first grade children with their homework. In this book we set out to alleviate this struggle, by offering parents a resource they can use to navigate their child’s education, communicate with teachers, and support their children in learning mathematics and literacy. BTS

Black Minds Rising

Black-owned Tutoring Companies

Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Staff Writer

Sankofa Homeschool Collective.

Journalist and grassroots activist Sam P.K. Collins specializes in strengthening and enhancing the natural abilities of African American students to ensure they are centered mentally and spiritually. Collins’ tutoring encourages mastery of math, English, and other core subjects, as well as proper identity formation. www.sankofahomeschool.org

RISE (RESOURCES TO INSPIRE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS.)

RISE-DC helps low-income youth in Washington, DC, achieve academic and career success. This is accomplished by providing educational resources such as high-quality tutoring and college and career mentoring – free of charge. www.risedc.org

Ms. Murray’s Corner, LLC.

Atlanta-based tutoring company but is currently providing robust, virtual, one-on-one lessons. Ms. Murray’s Corner serves students in Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade. We are focused on Literacy and Math with concepts ranging from Reading Comprehension, Fluency, Phonics, Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. www.msmurrayscorner.com

Black Girl Tutors.

Black Girl Tutors believes that educating our youth is at the foundation of building our community. They take a unique and innovative approach to teaching that helps students connect with the subject matter they need to master. www.blackgirltutors.com

Differentiating Minds, Inc.™️®️

focuses on and enriches the individual academic needs of students through the use of differentiation, research-based instructional strategies and unconventional approaches that build confidence and encourage intrinsic motivation. www.differentiatingminds.com

It’s Not Complicated Education.

This is a private, prescriptive, tutoring company focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and standardized test preparation. Our Holistic approach uses the clients learning style, instructor input, and customer expectations to develop a learning plan that promotes success. www.inceducationllc.com

Kevin’s Mentor and Tutor Services.

In addition to providing practical, customized one-on-one lessons with his students, Kevin is also very intentional about connecting with them on their level and providing mentorship to help aide them through the challenges they are bound to encounter. www.kevintutoring.com BTS