[blockquote]The most successful students are those whose parents realize that a classroom is not always a classroom.[/blockquote]
Dates carefully marked on the family calendar: Back-to-school picnics, open houses – and the first day of school. A box of crayons in a rainbow of colors, the points still sharp and smooth. Round-tipped scissors, a bottle of glue, a ruler and a new backpack – Dora the Explorer, perhaps Transformers, or maybe SpongeBob SquarePants. Brand new notebooks, filled with crisp white paper, clean and smooth, just waiting to welcome the sharp point of a new pencil.
But even as children excitedly pack – and repack – their new school supplies into their bags and look forward to the first day of school with sparkling eyes, the most important thing parents can provide is not written on a list of school supplies; it’s not something to be tucked into a backpack or stored in a locker.
[quote_right]The most valuable “school supply” of all is a parent’s encouragement for a child to grow and learn and explore and discover.
[/quote_right]Yes, children will learn that “Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 14 hundred and 92.” Yes, children will learn about acute and obtuse angles. They will learn about participles and infinitives. They will learn about mass and energy. They will learn the rules of kickball, they will learn that red and yellow make orange, they will learn “do re mi fa so la ti do.”
But a truly successful student is the child who learns about himself, his talents, skills and what makes him special … the child who learns to understand her place in the world, and how she can contribute to making the world better for others. This is the child who is encouraged to explore her imagination and express her thoughts and feelings.
The learning that takes place at the kitchen table, in the family van, in the backyard, in the living room, at Grandma’s house and as the child is tucked into bed at night – this is where a child learns the most important lessons of all.
This is where he first learns that he is loved, and appreciated. This is where she learns she has something to say – and someone is listening.
This is where a child learns that learning is fun, and it truly is a lifelong adventure. He learns that it’s all right to make mistakes. She learns that other people have feelings, and deserve to be treated with respect.
Schools are looking forward to the first day of school too. Buses are clean and ready to travel their routes. Classrooms are decorated with brightly colored posters, and desks are waiting in neat rows.
Lunchrooms are waiting to serve nutritious, delicious meals, media centers have new books on display and educators are looking forward to welcoming new students and eagerly anticipating an opportunity to inspire young minds.
But the most precious student is your child, and the real teacher, a child’s first, best and most influential teacher … is YOU.