'Give them the tools'

A common frustration experienced by many parents is how much schools have changed since they themselves were students.

Common questions: How can I help my fourth-grader with math when they multiply in a completely different way now? What does this STAR report even mean?

To help parents with these frustrations, Woodland is planning a night geared just for them. The next parent night, dubbed "Knowledge Night," will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20. Topics will include phonics, new math strategies, how to help readers understand what they're reading, the Leader in Me program, and the STAR program.

Family nights are regular events in the elementary school. Kids move around, dragging their parents from classroom to classroom to play educational games, show off their artwork in the hall, and demonstrate what they've been learning recently. Woodland's next event will be open to the entire family; however, it is designed specifically for parents.

This time the parents will choose which rooms they visit. And the topics will be designed to answer their burning questions. The night will be all about helping parents help their children. Kids will be entertained in the gym by older students in Beta Club. They'll still have fun art and P.E. activities, but their parents will be kid-free, participating in activities that will help answer their questions.

Families drop off their kids in the gym during parents' night before heading to various booths designed to answer parents' questions.Courtesy of Tobi Layton

A similar event was held in November. While it wasn't well-attended, it was well-received by the parents who were there. They had the opportunity to learn about some of the current trends in education that weren't around when they were students. Teachers set up information booths with the intent of answering frequently asked questions. The upcoming event will be similar. This time parent surveys were used to choose topics families most want to explore.

Parents are asked every year to complete a survey where they tell the school what they think about various techniques being used. And they often have to circle "don't know" because the technique is foreign to them. Focusing on these topics, as well as questions parents commonly ask, will be the basis for the night.

"We strive to be partners with our parents in order to give them the tools they need to help their children not only become successful learners, but also leaders in our school and community," according to sixth-grade teacher Renee Garner, one of the event coordinators. "We hope that families will attend our upcoming Knowledge Night to learn ways to do this and get answers to questions they may have."

TOBI LAYTON is a family and consumer sciences teacher and FCCLA sponsor at Woodland High School.