This made me think that many parents would be willing to help their kids if they really knew what to do and why it was important. Schools should be focusing on ways to train parents and community members to help students outside of school. I think that not only would this help the students learn in the time outside of school, but it would help empower parents to be more involved in their kids' educations. Obviously, not all parents need this kind of support, but there are plenty of struggling areas out there with people who would be willing to help, but may not know how.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Are Year-Round Schools The Answer?
Based on my last discussion, I started thinking about how students could gain more access to school. If they need to be less influenced by possible negative neighborhood effects, then does that mean students need to be in school all year? What is the role of the family in all this? I read an article called Families Must Be a Part of the Solution in Closing the Achievement Gap by Sharon Darling. She says that a 1988 study by Sum and Berlin show two causes for the Achievement Gap. One factor is the education level of the mother. The more education the mother has, the more education her children are likely to have. This even holds true for mothers who go back to school later in life. The other factor is summer vacation. The Sum and Berlin study says that advantaged and disadvantaged students learn at the same rate during the year. However, disadvantaged students regress over the summer while other students do not. This causes them to fall behind their peers. Normally, this would all lead me to believe that students need to be in school all summer so they do not fall behind. Interestingly enough, Darling cites another study by VonHippel in 2007 that shows students in year round schools do not learn more than their peers in 9 month schools. This study states that students in year round schools increase learning in the summer, but not the rest of the year. It all balances out in the end. The solution posed by this article was not to enroll students in school year round, but to involve families in the process. Darling pointed to a study by Yarnell, Lanbson, and Pfannenstiel in 2007 that looked at 900 Native American students. Teachers trained their families in literacy skills to support students outside of school. After training the families, students' scores rose dramatically. It also decreased the amount of referrals for special education services by 50%. Darling implies that if this type of program can work with the Native American population studied, where there was an 80% unemployment rate among the families of students, there could be dramatic results for other low SES groups as well. Another article I read, A Statewide Evaluation of Academic Achievement in Year-Round Schools by Bradley J. McMillen, supports what the Darling article concluded about achievement in year round schools. This study looked at 345,000 students in the North Carolina school system in grades 3-8. In this study as well, there was no real gain in achievement for students in year round schools compared to peers in nine month schools.
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Your comment that parents would be wiling to help their kids if they knew what to do and why is totally on the mark. In my experience, all parents want what is best for their children regardless of their educational background or economic situation. The difference is that parents of low socioeconomic status or little education just don't know how to help their kids and are often afraid to ask. They are often intimidated by teachers and administrators. Schools can help by offering programs for families that will teach them how to help their children succeed in school.
ReplyDeleteI found it very interesting that students in year around schools learn the same amount as students in school for 9 months. But it is the regression over the summer that is the difference.
ReplyDeleteI know that is it very hard for many parents to find child care for the summer months. Many children are left alone to look after themselves, or cared for by older siblings who dont want their little siblings around, especially if money it tight. I think Chicago has done a wonderful job trying to provide a quality park program for students to attend during the summer months. I would see them at the beach, the zoo and other places throughout the city last summer. The children seemed to be engaged in various activities and at least have a adult figure around. (I dont know how educational the program is) These kids are not hanging around the neighborhoods causing trouble. And thats a start.
I read in the Read-Aloud Handbook, by Jim Trelease that the number one way to improve students SAT and ACT scores is to read them when they are young. Parents of struggling students need to realize that more support at home is the first step in helping their child succeed. I know people work a lot and are busy but parents should always take some time every night to help their children with homework and to read to them. Is it really that hard.
ReplyDeleteAmen Kathleen! I want parents, teachers, and administrators to have an understanding of how to help children succeed in and out of school.
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is that everyone has their own study but what do they really mean? Theorists conclude so many different results that it's like.... Where do we go from here?
I see the year round vs. 10 month school year in the light as what we see all the time on the news. "Researchers have found that taking one asprin a day, or a cup of coffee a day, or a glass of wine a day is good for you and will lower your......." Then two day later it's "Researchers have found that all of the above are bad for you." I think parent should have the option to send their kids to a year round or 10 month school.
Piggy backing off what Greene said, I was one of those Chicago Park District Summer kids. From the age of 7 to 12. I loved it, they had use doing lots of creative things and took us on trips. I do think however we need more programs for kids of high school age. I know the park district hires them to be group leaders for the summer but more should be offered from the city.