Advertisements for school supplies are flooding the media, so we know school starts soon. To afford all the stuff the ads say the well-equipped student needs, however, most families would have to get one of those government bailouts.

But parents can make classroom success more likely by taking steps that don't cost money.

The first two things are time and space.

Schedule the time homework will be done, when the television will be on and when friends can call. This has to be flexible because there will be unavoidable conflicts, but a general schedule that is reviewed on Sunday night gives kids a sense of security and order to a family's fragmented life.

A space should be designated for homework. It might be the kid's own room or the kitchen table, maybe the basement or the attic — but someplace where the child, or children, can work with few distractions.

Most parents provide time and space for their children's recreation. When we were involved in youth hockey, I drove all over the North Country at odd hours because the team had bought some ice time. We also put up a basketball hoop in the backyard and a swing set and playhouse.

Most of us are happy to designate play areas — we should do the same for study areas.

Another way to help kids that doesn't cost money is to show respect for education and educators. Hearing his father say, "That sounds like a pretty stupid assignment," won't help a boy learn.

And telling your child, "That guy was my teacher when I was a kid. I thought he was a jerk then, too," is a bad idea.

If, in fact, the assignments are stupid and the teacher really is a jerk, go to the school and work to make things better.

LEARN THE TOOLS
Parents also need to be aware of some of the newer methods teachers are using both to teach and communicate with parents.

For the past five years, area teachers have attended "Reaching Your Technology Potential," a summer class offered by the North Country Teacher Resource Center.

(It's hard to believe that the Teacher Center's earliest version of this class — teachers helping teachers use technology — began more than 25 years ago.)

AuSable Valley Central School teacher Barbara Parkinson is working on learning Web page design for business students this year, her third, in the program.

Jilla Yadollahpour, who teaches French and Farsi at Plattsburgh High School, is working on a podcast for her Farsi class. Last year, she developed a Power Point presentation for her French class that explained the similarities and dissimilarities among the holidays in France and the United States.

Last year, Peru Central English teachers Julia Miller and Sally Reid developed an e-mail newsletter for their students and their parents. It discusses assignments, and provides links to more detailed descriptions — making it easier for students and parents to know what the tasks are and when they are due.

Parents help their children by paying attention not only to what the kids are learning but also how they are learning it. Technology is impacting a lot of instruction, and parents must learn to use the tools their children are using.

If, however, there is no computer in the home, the public library provides them for the very same price they offer books: absolutely nothing.

So time, space, attitude and involvement are better investments in school success than any school supplies we can buy.


Jerry McGovern, the Press-Republican's coordinator of Newspapers-in-Education, taught in New York state's public schools, and now teaches in the Communication Department of Plattsburgh State. He can be reached at gmcgovern@pressrepublican.com or 565-4126. This column is the opinion of the writer and not necessarily of this newspaper.