School | Pleasantville High School

Finding Balance in High School Trends

July 30, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

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Are you like many parents and worried about what the dress code is for school? Is there one? Is it enforced? For many parents, being able to control what their child wears is important. For others, it does not matter as much. For those who are looking for a way to ensure proper attire, it is important to consider your high school.

What You Need to Know

Does the school offer a dress code? This is a set of rules to follow. What is allowable and what is not is often a part of the dress code. Keeping this in mind, consider your own rules.

Talk to your teen about his or her body. Having self respect is important here. Encourage your teen to express him or herself through clothing that is not disrespecting.
Be sure to speak to your child about self expression. Every teen needs a way to express their thoughts and feelings. Clothing often is one avenue. Giving them some freedom, with a range, is a good way to allow for this.
Know the trends. Visit the schools. If you do not know what is happening, you cannot be active enough. High school clothing trends can be fun and exciting, but do not always have to be negative.

Take the time to learn what your child wants and needs in clothing. Are you giving the child enough ability to express his or her own tastes? If not, consider setting some boundaries and allowing your child to explore the options within a safe environment.

Filed Under: school Tagged With: Clothing, Dress code, High school

bachelor degree at earnmydegree.com

May 15, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Adult students find themselves returning to college to expand their degrees or to change careers. Earning a bachelor’s degree has never been easier with many colleges providing distance education. Future students can find out more information on how to earn a bachelor degree at earnmydegree.com. Whether prospective students are newly graduated from high school, working mothers, seniors, or simply someone looking to change careers, distance learning can provide the key to obtaining the necessary degree in a timely and convenient manner.

A degree in social work, nursing, or fashion design can be had in as little as two years. Combining skills like these with a love for children can give your passion focus. Even during an economic recession, the demand for “child-centered” professionals is growing within and outside of the classroom. Obtaining the education you need could be just a click away. Whatever your dreams might be, online degree programs can help you make them a reality.

Filed Under: school, Teachers Tagged With: Bachelor's degree, College, Education

Where to Find Themed Outfits for School Parties

May 14, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

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Being a teacher can be both a rewarding and challenging responsibility. A good teacher not only gives classroom instruction concerning a particular academic from a physical lesson plan, but also teaches life lessons. Trying to connect with a student on a personal level to teach the wholesome lessons that will last a lifetime, should be done both appropriately and gradually to build rapport.

Teachers who love their job also love the opportunity they are given to have plan school event such as plays, parties, and parent/teacher fellowships. During some of these events, the students may be required to dress up like a character that depicts the theme events. Here is where the teacher can make a profound impact on the students as the direct them to the location of some of the most amazing costumes for kids. The students will be able to dress up as the like of a colonial girl, a pirate, characters from TV and more.

A teacher bonding with students through something as simple as school themed parties is a great way to form everlasting relationships. It is also a great way for teachers to thwart violence in schools as school activities are great avenues where students can have an outlet. Education does not always have to be about a lesson plan, but each moment spent in a school setting can be an opportunity for students to learn, whether on the baseball field, football field, on stage or in the classroom. Be nice to a teacher because teachers hold one of the most fundamentally important occupations today!

Filed Under: Kids, school, Teachers Tagged With: Education, Lesson plan, Teacher

Focusing on Preventative Safety in Schools

April 24, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

For some reason, violence in schools is escalating. Of course the causes are being debated extensively with multiple reasons and causes being cited and blamed. But regardless of which side of the debate anyone is on, one thing is certain. Something has to be done; these problems are becoming too common and frequent. The truth is, the cause is no longer relevant. The safety of innocent children must be the foremost concern in these topics.

Most people have strong ideas about why such things happen. In an ideal world we would be able to identify a specific, singular cause, address and eliminate that issue and return to the world that we either thought we lived in, or wanted to live in. It’s time to accept that is not the case and turn our efforts towards prevention. With that goal in mind, it is up to everyone to step-up and become a part of the solution.

As human beings everyone has both the ability and capacity to make a difference when it comes to violence in schools. Improve awareness through the creation of a preventative safety programs. Encourage “the buddy system” for walking to and from school. Both students and teachers alike should be aware that these issues exist and take a pro-active role in identifying potential issues before they have a chance to become problems. Additionally, teachers and administrators should take each situation seriously for the ultimate safety of the children under their charge. It may not be simple to identify why violence is increasing in our schools, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be difficult to address.

Filed Under: school, Violence Tagged With: School, School Safety, United States, Violence and Abuse

When To Send Your Child To Preschool

April 13, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

The question of letting go comes early for parents. The child’s attachment is obvious. After all, they are used to you being around them all the time. Letting go is as hard for the parents as it is for the child and not that easy. However, there are times when parents need a break from their child. There are times when the toddler needs to interact with kids their own age to begin to develop their social skills. Preschool provides the solution to both problems. There are some signs for both parents and child that accompany the need for a child to enter preschool.

Boredom displayed by the toddler is a very good sign that a change of atmosphere is in order. Boredom can lead to trouble-making and destruction of toys. It isn’t that they are bad, they just need to have something new of interest to play with. Even more so when the toddler doesn’t have a regular play date or a lot of interaction with other toddlers who are new and interesting.

One of the signs for parents is the need to have a breather. It can be frustrating to have to run after a toddler day in and out when you are trying to get stuff done. It doesn’t make you a bad parent to take a break from your kids. It is natural that you need some time for yourself. Then you can come back and focus your attention on one of the most important people in your life.

The decision to send your child to preschool is not an easy one. There are some growing pains involved for the both of you. But it can be beneficial to you both.

Filed Under: Kids, school Tagged With: Child, Parent, Preschool education

Should You Home-school?

March 27, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Homeschooling is one of the few alternatives to a public education. This decision to home-school is a very personal one and should be made with the thoughts of what is best for your child. But if you are considering it, there are certain criteria that you should keep in mind. Each state is completely different when it comes to homeschooling laws. So be certain that you check out the state laws before tackling the challenge of teaching your child.

A socially active child may find a school setting more to their liking. Whereas a child who is easily bored or has problems paying attention for long periods of time will benefit from a home-school setting. The difference is based on the child’s personality. Of course, this does not mean that a home-schooled child will be socially isolated. Many communities have organizations where home-schooled children meet each other, play sports, and participate in many different activities with their peers.

Another part of the home school equation is the parent. Homeschooling requires an investment in time, resources, and research to understand what the child needs to learn to keep them on track with their age group. Not every parent has the luxury or patience to invest in this task. This is where the decision becomes a personal search to see if you can accommodate homeschooling or if you have to trust the school system for your child’s education. Sometimes, the need to earn a living outweighs any prospect.

There really isn’t a right or wrong answer to whether or not you should home-school. After all, it is the individuality of the child and the parents that determine if home-school is the right course.

Filed Under: General, school Tagged With: Education, Homeschool, State school

Questions You Should Be Asking Your Child’s Teacher

March 20, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

The only time parents really have one on one conversations with their child’s teachers is on parent/teacher conference days. It is during this time that parents really learn about what their children are doing in school. There are certain questions that parents can ask to find out the problems that their children are facing, what is going well, and what is not working. A child’s performance in school is only measured by grades but those grades can’t gauge how well your child is actually doing.

One of the things you should inquire about is your child’s socialization with the others in their class. How well your child interacts with other students reveals a lot about their social life. If they are loners or are getting picked on, it could indicate a social problem or that they are subject to bullying. Your child’s social abilities are a critical part of how well they do in school. A bad social life intrudes upon school work and diminishes the value of your child’s education.

Another line of inquiry should be into your child’s general attitude toward the class material. Every child has a bad day once in awhile but if the bad attitude persists for a period of time, it is time to investigate into why the child is displaying such behavior. There could be a multitude of reasons. The school work could be too easy and they are bored with it. It could be too hard and they are struggling with the concepts. Either way, a problem exists that must be dealt with.

There are many factors that play into how well a child is doing in school. Grades are only an indicator of schoolwork and tests.

Filed Under: school, Teachers Tagged With: bully, Child, Parent

Investing Time Into Your Child’s Education

March 9, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Lately, the news has been about how much money the education system is getting cut. But your child’s education does not have to suffer because the money is not as prevalent as it once ones. With practically everyone getting financially pinched in the economic downfall, schools are no exception. In fact, there is a more critical component to your child’s education than the money, that is the time parents invest into teaching their own children.

A child’s first teacher is their parent or caregiver. In fact, this does not change as children get older. A parent still plays an important role in their child’s education. Parent involvement factors into how well children do in school. However, time is one of those commodities that seem to run out fairly quickly. A really good start is to sit down and help with the homework.

However, that is only a start. Investing a few hours in the weekends to teach your child things can work wonders. A walk can turn into an exploration of the environment. A local trip to the museum or zoo is an opportunity to learn. Even if you don’t have money to spend, consider using the internet to create homemade projects or just play a game that emphasises a skill. What matters is that you invest a some time into helping them with their education.

School is not the start of a child’s learning process nor does the end of the school day signify that the learning is done. Parents who invest time rather than money into their child’s learning will reap rewards well beyond school. Finding the time can be difficult but even a few minutes can make a world of difference in your child’s knowledge.

Filed Under: Kids, school Tagged With: Child, Education, Parent

Danger signs teachers should look out for

February 23, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Student violence needs to be controlled at most basic level – the classroom – and it is the teachers who can detect violent behavior among students the earliest. Teacher need to be trained in identifying and tackling bad behavior and acts of violence committed by their students in order to fight school violence effectively. Here are some warning signs that teachers need to keep an eye out for in the classroom:

1. If you notice that a student that has been performing well in his or her studies suddenly stops paying attention or loses interest, then chances are that they are suffering from some form of psychological pressure.

2. Students showing an inclination towards violent and aggressive games generally use such sports to vent out built up frustration. Try to observe if the student likes inflicting pain on others during sports such as rugby or basketball.

3. A child who remains isolated from the rest of the class and seems depressed may be suffering emotionally. Without proper counseling, such students have the potential of becoming serious aggressors.

4. While checking creative essays, notice trends in a child writing. If you notice that a child is regularly writing depressing or negative essays, then he or she may be suffering psychologically and should be observed further.

5. A child who is unable to control his or her anger and frequently has outbursts where they argue and fight with classmates is more likely to commit acts of violence at school so keep an eye out for students with temper control issues.

6. Students who have repeatedly been caught for bringing weapons to school most probably carry them for a reason, be it offense or defense. Try to find out from such students what makes them feel the need to carry weapons.

7. Students who are violent but are afraid of doing anything to classmates often tend to take their frustration out by committing acts of violence against animals.

Filed Under: school, Violence Tagged With: Child, School, Violence, Violence and Abuse

How teachers can reduce school violence

February 16, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Teachers interact with children at a basic one to one level and do so on a daily basis making them the perfect medium to influence children to stay away from acts of violence. But what can a teacher do to curb the violent streak in students? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Be aware of what goes on in the corridors of the school once your class is dismissed. Most bullying and violent acts happen in between classes and during breaks so make it a practice to conduct rounds of the corridor and school grounds during this time. If you notice a student being bullied or targeted, intervene immediately, sending out a strict message to the aggressors and reassuring the victim of security.

2. Keep an eye out for students displaying discriminatory mindsets. Student often show their prejudice against others when they speak out in class. If you notice such behavior, try to change the child’s mindset in a tactful way. If the behavior continues, you should bring it to the attention of the school authorities who might want to have a word with the child’s parents.

3. Listen to what your students say during idle time in between classes. Classmates are often aware of students planning an act of violence or talk about ones who have been behaving badly. If you hear such talk, take the child into confidence and try to get details which should then be passed on to the administrator.

4. If your school has an anti-violence program, sign up for it! If it doesn’t, then try to have one organized. Get your students to help out with the program for it to be more effective and successful.

5. Students often hesitate to report acts of violence committed against them for fear of repercussions. Talk to your students encouraging them to report such acts and assuring them of anonymity and safety.

Filed Under: school, Violence Tagged With: School, Student, Violence