Category: education + schools

EE (environmental education) for Everyone!

[ 0 ] 2.4.2013 | Jeanine Silversmith

If I asked you to describe what “environmental education” looks like, what image would first spring to mind? Perhaps it’s a camp group walking in the woods, observing and drawing birds. Maybe it’s a group of elementary students out on Narragansett Bay, taking water samples. Or maybe it’s a high school class, learning about the effects of pollutants on genetic mutations. All of these certainly qualify as environmental education. But a whole bunch more would too.

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Providence Children Seeking Bilingual Tutors

[ 0 ] 1.23.2013 | Anisa Raoof

Providence is seeking bilingual volunteers for Leyendo, a new tutoring program named after the Spanish word for ‘reading.’

Leyendo is a service-based initiative to boost reading levels for Providence students who are not reading on grade level and speak a language other than English at home. The program will serve 50 second- and third-grade English Language Learners at Carl Lauro Elementary School who have been identified as struggling readers.

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High school mentors wanted for Providence after-school initiative

[ 0 ] 1.22.2013 | Anisa Raoof

The Providence After School Alliance (PASA) is looking for high school students to mentor students in four city middle schools. Approximately 100 students from Roger Williams, Gilbert Stuart, Hopkins and DelSesto middle schools will participate. High school mentors will work with City Year to help eighth-graders make the transition to high school. The program includes [...]

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Learn about the Rhode Island state’s public charter schools

[ 0 ] 1.10.2013 | Anisa Raoof

The RI League of Charter Schools is holding two Charter Public School Fairs in January.

These fairs will give families a chance to speak with school representatives and learn more about the 15 Rhode Island public charter schools. Dates and information on the fairs are listed below. Click this link for contact information for the schools, and details about the communities and grades they serve.

Tuesday, January 15
5:30-7:30 PM
Blackstone Academy Charter School (334 Pleasant Street, Pawtucket)

Tuesday, January 29
5:30-7:30 PM
Times2 Academy (50 Fillmore Street, Providence)

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Providence Public Schools 2013 Kindergarten Registration: January 10-March 1, 2013

[ 1 ] 1.6.2013 | Anisa Raoof

Heads up to families looking at kindergarten: Providence Public Schools will be registering children for kindergarten and first grade from January 10-March 1, 2013. The registration is done alphabetically. You can visit the Providence Public Schools’ website’s registration section for details about registration requirements and assignment policies.

The registration process for Providence Public Schools can be quite a confusing experience. I would like to thank Kira Greene and Kirsten Murphy for putting together this comprehensive guide to Providence Public Schools Kindergarten Registration for 2013. They will follow up this post with advice about elementary school lotteries, waiting lists, and suggestions for parents who are weighing options between public and independent/charter schools or who are transferring into the public schools from elsewhere.

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A National Tragedy: Helping Children Cope – Tips for Parents and Teachers

[ 3 ] 12.17.2012 | Anisa Raoof

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) provides useful tips for parents and teachers on helping children cope with a national tragedy. More in-depth information is available on the NASP website.

Tips for Parents and Teachers

Whenever a national tragedy occurs, such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters, children, like many people, may be confused or frightened. Most likely they will look to adults for information and guidance on how to react. Parents and school personnel can help children cope first and foremost by establishing a sense of safety and security. As more information becomes available, adults can continue to help children work through their emotions and perhaps even use the process as a learning experience.

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The December Dilemma – thoughts on holidays, schools, and cultural identity

[ 1 ] 11.28.2012 | Jill Davidson

Jill Davidson shares her thoughts on holidays, schools, and cultural identity (also available in the December 2012 East Side Monthly issue). How do we celebrate the diversity of our kids’ cultural traditions without imposing ones religious views on others? The public school, out of necessity, practically bans discussion or acknowledgement of the December holidays in the classroom, but does this breed ignorance or is it a missed opportunity to celebrate and learn about our different heritages? – Anisa

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Quality After School Includes Play!

[ 0 ] 10.16.2012 | Children's Museum

By Cathy Saunders, Director of Education, Providence Children’s Museum

Play is important for children’s healthy development. All too often the school day offers little or no opportunities for children to play – recesses are limited or eliminated, “test prep” replaces hands-on exploration, and so on. By the time the typical child finishes 5½ or more hours of school, he is ready for some fun!

Think about your childhood afternoons. What were some of your favorite memories – gathering with other kids at the park? Playing hoops at the local community center? Making messes in the kitchen? Doing Scouts or some other organized activity? Digging into your favorite hobby? I’ll bet that it included some time to rejuvenate as well as opportunities to engage your mind in something interesting to you.

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Getting to School: The Challenging Connections between Absenteeism and Transportation

[ 0 ] 9.13.2012 | Jill Davidson

Jill Davidson shares this slightly expanded version of the column that she wrote for October 2012′s East Side Monthly, (out later this month). Although she has more to say about absenteeism, achievement, transportation, and related issues, she is starting the conversation here and looks forward to continuing the discussion in the coming weeks and months.

Ever since the fall of 2005, our family has had a child in kindergarten, first grade, or second grade at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School. By the time we’re done with our three kids’ passages through the early elementary school years, we will have experienced nine consecutive years of little kids going to King, from which we live 0.9 miles. According to the Providence Public Schools’ transportation policy, my kids are not eligible for transportation by school bus. We’d need to live a mile or more from school in order to qualify for bus transportation to and from school, and that tenth of a mile has made a gigantic difference in our lives.

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Back-to-School The Sensory Way

[ 0 ] 8.26.2012 | Carolyn Dalgliesh

Carolyn’s organization tips are useful for all families not just ones with sensory kids. And I take comfort in her statement, “I like to think of Back-to-School as a three month process instead of a one day event. ” – Anisa

Back-to-School is often a time of year that is filled with excitement and stress all mixed together. This is especially true for our rigid, anxious, and distracted kids. They will certainly find excitement and comfort in seeing old friends and getting back into a routine but may struggle with learning new schedules, managing academic expectations, and staying organized. Here are a few tips to help your sensory child (and your whole family!) get back-to-school in a more peaceful way:

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