Parental involvement is important
To the editor:
As a mother of four children, ages 21, 16, 14, and 7 months, I am able to see how fast time really goes and how precious time with your children is. As a teacher, I am able to see the behind-the-scenes need for parent involvement. By having an involved parent, students are better able to thrive in all environments both educationally and socially.
Spending time with my children has always been my favorite pastime. I enjoyed homework with them, cooking with them, playing with them and anything else I was able to do. My oldest is now in her second year of college and I still look back on those times. Recently my husband and I have had another baby and I am seeing how important the time with my teenagers was. I watch them spending time with their little sister and I see how important family is to all of them.
I have been a teacher for 15 years. I see a different group of children each and every year. I am able to watch how students are able to thrive by having an involved parent. Parents that sit down every night to talk with their children and read with their children help their kids feel good about themselves. By spending a time every day with your child it can change their whole outlook on everything.
My goal as a teacher is to educate both students and parents. I want to teach the students their basic educational needs and I want to educate the parents on the involvement needs. Students tend to have a better self esteem and are more willing to try new things when they have an interested parent. In a time when technology is taking over, parents should slow down just a little to remember the precious time they have is going to go so fast.
Kellie McIntosh
Cape Coral