another school year
another school year Getting your child back into the routine By Vanessa Denha Garmo Reading is a significant part of the Ayar family summer. They participate in the West Bloomfield reading program and spend about 20 minutes to a half hour on most days reading. In fact, their summer routine is what keeps the family of four kids on track for each school year. “When kids read in the summer, they are working on comprehension and fluency,” said Mary Ann Ayar. “We are not only reading but we are writing or drawing our daily experiences and what we might be doing that day.” Each child keeps a journal or drawing pad as communication and self-expression is highly valued. Ayar is not only the mother to Olivia, 11, John Paul, 9, Maria Rose, 7 and 4 ½-year-old Adam; she is a kindergarten teacher at Gretcho elementary in West Bloomfield with her Master’s Degree in reading and literacy. Many kids are nervous as they head back to school for a new year wondering will the teacher be nice and where will I sit? It is not uncommon for families to get out of their routine during the summer months so the first few weeks back to school may be an adjustment. “Ideally, parents should get their kids back on a school night bedtime schedule two weeks before school starts,” said Anita Bodiya, MD, family physician at Infinity Primary Care in Novi. Along with reading and adequate sleep, the Ayars keep to a routine summer schedule as well. After breakfast, they head out for a daily adventure because there is no television allowed from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This time is set aside for not only reading but also physical activity. Once the school year starts, the family is back into a structured routine. Ayar plans out each day the night before with lunches prepared, backpacks, shoes, and clothes set out and needed papers signed. “Our kitchen table is a designated area for homework,” said Ayar. “I make dinner and I am there to help while the kids are doing homework. They need that support. If parents are not able to support their kids with homework, they have to find someone who will.” As a teacher, Ayar notes that she can quickly identify students whose families lack structure or whose parents are not involved. She distributed a summer calendar to her 26 students and she expects less than half the students to return with the calendar completed. Those who complete it by the end of the summer are rewarded with a pizza lunch with Mrs. Ayar. “It is important that children learn that there are consequences to their actions,” said Ayar. “I parent like I teach and I teach like I parent.” At home, her children earn Popsicle sticks worth 50 cents for chores completed and lose Popsicle sticks for not following the rules. As a teacher, she is most frustrated with parents who show little interest in their child’s academic life. Many Chaldean parents do not attend parentteacher conferences. “When I was growing up, so many parents left it up to the school to teach their children everything,” said Ayar, whose mother was a school teacher in Iraq and a paraprofessional in the Southfield School District for 30 years. “Today, it is a partnership between the parents and the schools. Parents need to attend conferences, the ice scream socials, the Christmas parties and be involved. We are preparing them for their future. These kids need parent support.” Not only does Ayar stay on top of her kids’ schoolwork and daily schedule, all four are involved in after-school activities including hockey, football, soccer and skating. She encourages parents to get their kids participating in sports or organized programs like Girl Scouts or Cub Scouts. If your kids are active, regardless of the sport, athletes need to hydrate as part of that necessary school-year routine. “Water is good enough. Sports drinks are not necessary unless exercising to the extreme,” explained Bodiya. Regarding nutrition, she reminds parents to start their kids every day with a healthy breakfast that includes protein and watch the sugars in cereals. “Make sure the kids have a healthy snack before starting their after-school sport,” she said. An important part of the school year routine is the annual physical, especially as kids keep busy schedules. Bodiya recommends getting sports and school physicals done early and reminds parents that there were new recommendations for vaccines started for last school year requiring all children entering kindergarten and all sixthgrade students and all students changing districts to have two doses of varicella vaccine. Also required for all children 11-18 who are changing schools or are enrolled in 6th grade, one dose of meningococcal vaccine and one dose of tetanus/diptheria/ acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is recommended. If it has been more than five years since their last dose of tetanus/diptheria vaccine — DTap Td or DT — children need another one. Booster doses of meningitis can be given at age 16 or prior to starting college. Balance and variety are key components in child-rearing Ayar notes. “We need to raise wellrounded children,” said Ayar. “Our kids need to know that we as parents and teachers are proud of them. If they do their best, we should be proud of whatever they accomplish.” 36 CHALDEAN NEWS SEPTEMBER 2011
SEPTEMBER 2011 CHALDEAN NEWS 37
