write the vision

It’s the middle of July and August is right around the corner; and for us here in Georgia, that means schools will soon open across the state. For others, September marks the beginning of the school year. Regardless of when the school year begins, for many parents, this is their first time sending their kids off to “real” school. But “real” school begins at home with you, your child’s first teacher. Congratulations on all you have done so far. Raising children is no easy feat. So, before you send your child off to school, whether it be outside of your home or in the sanctuary of your very own homeschool, I want to share 5 tips to help you start the school year out right for your beautiful black one.  

Tip #1

Before sending your child off to school, be sure to share with him or her how proud you are of how much he or she has learned already. Tell your chocolate cherub a few things that you notice that he or she does well. Set them up with praise for who they already are. 

Tip #2

Connect their accomplishments with the fact that they put the work in and that’s why they received positive results. Quality input yields quality results. They have to work or take action to get what they want. The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. Take the time to share a story on celebrated persons in black history who persevered and worked to accomplish their goals.  

Tip #3

Talk to your child about some of the things they really love to do. Discuss what they want to be when they grow up. Connect how the new things they learn in school will help them accomplish their goal. “Astronauts use lots of numbers. Lawyers read a lot. Archeologists love science!” Then show them pictures of black people who used education to help them reach their goals. Most importantly, share how accomplishing their goals can help build a better world for black people. 

Tip #4

Establish your expectations for learning behavior. Continue or establish the norms for your family. Infuse a bit of your family history in this conversation in order to create a sense of continuity and legacy. Pull out the family album…OK.OK. Look at the digital pictures on your phone…you get my drift. Instill their importance in fulfilling the visions of their ancestors.  

Tip #5

Instill a sense of learning adventure. Share the joy that comes with growing and learning. Find ways to celebrate learning and make it fun by planning shared activities based on what your child is interested in. 

I hope you find these tips helpful for starting a successful school year. I invite you to visit Aquarius School for Kids online at www.aquariusschoolforkids.com. Subscribe to join our village or simply drop us a note to let us know how we can be of service to you and your early learner! 

Until next time... 

- Jinaki 

July, 2018