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<title>www.parentinvolvementmatters.org  Blogs</title>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/what-is-a-school-parent-compact-how-to-revitalize-yours-106.html">
<title><![CDATA[How to Revitalize Your School-Parent Compact]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/what-is-a-school-parent-compact-how-to-revitalize-yours-106.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Does your school have a School-Parent Compact? Is it old and dog-eared -- filed away for no one to see? With the help of the Connecticut Department of Education, your school can revitalize your compact into a meaningful collaborative tool for family engagement!]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-05-15T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/this-week-s-twitter-ptchat-topic-summer-reading-programs-for-k-12-students-110.html">
<title><![CDATA[This Week's #PTchat: Summer Reading Programs for K-12 Students]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/this-week-s-twitter-ptchat-topic-summer-reading-programs-for-k-12-students-110.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[It&#39;s getting closer to June, which means summer vacation for many students will be here before we know it. Some schools require summer reading lists to be completed and others do not. Elementary schools and secondary schools oftentimes look very different in terms of the expectations for summer reading.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-05-14T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/interpersonal-lessons-empowering-children-to-realize-their-potential-for-good-104.html">
<title><![CDATA[Empowering Children to Realize Their Potential for Good]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/interpersonal-lessons-empowering-children-to-realize-their-potential-for-good-104.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Student learning takes place both inside of the classroom and out.  Here&#39;s a valuable lesson that can positively impact both academic and social growth for students.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-05-11T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/teaching-to-the-test-is-not-education-103.html">
<title><![CDATA[Teaching to the Test is not Education]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/teaching-to-the-test-is-not-education-103.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[A child&rsquo;s relationship with learning has nothing to do with testing. Teaching to the test is not education and actually reduces a student&rsquo;s love for learning. Standardized testing does not even give us a good reading on a student&rsquo;s learning or an educator&rsquo;s effectiveness.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-05-08T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/-ptchat-meets-up-with-ntchat-topic-parents-ask-mock-interview-qs-of-new-experienced-teachers-105.html">
<title><![CDATA[This Week's #PTChat: Crafting the Partnership]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/-ptchat-meets-up-with-ntchat-topic-parents-ask-mock-interview-qs-of-new-experienced-teachers-105.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[What do parents look for in their child&#39;s teachers? As a parent, if you could stress the importance of one thing to support a new teacher, what would it be? Crafting the "partnership" is the focus of this week&rsquo;s combined #PTchat / #NTchat on Twitter.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-05-07T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/resisting-raising-children-who-feel-entitled-102.html">
<title><![CDATA[Resisting Raising Children Who Feel Entitled]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/resisting-raising-children-who-feel-entitled-102.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[It&#39;s easy to see how children can begin to feel entitled. Parents know it&#39;s not in their children&#39;s best interest to indulge their every whim. They want to change their ways but realize that they&#39;ve dug themselves into a parenting hole and don&#39;t know how to get out of it. What are some solutions?]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-05-05T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/middle-high-school-family-engagement-strategies-101.html">
<title><![CDATA[This Week's #PTChat: Middle & High School Family Engagement Strategies]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/middle-high-school-family-engagement-strategies-101.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[This week&#39;s 5/2 Parent-Teacher Chat (#PTchat) on Twitter.    According to the Family Engagement for High School Success Toolkit provided by the Harvard Family Research Project and the United Way, family engagement tends to drop off as teens enter high school because families are intimidated by the high school environment and feel less confident about supporting their teen&rsquo;s academic progress at that level.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-04-30T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/9-myths-about-tutoring-learning-outside-the-classroom-99.html">
<title><![CDATA[9 Myths About Tutoring & Learning Outside the Classroom]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/9-myths-about-tutoring-learning-outside-the-classroom-99.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[If your child is falling behind on schoolwork, who do you turn to for help? It may seem like the process of finding a tutor outside the classroom is messy, expensive, and just not worth the effort. You might not even know where to start. However, the one-on-one attention may be exactly what your child needs, and finding a qualified and reasonably-priced tutor is not as difficult as you think.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-04-28T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/talk-to-your-kids-about-underage-drinking-they-re-listening--100.html">
<title><![CDATA[Talk to your Kids About Underage Drinking! They're Listening!]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/talk-to-your-kids-about-underage-drinking-they-re-listening--100.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[After more than two decades of fighting drunk driving and underage drinking, The Century Council celebrates Alcohol Awareness Month with some motivating new statistics. While their Ask, Listen, Learn program travels to schools across the country encouraging kids to &ldquo;say &rsquo;Yes&rsquo; to a healthy lifestyle, and &lsquo;No&rsquo; to underage drinking,&rdquo; they also continue to embolden parents to take the lead in talking to their kids about underage drinking at an early age.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-04-26T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/true-or-false-altruism-is-a-higher-order-of-human-behavior--98.html">
<title><![CDATA[Want Cooperative Children? Treat Them As If They Are   ]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/true-or-false-altruism-is-a-higher-order-of-human-behavior--98.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[By underestimating children&#39;s natural inclination for empathy and altruism, adults end up teaching selfishness rather than expanding their repertoire of social skills.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-04-24T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/what-parents-educators-want-from-student-assessments-97.html">
<title><![CDATA[What Parents & Educators Want from Student Assessments]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/what-parents-educators-want-from-student-assessments-97.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[A must-read report for parents, educators, and school administrators, "For Every Child, Multiple Measures: What Parents and Educators Want from K-12 Assessments" by the Northwest Evaluation Association provides powerful information to discuss the critical role of parents and families in children&#39;s education.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-04-19T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/lessons-from-a-dragon-mom-90.html">
<title><![CDATA[Lessons From a Dragon Mom]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/lessons-from-a-dragon-mom-90.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[While you may have realized that you are no Tiger Mom, you may have also decided that you are not a Dragon Mom either. These parents are portrayed by Emily Rapp in an essay in The New York Times, &ldquo;Notes from a Dragon Mom,&rdquo; as, &ldquo;fierce, loyal and loving as hell.&rdquo; ]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-04-17T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/creative-thinking-96.html">
<title><![CDATA[Creative Thinking]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/creative-thinking-96.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Children are naturally creative in their thinking. Our job is to be an active part of the development of that creativity. Playing games, engaging in activities, having conversation, and quiet contemplation expands thinking. Try a few of these activities and see how they might work for you and your child.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-04-14T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/important-questions-for-engaging-every-family-95.html">
<title><![CDATA[Important Questions for Engaging Every Family]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/important-questions-for-engaging-every-family-95.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Engaging every family is a commitment from schools and communities that has far-reaching effects on the learning outcomes of all children.  These two questions go directly to the heart of whether or not we have the will to transform our schools so that every family is engaged, every family is empowered and every family feels as though they have the efficacy to support and nurture the education of their children. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-04-12T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parent-power-be-engaged-in-your-school-district-s-budget-process-94.html">
<title><![CDATA[Parent Power: Be Engaged in Your School District's Budget Process]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parent-power-be-engaged-in-your-school-district-s-budget-process-94.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Have you heard that your school district is closing schools, raising class size, or eliminating arts education? Has anyone asked you to attend a budget meeting or write a letter to the local media about looming budget cuts? As a concerned and engaged parent, it&#39;s time you got involved. Parents have power in determining how their school districts spend money. Speak up to preserve programs and services that are important to your children!]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-04-10T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/from-mis-takes-to-compassion-91.html">
<title><![CDATA[From Mis-takes to Compassion]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/from-mis-takes-to-compassion-91.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[The distinction between "I made a mistake" and "I am a mistake" is a big deal.  When we make a mistake, we may feel bad, but we can learn from what we did.  When we come to the erroneous conclusion that we are a mistake, that there is something wrong with us as a person or that we are defective, that becomes the main "learning."]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-04-05T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/the-social-ability-of-children-93.html">
<title><![CDATA[Empathy in Action]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/the-social-ability-of-children-93.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[            Want a happy, industrious home and school? Don&#39;t try to "teach empathy." Act as if kids are wired for empathy.        ]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-04-03T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parent-engagement-do-you-have-a-policy-on-that--89.html">
<title><![CDATA[Parent Engagement: Do you have a policy on that?]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parent-engagement-do-you-have-a-policy-on-that--89.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[  Many states have adopted policies that describe effective family engagement and how to measure its success.  But far too often, schools and district&#39;s fail to follow through on policies. The result? Parents are left to define engagement on their own. By working together we can create solid partnerships and greater student success.  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-03-31T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/to-parents-educators-from-an-attorney-with-ld-adhd-88.html">
<title><![CDATA[To Parents & Educators: From an Attorney with LD/ADHD]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/to-parents-educators-from-an-attorney-with-ld-adhd-88.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[An attorney talks to parents and educators, not about legal advocacy for kids with LD/ADHD, but about the positive messages that encourage them to fulfill their dreams.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-03-27T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/do-you-trust-your-child-emotional-development-in-middle-childhood-86.html">
<title><![CDATA[Do You Trust Your Child? Emotional Development in Middle Childhood]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/do-you-trust-your-child-emotional-development-in-middle-childhood-86.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Of all the gifts we can give our children, trusting relationships may well be one of the most important. Middle childhood is a prime time for developing this kind of relationship with a parent or other caregiver, and the way to do is this is remarkably simple. Dr. Josette Luvmour shows why this is true and how you can go about establishing relationships of loving trust with your child&mdash;an important foundation for future relationships.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-03-24T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parents-and-teachers-as-allies-for-student-success-83.html">
<title><![CDATA[Parents and Teachers as Allies for Student Success]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parents-and-teachers-as-allies-for-student-success-83.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[How can teachers and parents work together as allies for student success? Margery B. Ginsberg, Ph.D., associate professor of education at the University of Washington provides insights that improve two-way communication and create school improvement partnerships]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-03-20T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parental-engagement-parents-are-always-on-duty--85.html">
<title><![CDATA[Bringing PRIDE to Parent Engagement]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parental-engagement-parents-are-always-on-duty--85.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Parental Engagement is not for the feint of heart. It is tough, often messy and not always popular.  If this were your day job, you&#39;d use up all of your vacation days, but alas...]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-03-15T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/is-publicly-humiliating-children-a-way-to-teach-respect--84.html">
<title><![CDATA[Is Publicly Humiliating Children A Way to Teach Respect?]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/is-publicly-humiliating-children-a-way-to-teach-respect--84.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[In the last month, two parents have publicly humiliated their children to teach them lessons. After Tommy Jordan shot at his daughter&#39;s laptop and berated her for complaining about him on Facebook, he posted his tirade on YouTube. After her son stole a laptop from a student at school, Talesha Roberson forced her child to sit in their driveway with a sign that read: "I am a thief; I like to steal." Is this good parenting, and does it help schools teach respect?]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-03-13T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/a-vision-for-parents-82.html">
<title><![CDATA[Parents: Are you a Visionary Thinker?]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/a-vision-for-parents-82.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Parents with visionary thinking support their children in creating and reaching their dreams by supporting  learning. See how parents from the Home Gardens Elementary School created vision for their children. Give yourself ideas about how you can help create and support your child&rsquo;s dreams.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-03-10T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/help-when-should-my-child-start-kindergarten--81.html">
<title><![CDATA[Help! When Should my Child Start Kindergarten?]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/help-when-should-my-child-start-kindergarten--81.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[I just finished watching the March 4, 2012 60 Minutes segment on &ldquo;red-shirting&rdquo; and knew immediately this was the topic for my next  ParentNet Unplugged blog. OH MY! (as Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz). If you are a parent struggling with decisions related to when to enroll your child in kindergarten, this blog is for you! What IS the yellow brick road?   ]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-03-08T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/divorced-parents-impact-children-s-school-success-77.html">
<title><![CDATA[4 Ways Divorced Parents Foster Children's School Success]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/divorced-parents-impact-children-s-school-success-77.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Divorce affects a child&#39;s life, no matter what their age. School performance is one area that can be significantly impacted by divorce. Parents can foster positive outcomes in four big ways!]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-03-06T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/the-power-of-asking-instead-of-telling--80.html">
<title><![CDATA[The Power of Asking - Instead of Telling]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/the-power-of-asking-instead-of-telling--80.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Why don&rsquo;t kids do what we tell them to do?  Radical thought: maybe because we are telling them.  When you tell someone what to do they don&rsquo;t have to think.  They can listen or not listen &ndash; but then it goes away.  Is that what we really want?  For us or for them?]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-03-03T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/my-tiger-mom-s-subtle-ways-79.html">
<title><![CDATA[My Tiger Mom’s Subtle Ways]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/my-tiger-mom-s-subtle-ways-79.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[I never thought of mine as a Tiger Mom. She was nothing like Amy Chua in her captivating book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Mine was an easy-going Japanese mother who simply encouraged us to do our best in school by having high expectations and setting a good example as a hard-working parent. I used this comforting image to justify my own laid back approach to parenting and the belief that motivation to learn had to come from within the child.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-02-28T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/development-occurs-in-relationship-78.html">
<title><![CDATA[Development Occurs in Relationship]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/development-occurs-in-relationship-78.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[A child&rsquo;s relationship with educators and parents is central to the child&rsquo;s perception of self and the world. Children learn in informal interactions with educators and in the family environment during everyday activities. To make those interactions as effective as possible, it is important to understand how the child sees the world and to nurture that child&rsquo;s developmental needs. We can co-create educational environments with supportive relationships that match the child&rsquo;s developmental capacities. Well-being flourishes in both child and adult.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-02-25T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/waiver-what-s-a-waiver--76.html">
<title><![CDATA[Waiver? What's a Waiver?]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/waiver-what-s-a-waiver--76.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[As the current administration has made clear the lack of progress on ESEA re-authorization has created a road-block to education innovation and reform. As a result states were given the option to "opt-out" of current NCLB requirements (some of  which mandated that every student be proficient in math and reading by 2014) and create their own measures of student college/career readiness/success.  No pressure, right?]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-02-23T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/the-case-for-eface-75.html">
<title><![CDATA[The Case for eFACE]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/the-case-for-eface-75.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Parents&rsquo; use of social media causes schools to respond. It&rsquo;s time for schools to recognize the demand for an eFACE component in home-school communication efforts. Ask yourself the right questions and learn about others already using social media tools to grow home-school partnerships. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-02-21T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/help-my-child-is-so-intense-and-sensitive--73.html">
<title><![CDATA[Help! My  Child is so Intense and Sensitive!]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/help-my-child-is-so-intense-and-sensitive--73.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[I received a call the other day from a mom who was having difficulty with her son&rsquo;s &lsquo;melt-downs&rsquo; over what should be only minor problems. &ldquo;Please help me!&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Tommy cries at the slightest thing &ndash; what can we do to stop this behavior?&rdquo;  Can we  &ldquo;stop&rdquo; a child&#39;s  feelings of intensity and sensitivity? Probably not  &ndash; since they are part of your child&rsquo;s personality &ldquo;package.&rdquo; Can we &ldquo;change&rdquo; the behavior? YES!]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-02-18T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parent-connection-101-74.html">
<title><![CDATA[Parent Connection 101]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parent-connection-101-74.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Staying connected with your children isn&#39;t an option. They are with you from the moment they are born and forever after. It&#39;s their most important connection as well as yours. So let&#39;s make it the most worth while investment in time possible. Today and in the future this blog will explore connecting with your children in activities that are fun while developing thinking and learning skills. Join me while we start with a visit to an aquarium and Stevie&#39;s imagination... ]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-02-16T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parents-do-you-know-your-rights--71.html">
<title><![CDATA[Parents: Do You Know Your Rights?]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parents-do-you-know-your-rights--71.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Are you one of those parents who is afraid to speak up on behalf of your child because you are afraid of retaliation? Actually, the opposite is true. Knowing and exercising your rights as a parent can help your child succeed in school. An informed and involved parent is a child&#39;s best advocate. The parent who advocates for his or her child gets better results than those who remain silent. Here&#39;s a Parents&#39; Bill of Rights for you.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-02-14T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/step-away-from-the-bobo-72.html">
<title><![CDATA[Self Sufficient or Independent Child? ]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/step-away-from-the-bobo-72.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[As our children mature, they will still need our intervention in a number of areas.  The nature of the intervention, however, is what can make the difference between a self-sufficient child and an overly-dependent one.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-02-11T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/bullying-is-low-where-learning-is-high-70.html">
<title><![CDATA[Bullying is Low Where Learning is High]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/bullying-is-low-where-learning-is-high-70.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Joan is not naïve. She knows that keeping the children safe includes making sure that bullies get their comeuppance. Just last year she had a child expelled. However, she knows that at the core of a safe environment is the general feeling that it is okay for each of us to be our own imperfect selves. That&rsquo;s why we go to school anyway, isn&rsquo;t it? Because we have something to learn.]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-02-08T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/7-ways-to-be-a-superhero-in-your-childs-scholastic-upbringing-57.html">
<title><![CDATA[7 Ways to be a Superhero in your Child's Scholastic Upbringing]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/7-ways-to-be-a-superhero-in-your-childs-scholastic-upbringing-57.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[        The earlier parents get involved in their children&#39;s education, the more powerful the effects. Here are seven ways parents can be true superheroes in their child&#39;s scholastic upbringing.    ]]></description>
<dc:date>2012-01-26T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/helping-kids-stand-up-to-cyber-bullies-58.html">
<title><![CDATA[Helping Kids Stand Up to Cyber-Bullies]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/helping-kids-stand-up-to-cyber-bullies-58.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[    With high profile incidents of cyber-bullying on the rise, school districts across the country are scrambling to find effective ways of dealing with a problem that often occurs after the school bell rings and extends well past school hours.]]></description>
<dc:date>2011-12-27T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/will-child-be-prepared-for-careers-that-dont-yet-exist.html">
<title><![CDATA[Will Your Child Be Prepared for Careers That Dont Yet Exist?]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/will-child-be-prepared-for-careers-that-dont-yet-exist.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[In order to give children a competitive advantage in this Information Age and global economy, we must teach them how to learn strategically -- to organize themselves, process new information efficiently, make critical decisions about that information and access it at a later time.  Learn why these skills are critical for your children.]]></description>
<dc:date>2011-11-09T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/Parent-U-Turn.html">
<title><![CDATA[Urban Parents of Color Discuss Family Engagement]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/Parent-U-Turn.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Collaboratively created by urban parents of color, this article discusses seven types of family involvement that engage parents as equal partners in education. Parent-U-Turn is a non-profit organization that has assisted first generation, linguistically-diverse, and low income immigrant families to better navigate schools and work torward higher education.]]></description>
<dc:date>2011-05-03T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/giftedness.html">
<title><![CDATA[How to Support Your Gifted Child's Education]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/giftedness.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Gifted students need parental involvement and support too!  This article describes the characteristics of gifted learners, provides examples of the areas where exceptional abilities often occur, describes what to look for in schools and programs for advanced learners, and presents ways of becoming an engaged, collaborative parent. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2011-04-02T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/bullying-prevention.html">
<title><![CDATA[Bullying Prevention Skills & Techniques for Children]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/bullying-prevention.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[How do we help children respond to bullies in ways that limits or eradicates their victimization? Involved parents can help children understand that victims of bullying are never responsible for being bullied. Learn how to teach your child to respond in ways that bullies don&#39;t expect.]]></description>
<dc:date>2011-03-02T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/mariela-dabbah.html">
<title><![CDATA[Especially for Latino Parents: Get Involved with your Teens]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/mariela-dabbah.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Mariela Dabbah, author of numerous books on Latino parent involvement, bridges the cultural divide, helping parents understand their roles in the American school system and in the education of their child. This article, excerpted with permission from her successful book, "Help Children Succeed in High School and Go to College," teaches Latinos how to support their children in high school by identifying mentors, keeping channels of communication open, helping with the choice of courses, etc.]]></description>
<dc:date>2011-02-02T22:36:43-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/engage-every-parent.html">
<title><![CDATA[Engage Every Parent: Identifying Goals for Parent Engagement]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/engage-every-parent.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[How do we engage every parent? This book by Nancy Tellett-Royce and Susan Wootten, published by Search Institute, provides valuable insights and helpful advice. Just as students have unique personalities and situations, so do parents. Learn how to engage, not just the ones who eagerly volunteer, but others who may not know how to participate.]]></description>
<dc:date>2011-01-15T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/communities-of-practice.html">
<title><![CDATA[ParentNet as a Community of Practice]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/communities-of-practice.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[    Communities of practice and social learning theory as described by Etienne Wenger has profound impact on understanding how parents, schools, and communities learn from one another to generate knowledge that benefits children&#39;s growth and development. After years of trying to define ParentNet and its impact on school communities, it is now clear that it is what Wenger calls a "community of practice," a natural and essential part of how we learn as parents.]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-05-01T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/bake-sale.html">
<title><![CDATA[How Do You Know if You Are Open to Partnership?]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/bake-sale.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[    The authors of "Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family-School Partnerships," share four core beliefs about parents and schools, discuss why partnerships are important, and ask the essential question, "How do you know you are open to partnership?"  This article, excerpted with permission from their successful book, is filled with thoughtful concepts, excellent examples, and ways to remove the barriers to creating family-school partnerships that work.]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-04-15T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/positive-discipline-jane-nelsen.html">
<title><![CDATA[Why Children Fail to Listen]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/positive-discipline-jane-nelsen.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[    Learn why lectures don&#39;t work and how to motivate and inspire your children without criticism. Jane Nelsen, author and co-author of 18 books including the "Positive Discipline Series" and "Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World," discusses the art of listening as a parent.  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-02-01T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/Parent-Engagement.html">
<title><![CDATA[Parent Engagement in Education: Drama or Empowerment?]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/Parent-Engagement.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[There is a dynamic dance that often occurs between student, parent(s) and school. TED* (The Empowerment Dynamic) shows how parents and school can partner -- as coaches and challengers -- to create systems that support the student in his or her growth and development.  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-01-02T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/engaged-parent.html">
<title><![CDATA[Developing the Fully-Engaged Parent]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/engaged-parent.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[This model, developed through work with over thirty schools participating in ParentNet, depicts the relationship between schools and parents by defining five categories of parental involvement.   Each category is discussed; showing how various types of involvement contributes to the success of the school community and to student success.  A new way of understanding the relationship of parents and schools, the authors urge a paradigm shift in thinking how to build collaborative partnerships.]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-12-09T00:00:00-0600</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parent-engagement-involvement.html">
<title><![CDATA[Parent Engagement or Involvement?]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/parent-engagement-involvement.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[    An excerpt from Larry Feriazzo&#39;s book, "Building Parent Engagement in Schools," this article points out important differences between "involvement" and "engagement." When "engagement" is the dominant process, schools support students by developing parent relationships and work with parents to improve their local communities.]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-27T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/homework.html">
<title><![CDATA[Homework: What to do when Students Don't Do It]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/homework.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[What are the most common excuses children give when they don&#39;t do their homework? How can parents work to overcome them? This article helps parents set expectations and boundaries, listen well, and set the stage for cooperation.]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-08-27T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/mangaing-your-child-anger-9-triggers-solutions-for-copying-46.html">
<title><![CDATA[9 Triggers & Solutions for Managing your Child's Anger]]></title>
<link>http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org//blogs/mangaing-your-child-anger-9-triggers-solutions-for-copying-46.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Has your child thrown a tantrum lately, thrown toys across the room or hit a sibling?  Odds are that s/he has!  Listed in this article are nine common triggers for a child&rsquo;s anger outbursts and possible solutions to help your child calm down.  The solutions may also provide ways to prevent the next meltdown.]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-05-13T00:00:00-0500</dc:date>
</item>
</rdf:RDF>
