15 Creative Summer Job Ideas for K12 Student

There are many benefits to encouraging K12 students to work during the summer. They can learn how to use some of the knowledge they obtained during the school. They benefit from learning what professionals do at work. Also they may uncover a career that interest them. It is far better than having a student sit around the house with nothing to do. Here are some job ideas:

1. Encourage a high school student to take a entrepreneurship course at a community college

2. Start a small business with friends

3. Tutor students in other grades

4. Work at a relatives business

5.  Work at a recreation center 

6. Apply for a life guard job

7. Create your own lawn care business 

8.  Pursue a job at a local radio station

 9. Create a baby sitting service

10. Talk to a librarian about summer jobs

12.  Find work in a grocery store

13.  Serve as a camp counselor

14. Teach arts and crafts to younger children. 

15. Start a bicycle repair business 

Learning how businesses work can be enlightening for a student during   the summer. Get your student to brainstorm business ideas with other students. Other professionals can contribute to a student's learning experience. Ask your teachers for business problems you can solve during the summer. If you encourage your students to do something different this summer your K12 students will never be the same  again.

Dr Stephen jones is a education advocate, college access and success expert and author of the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parents Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide at http://bit.ly/1wJHWaa Join my newsletter http://bit.ly/1wJHWaa or email me to add you at learn@DrStephenJones.net.

How to Help 8th Graders Transition to High School

The best schools prepare students for their transition to high school throughout their middle school experience.  Often middle school students do not know what to expect.   High school will be much more challenging than middle school.  For example some middle school students have math course but it does not offer enough of a foundation to match what the student will experience in high school.

Here are some things that middle schools can do to prepare students for high school:

1. Establish a transition program between the high school and the middle school.

2. Focus on teaching students good study habits

3.  Learning time management is a key to doing well on tests.

4.  Reinforce doing homework on time. It is a good habit.

5. Establish a tutoring program between the middle school and the high school that students frequently attend

6. Get the middle school student involved in volunteering 

7.  Help the students to learn how to achieve their goals

8.  Have the students to participate in honors classes. 

9. Ask the high school principle how to prepare your student.

10. Visit colleges to keep your students motivated

Principals and students must be active participants in the high school academic preparation process. It is good to talk to students about the choices that they have to make while in high school. You can let them know that there is limit to what they can accomplish. Hard work will always. The middle school students benefit.

The middle school student must also learn how to respond to peer pressure. Talking about peer pressure and how to respond to bullying can help the student's emotional adjustment.

Dr. Stephen Jones is an education advocate and author of Seven Secrets of How to Study. Get copies for students at your http://bit.ly/1wJHWaa

Unique Stress Management Tips for Busy K12 Professionals

Stress can be one of the greatest challenges for K12 professionals. You are constantly under pressure to get student to show school improvement without the resources that you need to accomplish it. You spend 60 to 80 hours each week doing your job. There are all kinds of meetings with students, staff, teachers and parents. You have a significant number of regulations. In spite of all these challenges you enjoy what you do. In order to survive your daily challenges you must commit to managing your stress. Here are some things that you can do to lower your stress:

1. Participate in a water aerobics class at the YMCA/YWCA

2.  Organize a weekly fun game night for your family or with friends

3.  Take a more than one mini 3 day vacations during the fall and the spring

4. Take off a Friday and a Monday to create a 4 day weekend to enjoy family

5. Hire a trainer to keep you on track with your fitness and healthy eating goals

6.  Go walking three times a week. It is a great alternative exercise.

7.  Take a month off during the summer.

8.  Visit an aquarium to relax 

9.  Go to the beach to enjoy nature

10.  Create a picture board with fun things that you want to accomplish and start working on them.

11. Do different exercises 6 days a week. Try different exercises and it will not be boring.

The K12 professionals who are effective have learned that stress management must be a way of life for you. Something that you must do to be an effective K12 professional is managing your stress. I have talked to several K12 professionals who never take a vacation. Vacations can help you to recharge your battery and to relax. An important part of your health plan is reducing your stress and taking a day to relax when you are overwhelmed.

Dr. Stephen Jones is an education advocate, author and professional development presenter on numerous topics at http://bit.ly/1wJHWaa or email Dr. Jones at Learn@DrStephenJones.net

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How to Close the Achievement Gap Today

The gap between those who have and those who do not continues to grow. It separates the rest of society’s chances to get access to the best education. Ultimately the outcome of the socioeconomic disparity is growth in the achievement gap. The future is affected by every student that is sitting in class disenchanted with the education that they are receiving. The future of education is now. While some say standardized testing provides good information to change a failing school others say it is a distraction to the learning process. Some teachers are forced to teach to the test and this does not result a better school.  Principals and teachers jobs are lost based on test scores.  Educators and parents need to make a serious effort to close the achievement gap by working together.

Some say there is a lack of parent involvement. Parents face many socioeconomic challenges that limit their participation. It takes a whole community working together to build a bridge that connects the children to the right education experience. If you live in a state where early childhood education is not supported your children’s chances of reading at grade level is limited. It’s time to close the achievement gap today by improving education all along the K12 experience. Too many school districts are fighting an uphill battle to survive.  In subsequent paragraphs you will find suggestion for closing the achievement gap.

Bold School Leadership

Some school districts are constantly unstable which causes a crisis in leadership. Principals across school districts are added and removed throughout the school year. Some principal’s don’t know what teachers will work in their build during the school year.  Teachers may change from one year to the next. A person may be trained for leadership but they need consistency among their teachers to organize an effective school. If the principal and teachers are working together a lot can be accomplished and students can earn better grades. It can also help to reduce the achievement gap because the students have the same teachers throughout the school year.  I have heard about one school  that had three math teachers in one year.  You cannot expect a child to learn with that kind of instability.

Effective leadership on the part of a principal can help to close some of the doors that limit a student’s ability to go to college. All principals that work at schools in each city need to regularly come together and think of solutions that they can implement. The principals must be united in to see better outcomes for the children who are in their school district. The student should have an awareness that their principal has a plan to improve how they perform. Principals must know that they must sacrifice their time and continually gain more knowledge to make their school the best that it can be.

Absenteeism

To close the achievement gap a written and measurable plan must be followed  in order to reduce student absenteeism. There are a number of issues that plague students who are frequently absent. These students often face adverse health issues, some students have persistent problems with asthma or stress that cause students to be more susceptible to sicknesses.  There may be abuse going on in their home and it has not been investigated.  A significant number of students are no longer interested in school and there are no parents at home who can inspire them to excel while in school.

Every effort must be made to overcome the challenges of decreasing the amount of student absenteeism.  There should be an assessment of the patterns of absenteeism that exists in certain neighborhoods.  The data can be used to come up with new strategies to resolve issues that absent students face and each day. Getting students to attend school is important because the research says that when students don’t show up for school their grades are affected. This student can easily become disillusioned with school and dropout.  School districts must find more creative ways to catch up with students and their parents to offer them solutions. It takes a team effort to send a message to families that you want their child to succeed in school. School districts must be aware that some parents are on the move in terms of their place of residence throughout the school year.  Most parents want their children in school every day but moving to survive affects their child’s attendance. There must be an easy process for a child to transfer to a new school.

There must be many communication access points to keep the school district informed about a child’s absenteeism issues.  Some schools have a call in telephone number in place on their website or a parent can call and talk to someone live. Some parents may use a library to communicate with the school over the Internet.  Effective communication may take time when a parent moves to a new neighborhood. The best results will come with the school districts that have multiple ways to communicate regarding student absenteeism. The school district must have a plan that will address the absenteeism issue while also helping students to be motivated about attending school.

Health Issues

One cannot ignore the health issues that often plague students who are in the United States. Students suffer issues like asthma, diabetes and teen pregnancy to name a few. All of these issues can contribute to the gap in the academic achievement of the students. These students may end up in an emergency room prior to a test and they may feel out of it when they do retain return to school to take their test. Depending on the illness it may take several days to get back to school. If the student does not have a computer at home they must have parents who can help them to get their assignments.  A good student may turn in an assignment late due to their illness. Parents who have children with several health issues can feel overwhelmed.

There needs to be a citywide coordinated effort to respond to health issues that are happening in the community. When a young person has a baby it can hinder her ability to continue school unless there is a health advocate in place to help the student. She could be a student who had good grades before the pregnancy. She should not be penalized. Schools should not count her as a loss because she cannot return to school right away.  Educators should always find multiple ways that a student can return school. There must be a coordinated effort with the school nurse and other public health agencies.  There should be a health plan in place so that the principal has the help that they need with the students who have health issues.

Each month parents need information about health solutions and other resources. It is better to help parents to take a preventative approach to healthcare rather than awaiting the next crisis. A lot students do not have the right glasses some parents do not have enough money to take care of their need for new glasses.   The Philadelphia Eagles football team has a bright idea they have their own truck with doctors who the provide glasses for children. We need to make a big investment in how our children’s health is monitored and resolved.  Closing the achievement  gap must include a healthcare plan that works.

Parent Engagement

The socioeconomic condition of parents is an ongoing factor in the expansion of the achievement gap. There are economic factors such as income inequality and homes where there is only one income coming that limits a parents aspirations for their child.  Some parents may remember their own experience with their local school and decide that their participation will not make a difference. They do not realize that they are their child’s first teacher. Spending time communicating with their child is more work but is worth the investment.  A student whose parent is reading to their child every day  significantly at increases their chances for success.

It is important to consider how to close the achievement gap as an ongoing part of the school plan. In order to succeed there must be several different ways to get parents involved in schools academic life. My suggestion is finding ways to meet parents where they are. For example the school principal should consider all of the events where parents typically show up. It can be exporting event, a school play or something is happening at a community center. This may require more time but is it worth the investment. This is a signal to the local community that the principal and the teachers at a particular school really care about how well the students perform.

This is the day to get started with new ideas and programs to get parents excited about their role at their child’s school. You want to get all the parents involved in some way. There could be a conference call, workshop or online chat about things that are happening at the school. Identify a parent who is very committed to talk to school administrators and teachers and get them involved in all the parent initiatives. Another approach would be getting one parent from each class to participate in the Parent Taecvher Association (PTA).  If this happens you will have a significant level of participation throughout your school. There is a possibility that you could have 30 to 40 parents involved.  If you get one parent from each class you are increasing your parent engagement and changing the school environment. This will be a great strategy for close the achievement gap because parents could be an active part of their student’s success.

Summary

Closing the achievement gap will require innovative leadership and a commitment to changing how students learn. The principal at a school must find a creative way to address multiple issues. Students should know that they are welcome in the school and that they can benefit from instruction that is happening throughout the day. We cannot continue to allow the achievement gap to expand. This is time for the entire American community to come together to address a crisis issue. There needs to be more than a national dialogue about closing the achievement gap this is a time for action. The future is in our hands now and we have an opportunity to expose students to the new careers that can change the socio-economic conditions of students who graduate from high school  or who pursue a post secondary education .

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Dr. Stephen Jones is an education advocate and consultant who has published three books the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parent’s Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide at http://www.DrStephenJones.net or Learn@DrStephenJones.net.

Should K12 Schools Prepare Students for College

Many K12 school principals and teachers think that high school is the best time to prepare a student for college. A child's elementary school education experience is actually laying the foundation for success while enrolled as a college student. Parent's play a key role too. They create the expectation that their child will go to college. That's why I wrote the Parent's Ultimate Education Guide. The right elementary school experience will plant the seed of enthusiasm for learning in a child. That enthusiasm will sprout again and again in middle school and high school. Students that read with great comprehension are on a pathway that can lead to good preparation for college.

Here are 10 creative things the K12 school administrators and teacher's can do to prepare students for college:

1. Start a chess club. It teaches problem solving.

2. Create a 100 book reading challenge. Children build their vocabulary by reading.

3.  Teach kids underwater robotics. Consider the MATE competition

4.  Design student projects that focus on the environment. It can create an enthusiasm for science.

5. Create an entrepreneurship club for students who want to start businesses.

6.  Invite college students to regularly talk about their major and to do fun things with the students.

7.  Arrange for students to visit a college campus.

8. Get local college students involved in tutoring.

9. Form a science club and enter the student's into a competition.

10.  Encourage students to play music. These students have very high rates of graduating from college.

The middle school years should not be ignored with regard to college preparation. A middle school student should pursue any honors classes that are available. Teachers should talk to students about their college experience. Students enjoy having conversations about their teacher's college experience. Let your middle school student select a college that they want would like to research and give a presentation about. All of the students in a classroom can benefit from their research paper or powerPoint.

College focused high schools should encourage students to speak with a college counselor during the 9th grade. The students should not wait until the last minute to develop a plan. It is amazing how four years of high school ends so fast. A ninth grader can take a career test to get some ideas regarding their job interest. It is also important to inform ninth graders about summer programs that are held on a college campus. Encourage all students to take advanced placement (AP) classes and explain their value to parents and students. Students should also understand that they must maintain good grades throughout their high school experience. Encourage all seniors to complete the common application for admission to college.

Get your elementary, middle or high school geared up for college. Have college displays and banners throughout the school. Invite a fun professor to do experiments at an assembly. Promote a positive expectation that students will do well in your school. Put famous motivational quotes on display in your hallways. 

Yes your student should go to college or a trade school to receive a post secondary education. A child's education determines their occupation and their occupation determines income. It is important to get children ready for 21st century careers early. Our current K12students are the leaders of tomorrow.

Dr. Stephen Jones is the author, worship presenter and consultant. Get his books which are the Parent's Ultimate Education Guide, the Seven Secrets of How to Study and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide. Get my books at http://www.studyskills2u.com.  Send your questions to stephenjoness@rcn.com or to order call 610-842-3843.

How Principals Can Change Failing Schools

One of the critical aspects of transforming a school is selecting the right leadership.  The expectation that there will be new  leadership that will result in a successful school must be in the hearts and minds of the principal, staff and teachers who see students every day.  Why do some schools turn around while others flounder?  It is because some principals and teachers continue to lead the same way they did last year.  They expect different results but they keep doing the same things that caused the school to fail.  Successful principals and teachers see change as a good aspect of their schools success.  There must be leadership with a positive vision and measurable outcomes that inspire students to be successful. There must be a commitment to moving forward with new ideas and actions.

     The principals, staff and teachers in a school that’s progressing has very good communication and cooperation among the entire professionals who are running the school.  There is an expectation that all communication has a purpose and motivates everyone to raise the level of energy that is invested in student instruction. A better school will come from everyone knowing how to carry out the vision of the principal.  Teachers in this school should feel free to talk to each other and to develop some of their own strategies to improve student motivation. This includes reviewing the way that they communicate their lessons to students.  The teachers must also feel confident that the principal understands them and takes time to teach students too.  A principal who takes time to teach will have a better sense of what students are learning in their classrooms.

     The students must understand that everyone at the school expects them to do well.  There must be a strategy to totally abolish the culture of low expectation.  Students must be applauded and recognized for their accomplishments in the classroom.  A whole school culture can change if the students who maintain a “C” average are challenged and rewarded for raising their performance to a “B” average or higher. Success is evident in a school when the principal and teachers make learning fun and engaging.  The school not only celebrates their success of its athletes but has a bigger celebration over students who excel in the classroom.  A school atmosphere can change so that athletes want to become a scholar athlete.  Better grades and academic performance will get all students excited about coming to school.

     There must be a level of compassion by the principal and teachers.  A school must be a welcoming place that is aware of the neighborhoods and cultures that influence the students.  Schools administrators that ignore the child’s problems are ignoring that they are affected by a number of struggles.  The challenges that a student can face when there is one parent in the home are tremendous.  Even if the student has two parents it does not guarantee that they will focus their energy on the student’s academic success. The principal and teachers must understand these challenges and work on some solutions that help each student to position themselves to learn when they are in school.  There are some very bright students whose home situation is not good.  It is better to meet the challenge head on than to hope that it will go away.

    It is important to lead from the front and not from the back. What is meant by this statement? It is better to have a plan that the school is following than to constantly respond to conflict and problems that were never fixed.  When the principals, staff and teachers lead from the front schools become better.  The teachers are excited to come to school because they feel supported. The students get the benefit of the teacher’s enthusiasm.  The principals and teachers can be role models of what good leadership looks like.  They also inspire students to become leaders at the school and in their community. 

     Positive changes can come from principals, staff and teachers who know how to get parents involved in the daily life of the school.  Parents often do not know how they play a positive role because their own parents were not involved in their school.  The school staff and several parents should come together to discuss how other parents can be involved.  These meetings can be held in the school, at a community center or at a church.   An effective parent involvement program includes meeting the parents where they live.  It’s great when a principal can find a pre-existing group of parents that meet and find a way to get on their agenda.  This saves the parent’s time but the principal can share important information with them. Persistence and a significant improvement in the students success is the key to improving parent involvement.

    Finally an inspired principal and staff can change a failing school by promoting career awareness to all at all K12 levels. Too many students are drifting in schools where they have no idea what their future could look like.  I firmly believe that career exploration should occur all year.  The K12 students need to explore careers to sustain their enthusiasm and the vision to explore how they can work in professions such as medicine, engineering, government, business and other professions.  The principals and teachers are the catalyst that motivates students can educate students about some of to pursue the top careers.  It is time to try something different at the failing schools. It is time to take action and to fight for successful schools.

Dr. Stephen Jones is an education expert who you should consider for your school.  He is the author of the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parent’s Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate scholarship guide at http://www.studyskills2u.com. Contact him right away at 610-842-3843.

7 Unique Student Motivation tips for High School Principals

Do you want to see an abundance of student's coming to your school motivated to learn? Change what you are doing year after year. That's right the principal has the power to make school an exciting place. It can be a place where the students feel empowered to be innovative as they think about how they are learning. The students need to see passionate teachers who are altering the curriculum to keep them engaged. I suggest finding ways the get the students involved in local community and city wide projects to improve the city for everyone. Here are 7 things you can do:

1. Teach your students to play chess

2.  Get a back door tour of jobs at an airport, public transportation and other businesses.

3. Start a entrepreneurship class for students

4. Student professional development class for internships

5.  Teach students how to earn A+ grades

6. Visit companies in the area

7. Start an energy careers course

It is important for students to see how learning more information can lead to a career opportunity. Students need to know that there is a benefit to indepth conversations with teachers who care about their success. The school environment must be a place where students can explore and ask questions to the principal and counselors. 

Today is a good time to try something different at your school. You might find out that the changes that you make gets students to view their school differently. Dr. Stephen Jones is the author of the "Seven Secrets of how to Study" at 

http://bit.ly/19Vg9ew.