Master the mania
By Zenaida Serrano
Advertiser Staff Writer
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With five children ages 10 years to 9 months, Eliza Shumway has had her share of hectic school mornings.
Over the years, the 'Ewa Beach mom, 34, has figured out ways to conquer some of the biggest morning culprits, such as getting the little ones out of bed on time and making sure their school work is completed and ready to go — not sitting on the breakfast table until the very last minute.
"I'm not a perfect mom, so there are days when — oh, my gosh," Shumway said, laughing. "Sometimes it can be crazy, but you can prevent it."
Managing morning madness is just one issue that families will have to address as the school year kicks into gear once again.
Other concerns many parents have include helping their kids keep their homework on track and being able to communicate with their kids' teachers in an effective and productive way.
What are some ways to cut down morning distractions? How can your children organize their assignments? Is e-mail an effective way to interact with your child's teacher? We asked experts and other parents to share their advice on handling these and other situations.
MORNING MADNESS
This year, Shumway will have four children in school — a junior kindergartner and second-, fourth- and fifth-graders at Holomua Elementary School in 'Ewa Beach.
But with at least five years of morning management experience behind her, Shumway won't be too worried when school starts at this multitrack school on Monday. (Most public schools in the Honolulu district start tomorrow, but multitrack and charter schools may run on a different calendar. Many ninth-graders head to school today, to give them a jump-start on high school.)
Shumway's best piece of advice for parents is to get everything ready for school the night before. That means completing homework and taking care of any paperwork, then placing it in a school bag by the front door; choosing outfits; and preparing home lunches ahead of time.
"The less things you have to do in the morning, the better," Shumway said.
In "Simplify Your Life with Kids: 100 Ways to Make Family Life Easier and More Fun," author Elaine St. James shares these tips:
HOMEWORK HELP
For Ilona Ka'onohi, helping her son keep track of his assignments and making sure he completes them has always been a priority, she said.
At 'Ewa Elementary School, where Ka'onohi's son will be in the 6th grade, teachers provide students with assignment planners to help them stay organized.
"If students don't have planners that the school provides, I would suggest using a composition tablet," said Ka'onohi, 42, a crossing guard, supervisor and school community council member at 'Ewa.
Parents can date the tablets for their kids, then have their children record their daily assignments in the tablet, along with other long-term papers and projects, and the due dates, she said.
"The other important thing is setting a time in the afternoon for homework," Ka'onohi said.
As soon as her son comes home from school — if he doesn't have any sports games or extracurricular activities — she has him clean up and eat a healthy snack. Then he does his homework, usually from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
"If he finishes in that hour and a half, then that's great," Ka'onohi said. "But if not, I usually give him a break ... so he doesn't get frustrated."
The National Parent Teacher Association (pta.org) and the National Education Association recommend these helpful homework hints:
TALKING TO TEACHERS
Staying in touch with your children's teachers is a must — not just for homework, but for your child's overall educational well-being, said Sue Wright-Maximo, 32, a mother of three children and president of the Parent-Teacher-Student Association of Holomua.
"At the beginning of the school year, I go to my children's teachers and make sure that I introduce myself and explain that I am here to help them in any way possible with my children," said Wright-Maximo, whose children will be in the ninth, seventh and fourth grades. "My youngest child has a difficult time staying on track, so from his first-grade teacher to his current teacher, we make sure to communicate any needs or concerns regarding his teaching."
What's the most effective way to communicate with your children's teachers? Amy Yamashiro and Laurie Ishida, kindergarten teachers at 'Ewa, offer these tips:
"For one of my older children, the teacher would contact me via e-mail and keep me up to date on daily (assignments) and situations that arose during school," Wright-Maximo said. "As the children get older, they have more classes, so this (allowed) me and the teacher to correspond during times when we were unable to meet."
Be conscious of how you approach the teacher, Ka'onohi added.
"I believe that teachers are always willing to help," Ka'onohi said. "Just try to be positive as much as possible and from there, you'll get the help that you need."
"By getting involved in school activities, such as the PTSA, you not only get to know your child's teacher, but you also get to know the school administrators," Wright-Maximo said. "And by working closely with the school, you become more involved in your children's education."
Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.
