Mondays with Mike: Welcome Week! — Interview with our Dean of Academics
“Welcome week” is here for the 24-25 School Year!
We are so excited to have you on campus and we thank the Lord for you and what He is already doing in this school year.
Key Takeaways: A successful school year begins with a solid start. Dr. Lawrence has expertise and wisdom in helping you and your child benefit from a GREAT beginning.
In sum, she recommends at home:
- Structured learning time (It is shorter than you might think, but also more important than you might imagine.)
- Parental engagement (She details how to ask the right question for your child.)
- Understanding your child’s need to move (ADHD and more) and the 20 minute rule.
- Understand your child’s stage of development: academic, spiritual, emotional–she recommends a great book, linked at the end.
Find out more in the podcast below and/or the summary below that.
Note: You can find PCA’s Podcast not only on Podbean and Spotify, but also now Apple Podcasts and YouTube Podcasts (formerly Google Podcasts). Buttons (links) to all of these are at the end of this email.
Trusting God for a GREAT year for your family and the growth of your child. We at PCA are dedicated to that end!
Summary of Podcast
As the school year begins, Mike sits down with our very own Dr. Connie Lawrence, a seasoned educator and nationally recognized school leader with over 30 years of experience at PCA. Dr. Lawrence shares her journey and passion for education, highlighting her deep desire to help parents on the educational journey.
As the new school year begins, Dr. Lawrence emphasizes some key tips for parents. She details the importance of structured learning time at home and engaging with children about their studies. She provides practical advice for parents on how to support their children’s education, such as setting dedicated learning times and discussing school subjects in detail.
Dr. Lawrence delves into her research on neuroscience and its applications in the classroom and at home, offering insights into how the brain learns and the significance of memory retrieval in education. She also addresses the challenges faced by students with ADHD and sensory integration issues, providing strategies for parents to help their children succeed. Throughout the conversation,
Dr. Lawrence stresses the importance of focusing on the learning process rather than grades, encouraging parents to foster a positive learning environment and how to do that in practical ways. She also outlines the developmental stages of learning from preschool through high school, offering tailored advice for each age group.
Tune in to this episode for valuable tips and expert advice on how to support your child’s educational journey, starting off the school year well and helping each reach their full potential at PCA and beyond.
Resources
Dr. Lawrence mentioned this book as a resource. From the book’s description: “Helping children grow and learn starts with understanding their development! Drawing on decades of educational experience and a wealth of research, Yardsticks invites every adult who teaches or cares for children to celebrate the incredible developmental journey that occurs from ages four through fourteen. Combining easy-to-access information about the cognitive, social-emotional, and physical characteristics unique to each age with practical advice for how to apply this knowledge, Yardsticks offers parents and educators a foundation for helping children grow and thrive.” Available HERE.
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