Palmer Trinity School

to retain and absorb information can also hinder their ability to increase their academic foundation. In the classroom, teachers have had to compact their teaching in some areas in order to expand others. Reviewing material to help students retain it has certainly been a practice in many classrooms. As we continue to move beyond COVID, the foundation will be reinforced and not an issue for students to move forward. ABILIT Y TO UNDERS TAND SOCIAL CUES If you think about the Spring of 2020 when schools shut down, the main source of communication for our students was through electronic devices. Many students opted to use text messaging or social media. There was not much in the way of seeing other people or hearing their voices. I am sure that each of us have been in situations where tones in the written form (like this) are difficult to decipher, especially if you are speaking to someone who often uses sarcasm. I often share with parents that they need to monitor their children's cell phone. It's a dangerous world and cell phone use doesn't make it any easier. Students are up late on their phones, they tend to send inappropriate messages and the social pressures are tremendous. Taking it a step further, I encourage parents to take the phones away from their children at night. Perhaps this is a bit impossible for our older students but it's worth it at least to think about. Phones are not going away so allow your children to be a part of the problem solving and solution. Additionally, for those of you who haven't given their children a phone, make them earn it. Before my son got his phone for his fifth grade graduation, he had to make a presentation to me and my wife on why he deserved one and what he was going to do to keep himself safe. When your children begin to show signs of issues, it's natural for parents to want to help. It's your parental instinct. More and more parents overstep, and instead of helping their children problem solve, they end up doing it for them or make excuses for them. Instead of that progression, help your children realize the issue and point them in the right direction. Usually if there is an academic problem the conversation is directed towards the classroom teacher. That should be the first person you have THEM contact. Have them do it – don't do it for them. If your child makes a mistake or you don't see a solution, then speak to them about next steps. Depending on the situation, you may need to inquire but do so where you are not doing it for them. We have spent a great deal of time providing space for students to socially interact with one another in a less stressful environment. Students have participated in Advisory Circles where each one of them is as valuable as the next. We have even gone one step further in Middle School to provide time, mostly on Fridays, for our students to engage in activities that promote bonding and teamwork. Understanding their social surroundings may be their toughest obstacle and that will largely depend on how connected they are to their phones. When we go on school trips and do not allow them to use their phones, as is customary in many of our travels, we force face-to-face interactions which they do appreciate in the end. At home, promote the idea of unplugging – stepping away from electronic devices to engage with others. When friends come over, take away cell phones and have them do other activities instead. In the long run, they will understand that this is to benefit them. How Can We Move on From Here? My advice for parents: More and more parents overstep, and instead of helping their children problem solve, they end up doing it for them or make excuses for them." 25

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