SHPE - Spring08 - (Page 40)

T H E G AT H E R I N G S T O R M T By Leilani Rangel potential in the STEM fields, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers seeks to meet the needs of Hispanic youths. Many professional and student chapters engage parents during educational outreach activities. Members often serve as translators during parent-teacher conferences as well as math and science tutors to students. They also provide bilingual information (via printed materials and presentations) related to college preparation, admissions and financial aid. Such training can also include instruction on creating a home environment that encourages learning. According to the NEA, three kinds of parental involvement at home are consistently associated with higher student achievement. First was actively organizing and monitoring a child’s time, for example, limiting TV viewing on school nights. Second was providing help with homework, either personally or through tutoring resources. Third was discussing school matters, daily asking questions such as “How was school?” or “What did you learn?” It also emphasized that consistency in all three aspects would instill in children that their education was important to their parents and that they were expected to learn. The NEA offers many suggestions for empowering parents, even providing at-home activities to bolster skills in math and science as well as reading and writing. For more information, visit http://www.nea.org/parents. I universidad, en el proceso de admisiones y ayuda financiera. Este entrenamiento también incluye instrucciones en como crear un ambiente en el hogar que fomente el aprendizaje. De acuerdo con la NEA, tres tipos de envolvimiento familiar están asociados con gran rendimiento académico. Lo primero es organizar y monitorear activamente el tiempo del estudiante, por ejemplo limitándoles el tiempo de ver televisión entre semana. Lo segundo es ayudándoles con tareas, sea personalmente o contratando tutoría. Y en tercera instancia es hablar con el estudiante sobre sus días en la escuela y discutir si existe algún problema. Ser consistente en estos asuntos les hace saber a los niños que su educación es un aspecto muy importante para sus padres y que ellos esperan que sus hijos aprendan y aprovechen la escuela. La NEA ofrece muchas sugerencias para ayudarle a los padres, hasta dándoles actividades para el hogar que ayuden a reforzar la destreza de los estudiantes en las áreas de matemáticas, ciencias, lectura y escritura. Para mas información por favor visite http://www.nea.org/parents. Success at School Begins at Home A cademic achievement has less to do with a student’s socioeconomic status and cultural background than with parental involvement. Research conducted by the National Education Association has consistently found that the most accurate predictors of success are related to the extent to which the student’s family is able to create a home environment that encourages learning; express high (but not unrealistic) expectations for their children’s achievement and future careers; and become involved in their children’s education at school and in the community. Statistics show that Hispanics have among the highest dropout rates in the nation – as high as 50 percent, almost 25 percent higher than their white counterparts. A 2007 study issued by the NEA, titled “A Report on the Status of Hispanics in Education: Overcoming a History of Neglect,” found that the academic achievement of many Hispanic students was hindered by a unique set of significant barriers. These include higher poverty rates, Spanish being their dominant language and 40 percent of the population being foreign born. The good news is that such obstacles aren’t indicative of certain failure. Another report, “A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family and Community Connections on Student Achievement,” found that students with involved parents – regardless of income, educational level or cultural background – were more likely to succeed in school. These students had regular attendance, earned higher grades, passed their classes, graduated and pursued post secondary education. “When schools, families and communities work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer and like school more.” So concluded a January 2003 report from the National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools at the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. In fulfilling its vision to enhance Hispanic El Éxito en la Escuela Comienza en Casa Traducción hecha por Luís Lara En el éxito académico de un estudiante, el estatus económico o su cultura no tienen nada que ver frente al envolvimiento de los padres. De acuerdo a investigaciones hechas por la Asociación Nacional de Educación, encontró que los mayores factores que pueden predecir un futuro exitoso están relacionados a lo que la familia del estudiante pueda hacer para crear un ambiente en el hogar que fomente el aprendizaje; que exprese altas (pero realistas) expectativas para alcanzar logros y futuras carreras de sus hijos; y se involucre en la educación de sus hijos tanto en la escuela como en la comunidad. Aunque los hispanos estén en lo más alto de las estadísticas nacionales de abandonar la escuela sin graduarse y muchos de ellos tengan que sobrepasar las barreras del lenguaje, cultura y el nivel socioeconómico para poder sobresalir en la escuela; la buena noticia es que estos obstáculos no son indicativos para el fracaso. Otro informe titulado “La nueva Ola de Evidencia: El impacto de las conexiones de la escuela, familia y la comunidad en el logro académico,” encontró que los estudiantes que tienen padres dedicados y envueltos en sus asuntos- a pesar de sus ingresos, nivel de educación o cultura- son mas propensos a que tengan éxito en la escuela. Estos estudiantes asisten regularmente a la escuela, consiguen mejores calificaciones, pasan sus clases, se gradúan, y siguen con su educación. Para alcanzar su visión de mejorar el potencial Hispano en la rama de STEM, divisiones locales de la Sociedad Hispana de Ingenieros Profesionales tienen actividades educativas con la comunidad. Los miembros algunas veces ayudan a traducir en las conferencias de padres y maestros, también como tutores para los estudiantes en las materias de ciencias y matemáticas. Ellos también proveen información bilingüe en como prepararse para la 40 SHPE R Spring 2008 http://www.nea.org/parents http://www.nea.org/parents

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Spring08

SHPE - Spring08 Contents President’s Letter Browser Letters to the Editor Calendar of Events The Magic of Thinking BIG Five Steps to Easier Fundraising Designing Women ¡Viva Verde! The Education and Training of Ramon Flores Breakthroughs in Mobile Military Communications The Retention Doctor Success at School Begins at Home STAR Nominations Do Good Things Come to Those Who Wait? Programs & Services Regional Roundup Advertisers Index

SHPE - Spring08

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