Sunday, July 10, 2011

FAMILY OUTINGS CAN BE "VALUE ADDED" EXPERIENCES

In recent years we have been hearing the phrase “value added” when referring to how well a student, teacher or school is performing. The Analytic Quality Glossary on line defines it this way: “Value-added refers to the enhancement of the knowledge, skills and abilities of students and the empowering of them as critical, reflective, life-long learners." With respect to teachers, an on-line article by Marc Holley says The central premise of "value-added assessment" is that it is possible to measure the contributions that a teacher makes to a student’s academic achievement gains.


It is my opinion that the term should also apply to parents and what value they are adding to their children’s overall education, assisting them to become “reflective life-long learners.”


My family is in the midst of an extended visit by two Swedish families – relatives of mine – who started in New York City, are presently here, and will be concluding their three week trip with visits to the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas. We had a first hand look at value being added to the lives of the Swedish young people involved – 13 year old twins, a 16 year old boy, and two adult children, ages 22 and 27. During the visit so far, they have experienced family life on Long Island, a fourth of July parade, fireworks on an Indian reservation with all its splendor and excitement, bonfires, s’more making, several picnics as American as apple pie, and interactions with more than fifty relatives, all of us having grandfathers/mothers or great grandfathers/mothers in our common ancestry.


Today, before going downtown for a Seattle Duck Tour, several of us went to Fred Meyer and Value Village for another taste of typical America, and a few tourist dollars were dropped along the way. I have been impressed with and proud of my relatives – their interest in all they see, their respectful and polite manner, their enjoyment of each other, and their amazing ability with the English language.

It’s my feeling they represent many European families who travel extensively and understand the value of such experiences. Granted it is easier to do if you live in Europe. Our country is so large and it costs so much to travel any distance, that many of us do not see the opportunities in front of our noses.

We may not easily go to Europe, Japan or China, but we can take advantage of small weekend adventures that bring the world to us. For example, this weekend in Seattle we could visit our international district, and participate in the dragon festival with its great Asian foods, entertainment and music. In Ballard a street fair gave everyone a taste of Scandinavia, with various ethnic foods, music and entertainment. A little further north the Edmonds Art Festival, one of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest festivals, delighted adults and children alike with everything from painting and photography to art glass, yard art, homemade toys, activities and food booths. Later in the summer there will be a Tibetan festival, a Greek festival and, of course, Bumbershoot.

Many of these offerings are free or minimal in cost, and those parents who are availing themselves of these various cultural and entertainment activities are adding immensely to the lives of their children, their fond childhood memories and the bond that takes place when families play together.

So check out the event section of the paper or go to internet sites like http://www.seattle-downtown.com/events/ . Pull your kids away from their Game Boys, X-Boxes, and other video games and introduce them to the world in our backyard. This is a great way for parents to add value to their children’s education, empowering them and helping them to become lifelong learners.

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