"Schooling low-income parents in helping students
Educators have long believed that low-income students would soar if only they had the academic advantage of an engaged parent. It's time to give struggling parents the strategies they need."
For a succinct vision of the role parents can play in their children's education, a useful starting point is a tale of three mothers and an eggplant, told by Phyllis Hunter, former director of reading for Houston's public schools.
Hunter's first mother wheels her shopping cart down the produce aisle of a supermarket, where her kindergartner spots an eggplant and asks what it is. The mother shushes her child, ignoring the question. The second mother, faced with the same question, responds curtly, "That's an eggplant, but we don't eat it."
The third mother seizes the moment: "That's an eggplant," she says enthusiastically. "It's one of the few purple vegetables." She picks it up and encourages her child to put it on the scale. "Oh, look, it's about two pounds!" she says. "And it costs $1.99 a pound. Let's round it to $2. That would cost just about $4. That's a bit pricey, but you like veal Parmesan, and eggplant Parmesan is delicious too. You'll love it. Let's buy one, take it home, cut it open. We'll make a dish together."
Hunter's parable makes clear why an attentive, engaged parent is one of life's greatest academic advantages. It also makes clear why educators have long believed that low-income
Parents in a JAM
ED I am
I am ED
I am ED
ED I am
That ED-I-am!
That ED-I-am!
I do not like
that ED-I-am!
Do you like
Parents in a JAM?
I do not like them,
ED-I-am.
I do not like
Parents in a JAM.
Would you like them
here or there?
I would not like them
here or there.
I would not like them
anywhere.
I do not like
Parents in a JAM.
I do not like them,
ED-I-am.
Would you like them
in a house?
Would you like them
with a mouse?
I do not like them
in a house.
I do not like them
with a mouse.
I do not like them
here or there.
I do not like them
anywhere.
I do not like Parents in a JAM.
I do not like them, ED-I-am.
Would you teach them
in a box?
Would you teach them
with a fox?
Not in a box.
Not with a fox.
Not in a house.
Not with a mouse.
I would not teach them here or there.
I would not teach them anywhere.
I would not teach Parents in a JAM.
I do not like them, ED-I-am.
Would you? Could you?
In a car?
Teach them! Teach them!
Here they are.
I would not,
could not,
in a car.
You may like them.
You will see.
You may like them
in a tree!
I would not, could not in a tree.
Not in a car! You let me be!
I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox.
I do not like them in a house.
I do not like them with a mouse.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.
I do not like Parents in a JAM.
I do not like them, ED-I-am.
A train! A train!
A train! A train!
Could you, would you,
on a train?
Not on a train! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! ED! Let me be!
I would not, could not, in a box.
I could not, would not, with a fox.
I will not teach them with a mouse.
I will not teach them in a house.
I will not teach them here or there.
I will not teach them anywhere.
I do not teach Parents in a JAM.
I do not like them, ED-I-am.
Say!
In the dark?
Here in the dark!
Would you, could you, in the dark?
I would not, could not,
in the dark.
Would you, could you,
in the rain?
I would not, could not, in the rain.
Not in the dark. Not on a train.
Not in a car. Not in a tree.
I do not like them, ED, you see.
Not in a house. Not in a box.
Not with a mouse. Not with a fox.
I will not teach them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere!
You do not like
Parents in a JAM?
I do not
like them,
ED-I-am.
Could you, would you
with a goat?
I would not,
could not,
with a goat!
Would you, could you,
on a boat?
I could not, would not, on a boat.
I will not, will not, with a goat.
I will not teach them in the rain.
I will not teach them on a train.
Not in the dark! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! You let me be!
I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox.
I will not teach them in a house.
I do not like them with a mouse.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them ANYWHERE
I do not like
Parents in a JAM!
I do not like them,
ED-I-am.
You do not like them.
So you say.
Try them! Try them!
And you may.
Try them and you may, I say.
ED!
If you will let me be,
I will try them.
You will see.
Say!
I like Parents in a JAM!
I do! I like them, ED-I-am!
And I would teach them in a boat.
And I would teach them with a goat...
And I will teach them in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
They are so good, so good, you see!
So I will teach them in a box.
And I will teach them with a fox.
And I will teach them in a house.
And I will teach them with a mouse.
And I will teach them here and there.
Say! I will teach them ANYWHERE!
I do so like
Parents in a JAM!
Thank you!
Thank you,
ED-I-am!
This an edited version of Dr. Seuss's Copyrighted Classic Green Eggs and a Ham
Dr. Seuss Biography
Dr. Seuss was born Theodor Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904. After attending Dartmouth College and Oxford University, he began a career in advertising. His advertising cartoons, featuring Quick, Henry, the Flit!, appeared in several leading American magazines.
Dr. Seuss's first children's book, And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street, hit the market in 1937, and the world of children's literature was changed forever! In 1957, Seuss's The Cat in the Hat became the prototype for one of Random House's best-selling series, Beginner Books. This popular series combined engaging stories with outrageous illustrations and playful sounds to teach basic reading skills.
Delve deeper into the world of Dr. Seuss with an Author Study.
Brilliant, playful, and always respectful of children, Dr. Seuss charmed his way into the consciousness of four generations of youngsters and parents. In the process, he helped kids learn to read.
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1984 and three Academy Awards, Seuss was the author and illustrator of 44 children's books, some of which have been made into audiocassettes, animated television specials, and videos for children of all ages. Even after his death in 1991, Dr. Seuss continues to be the best-selling author of children's books in the world.
Dr. Seuss was born Theodor Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904. After attending Dartmouth College and Oxford University, he began a career in advertising. His advertising cartoons, featuring Quick, Henry, the Flit!, appeared in several leading American magazines.
Dr. Seuss's first children's book, And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street, hit the market in 1937, and the world of children's literature was changed forever! In 1957, Seuss's The Cat in the Hat became the prototype for one of Random House's best-selling series, Beginner Books. This popular series combined engaging stories with outrageous illustrations and playful sounds to teach basic reading skills.
Delve deeper into the world of Dr. Seuss with an Author Study.
Brilliant, playful, and always respectful of children, Dr. Seuss charmed his way into the consciousness of four generations of youngsters and parents. In the process, he helped kids learn to read.
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1984 and three Academy Awards, Seuss was the author and illustrator of 44 children's books, some of which have been made into audiocassettes, animated television specials, and videos for children of all ages. Even after his death in 1991, Dr. Seuss continues to be the best-selling author of children's books in the world.