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a division of Miami-Dade County Public Schools
 
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Students & Parents
A Guide for Fine Arts Parents

As we sail through the 2007-2008 school year, the Division of Life Skills would like to increase parental involvement in all of our programs. Research shows that parents who are involved in their son or daughter’s education rear high-achieving students. Here are some things that parents can do to get involved:

• Ask your child what he/she did in their fine arts class when he/she comes home from school. Do not accept “nothing” as an answer.

• Set up a schedule for home practice/sketchbook time and place it on the refrigerator. Have the student check off the date when the practice/sketchbook session was completed.

• Become a booster parent! Help out with fund-raising or chaperoning activities.

• Participate in fine arts activities as a family. There are plenty of museums and concert venues in town for your artistic pleasure. The Division of Life Skills and Special Projects often advertises free concerts and theatrical events. One especially enjoyable monthly event is the Sunday Jazz at Riverwalk in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It takes place the first Sunday of every month from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., and admission is free. (The only expense is parking, which is $5.00 - $7.00) Bring your dog and a picnic lunch to add to the fun.

• Encourage your son or daughter to read fine arts-related articles in the newspaper. Discuss the article afterwards.

• Purchase biographies of great musicians, dancers, actors, and artists for birthday or holiday gifts.

• Purchase CD certificates as a reward for good grades or great performances.

• When you embark on family car trips, share the CD player. Each family member should have equal time to choose which CD is played. This will broaden their musical interests.

• Provide your child with private lessons. If you can’t afford it, seek alternatives. Dade County Music Educators Association (DCMEA) offers scholarships for worthy students, and JUBILATE offers an after-school program with small group instruction. I know of a private music teacher who gives lessons to a student for free. In exchange, the student mows her lawn.

• Attend all of your child’s performances/gallery openings. If you can’t, make certain that ano ther family member does. (Being raised in a home with four siblings, there were rare occasions when there were four concerts in one night. My dad went to one, my mom went to ano ther, and grandparents split up to cover the o ther two.)

Together, we are truly giving our students the world!

-Robert T. Davis