Why My Children's Education Matters



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As a mother of two young children, education is subject that I am extremely passionate about. I know that a good education is the best gift I can give my kids. It provides protection from poverty, increases their self-esteem, and gives them an opportunity to pursue their own dreams.

Earlier this year, I heard education expert Mariela Dabbah say that college graduates typically earn a million dollars or more as adults than those without a degree. I expect this has to do with the fact that college students are motivated to work hard and excel in their field of interest - otherwise, why bother going to college, no? And the fact that the knowledge and training they receive in college makes them better qualified for higher paying positions. And while making money is not really the point I want to emphasize with my kids, it certainly is nice when you can get paid well for making your dreams a reality. 

I've always felt that if you go to college, you're investing in your career. And to me there is a big difference in a career and a job. A job is a place you go to earn some money. You may or may not enjoy it. But a career is where you invest your time, effort, knowledge...in effect, a little part of yourself. You build a reputation and rely on it to provide you with additional opportunities to better yourself and your field.

Education Matters to Me

I know that for me, college was one of the best times of my life. I learned so much about the things I was passionate about and laid the foundation to my current career. (I was an English major with a writing emphasis.) I travelled, met my husband, and learned without a doubt who I was, what I valued, and what I wanted to do with my life.

I want the same for my own children. I want them to find fulfillment in knowing their work is valued, that they've done their best, and made a difference in the world.

I look around me now and see so many people who have lost their focus and are leading lives they have "settled for" rather than ones with which they are joyful and satisfied. I don't want that for my kids. And I know that the one thing I can give them to help them avoid this lackluster future is their education.

In our house, there is no question about whether or not they will go to college. We talk about it openly and they take it for granted. Though they are only in 1st and 3rd grade, I am always keeping an eye out for resources to help me pave their path to higher education.

And I'm always willing to share those resources with you so that you, too, can encourage and support your college-bound children.

Here are a few of the college-bound resources for Latino families that I have shared here on MommyMaestra: 

• Top Five Reasons Why Latino Children Need to Go to College
  
  
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund Makes College a Reality for Latinos
  
  
• The Empowered Community College Student
  
  
• DSST Online Study Guides for High Schoolers
  
  
• CLEP Study Guides for High School Students

Mamas Make the Difference: An Interview with Ondina López

Lately, I've been thinking about moms. It seems like over the last year or more, I keep learning about all these really interesting and successful people who say they owe it all to their mami. And I know that without my own mother - always supportive, always proud - there's just so much I wouldn't have done and accomplished during my life.

My parents divorced when I was just two years old, so my mom had the difficult job of providing for me on her own. But she had my grandmother and my great grandmother there to help her. They would care for me while she was working full-time so that she could afford to send me to good schools and give me opportunities that I wouldn't have had otherwise. And she always made it clear that my education was one of the most important things in my life. There was never any question about me going to college. It was a given.

And now that I have children, I totally get it. I understand the desperate desire a mother has for her children to grow up to be healthy, whole, and happy. And to want to help them succeed as best I can. But sometimes I wonder if I know what I'm doing, or if I'm doing the right thing.

So when I had the opportunity to participate in an interview with Ondina López, the mother of not one, but two 2012 Olympic Games hopefuls - Steven and Diana López - I jumped! In fact, ALL of her children, Steven, Jean, Mark, and Diana, are at the world-elite level in Taekwondo. Steven, Mark, and Diana made history when they each won gold at the 2005 World Taekwondo Championships, becoming the first three siblings in any sport to claim World Championship titles at the same event.

That's pretty impressive, no?

And it makes me wonder, what does it take to raise Olympians?

Steven is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and bronze medalist. He will be competing in the 80kg division at this year’s Games. Crest & Oral-B Complete have also partnered with Steven’s mother, Ondina López, to highlight the importance mom’s support can play in an athlete’s success.

Below are some of Ondina's tips for raising successful children.

What was your morning routine like when your kids were growing up and were in school at the same time they were training in Taekwondo?

Well, every morning I'd get up really early to organize the house, fix breakfast and lunches, then I'd get myself and the kids ready so I could take them to practice or events. I always made their lunches for them to take to their events because it made things easier for them. And I am happy to say that they never ate out. They always had homemade meals with fresh vegetables and fruit, that I prepared for them.

How would you maintain organization in your household with four kids and a set schedule?

La familia has to be united and everyone works together. It's all about maintaining a balance.

How did you maintain your Latin culture at home?

They always knew that I only allow Spanish to be spoken at home. And we read lots of books and ate Latin meals, things like that.

What was the general perception of education like in your home?

My kids always knew that school was important. Homework had to be done. They knew that during the week it was "work" time and that weekends were their free time. We were lucky because our school was very supportive and was great about letting the kids do their homework on the road when they had a competition. And fortunately, Taekwondo really taught them self-discipline, to be responsible.

And today, my kids talk to a lot of school children and encourage them to do a good job and keep them motivated.

What advice do you have for other families with children who are Olympic hopefuls?

The biggest advice I have is to have patience, lots of patience. And love. Affection and support is most important. I was always there to hug and love them whenever they didn't do as well as they liked.

And to tell your kids that there are no limits to what they want to accomplish. Only the sky is the limit!

You will love this short video of Ondina and Steven and see how much she loves them.

I'm really thankful to Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) whose partnership with Steven López on the importance of how a healthy oral care routine is an important part of his winning moments led to this interview opportunity. (And as a mother with two kids who spend a LOT of time at the dentist, I am a devoted oral health care supporter!!)

To learn more about P&G Oral Care Olympic Games partnership, please "Like" Crest on Facebook.

This is part of a sponsored campaign with Crest and Latina Mom Bloggers. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Ken Robinson: Why We Must Nurture Creativity In School

I am a fan of TED Conversations/Talks. Perhaps after you watch this video you'll know why. I am so grateful to my friends at Children Inspire Design for sharing this video today. 

Sir Ken Robinson is an entertaining speaker, but don't let his jokes fool you. His message is loud and clear. He makes a case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity. I was really moved...and it has open my eyes with regards to my own daughter's abilities and innate nature. I would love for you to watch it yourself and tell me what you think...

Raising Science and Math Lovers

This article is written in collaboration with the “¡Edúcate, es el momento!” campaign as part of their seven-day event promoting higher education for Latino students across the United States.

Last April, I dedicated a week to Latino students who are interested in pursuing careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM) fields.

It troubles me that Latinos only account for 5.8% of the engineering workforce, and young Latinas are virtually nonexistent. Most Latino college students aren't pursuing a degree in any of the STEM fields. But with the U.S. Hispanic poverty rate hovering around 26%, a career in one of these fields has the ability to lift families out of poverty, since STEM graduates could potentially earn a six-figure salary upon graduation.

So why aren't our children excelling in the subjects of math and science? No doubt, it is for many reasons. Our public school system in general, seems to be struggling to produce the next generation of scientists and mathematicians. And low-income schools, which support high concentrations of Latino students, seem to be suffering the most when it comes to providing the resources needed for STEM education. Add to that these reasons why Latino parents oftentimes don't encourage their children to pursue STEM field careers, and we can see why our kids are invisible in this area.

So how can we as parents help our kids to get excited about science and math? Here are five great ways to inspire and support your children in these subjects:

1. GET INVOLVED

Find out what your child is learning in school. Are they studying animal classification? Fractions? The water cycle? Ask your child, or their teacher, what topics they are currently covering in class. Being informed is key and will help you to know what to do next... 

2. GET EXCITED

If your child tells you they're studying patterns in math and you immediately grimace, how do you think your kid is going to feel? So what if you think patterns are boring? Be prepared for your child's answer, control your facial features, and respond with delight. (But don't be overly enthusiastic. Your child is an expert lie detector.)

3. INVESTIGATE & SUPPLEMENT

Once you know your daughter is studying the secret lives of fungi, get to work looking for ways to help her explore the subject. If your son needs help with his algebra homework, check out the Kahn academy to help him understand and to practice.

4. MAKE IT EXCITING

Somehow you've got to figure out a way to make the subject come alive for your child. Try to find ways to relate the issue to their own life. You can also...

• Go to your local library and find books on the topic.
• Explore the web for online games and interactive websites that help to reinforce concepts.
• Buy your own science kits (who doesn't love experimenting?) and make every Friday night a Discovery Night.
• Find local and national contests that encourage your child to problem solve and promote creative thinking.
• Field Trip! Find out what exhibits your local museums/nature centers/zoos are hosting and see if they relate to anything your child is learning about.

5. START WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG

Develop your child's curiosity and critical thinking skills as early as you can. Asking simple questions, such as, "What do you think will happen if I let go of this ball?" or "How many cars do you see on our street?" can help your child learn to wonder about their world and also predict outcomes to specific actions. Supply your child with lots of puzzles and books that center around nature and the environment. And every family should own a set of building blocks so kids can connect with their inner engineer.

6. LEARN ABOUT IT

Who says learning is just for kids? Be a role model for your child and show them that learning is a lifelong process that can bring joy and gratification. Better yet, ask your child to explain it to you. Nothing helps you learn better than knowing you have to teach it to someone else!

My favorite STEM education resources for kids:

• Khan Academy Free, online, world-class education on every subject.
  
  
• TED Inspirational online videos.

Math -

• Prodigy Online math program.
  
  
• Math Playground Online games for children.
  
  
• School Zone Workbooks, flash cards and software.
  
  
• Elephant Learning Math Academy Online math program.
  
  
• Buzzmath Middle school math program.

Science -

• GrowingTreeToys Learning toys for children.
  
  
• MythBusters Science entertainment show that uses experiments to separate myths from reality.
  
  
• NASA Kids' Club An awesome interactive site for children.
  
  
• Curiosikid Science experiments for kids in Spanish!
  
  
• Canopy in the Clouds A bilingual site about the rainforest.

Engineering -

• Design Squad Nation A reality show on PBS where kids ages 6 – 19 design ingenious machines in the hopes of winning college scholarships.
  
  
• Fat Brain Toys They carry an incredible set of engineering toys.

Technology -

• ABCYa.com free educational kids computer games and activities for elementary students to learn on the web.
  
  
• NASA: The Space Place - Also available in Spanish.
  
  
• Technology for Kids A  cool range of experiments, free games, science fair projects, fun quizzes, interesting facts, amazing videos and more!

Con mucho cariño...