In an elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, parents of students in kindergarten, first, and second grades have the opportunity to get involved with their children’s education through a unique program. Known as Bake and Take, the program shows parents how they can support their children using the Developmental Assets, and allows them to help them engage in their children’s school, bake something together, and share a lunch.
Once a month, parents in the group are invited to come to the school for two hours during the day. During the first hour, parents learn about the Developmental Assets and strategies for helping their children develop greater confidence in math. Their children come into the room for the second hour and work with their parents to bake muffins and eat lunch together. While preparing the recipe and having lunch, parents are able to practice what they discussed before the children arrived. The activities allow for conversations among a group of parents that may not have known each other previously, and the positive support they offer one another and one another’s children is evident as they work together to follow directions, measure, and mix ingredients. Nutrition and cooking at home are also frequent topics of conversation during the events.
Bake and Take was started by Cindy Lawrence, an Asset Specialist who works in the school on contract with the YMCA Center for Asset Development. The idea for the group came to Lawrence as she considered ways to bring parents into the school. She thought it was important to emphasize how excited the children would be to have their parents come to the school to participate, and that the group would talk about strategies that would empower and support their children’s learning. It has been well-received by parents, and the next round will focus on reading skills. The size of the group is limited by the capacity of the room and oven they are able to use, but there is at least one other school in the area interested in implementing a similar program.
Lawrence is hoping that the parents involved with Bake and Take will become ambassadors, reaching out to other parents to promote other family events at the school, such as a family math night and the school spring festival.
For more information, contact Cindy Lawrence at j.lawrence@comcast.net.
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