Back To School Tips for Students From Secretary of Education

Secreatry speaks of Hurricane Katrinas effect on back to school for thousands of students in interview with Weekly Reader Kid Correspondent.

STAMFORD, Conn. (PRWEB) September 9, 2005 -- Weekly Reader Kid Correspondent Caroline ONeill sat down this week with Margaret Spellings, the United States Secretary of Education at the Department of Education offices in Washington D.C. to get the inside scoop on tips for heading back to school, as well as Secretary Spellings' thoughts on what makes a good teacher.

Secretary Spellings expressed her deep concern to Weekly Reader about the children affected by Hurricane Katrina. She said, "As children across America get ready to start classes, our thoughts and prayers are with the children who are living along the Gulf Coast and who may not be able to go back to school for weeks or months. Im working with the White House Task Force on Hurricane Katrina Response in order to find ways that we can help these children in any way we can. We will stick with these communities for as long as it takes to get them back on their feet."

Spellings adds that for the large majority of students across the country who did go back to school this week despite the enormous disaster in the south, they will need to concentrate and focus on their studies.

Heres some of the advice the Secretary has for students heading back to school:

·    Get off to a good start
·    Establish good study habits early
·    Get enough sleep
·    Read as much as you watch television.

The Secretary added, "Reading is such an important skill – its the way we learn through our entire lives. Its not enough that you know how to read. You also have to be proficient at it. Its something we have to work on all through schooling."

Secretary Spellings also had some tips for parents. "Parents need to stay focused on their childrens work and help get them off to a good start. Create good habits early and get organized," she said. "Also, make sure your children are challenged – make sure they are bringing more and more rigorous work home."

As the mother of two daughters, one school-age and one college-age, Spellings has a special interest in education and a personal understanding of the issues facing parents and students today. Her oldest daughter Mary, age 18, will be attending college this year and her younger daughter Grace, age 13, attends a public middle school. Spellings proudly explained to Weekly Readers Kid Correspondent that she is the first mother of school children to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education.

To read Carolines full interview with Secretary Spellings, and get all her advice to students for going back to school, log onto www.weeklyreader.com.

About Weekly Reader
Weekly Reader Corporation is a leader in educational publishing. Created in 1902, Weekly Reader® publishes 16 magazines and a variety of other supplemental products that reinforce curriculum, help teachers meet standards, and engage students. All sixteen magazines have won awards for excellence in educational journalism. Weekly Reader® currently serves approximately nine million students and 300,000 teachers nationwide.

Weekly Reader Corporation is part of WRC Media Inc., a leading publishing and media company that creates and distributes innovative supplementary education materials for the school, library, and home markets. In addition to Weekly Reader Corporation, WRC Media's operating companies include CompassLearning®, World Almanac Education Group, Inc., and WRC Consumer and Custom Publishing Group, which together market some of the best-known brands in educational publishing.

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