A message from Dr. Nelson, Principal, Pine Mountain Middle School
We spend a lot of time at school asking our students to value education and to focus on their academic success. But, in my experience as a parent, I have learned there's something worth thinking about: kids learn what learning looks like by watching the adults around them — especially their parents. As Dr. Ken James, one of my first mentors, shared with me, we have to emulate what we expect from others. So, if we expect our own kids to value learning, we need to model for them how we continue to learn.
Kids Are Always Watching
When your child sees you open a book, sign up for a class, or try something new and struggle with it a little, you're teaching them something no worksheet can. You're showing them that learning isn't just a school thing. It's a life thing. It's something adults do too — not because they have to, but because it makes life richer.
Think back to your own childhood for a second. Chances are, you either grew up wanting to do exactly what your parents did, or you grew up wanting something completely different. Either way, you were watching them closely. Your child is watching you the same way right now, even when it doesn't seem like it.
You Don't Need a Degree to Make This Point
Modeling lifelong learning doesn't mean going back to college. It can be small, everyday things, like:
- Taking a cooking class
- Participating in a faith-based study
- Signing up for a certification program at work
- Learning a new trade or skill
- Picking up a book and letting your kids see you reading it
- Trying a computer course, a language app, or a hobby you've always wanted to learn
None of this has to be perfect. In fact, it helps if your kids see you get something wrong, feel frustrated, and keep going anyway. At our school, we call this commitment - not giving up even when something gets challenging. That's what real learning looks like, and it's exactly what we want students to feel comfortable doing at school when things get hard.
Why This Matters
When your child sees that you value learning for yourself and that you don't just expect it from them, it sticks. It tells them that curiosity and growth don't have an expiration date, and that struggling with something new is normal, not something to be embarrassed about.
Let your kids catch you in the act of growing. It might be one of the best lessons you ever teach them.
Have a story about a class, skill, or hobby you picked up as an adult? We'd love to feature it in a future newsletter. Reach out to kiara.mcghee@cobbk12org to share.
