5 Ways to Embrace Your Family’s Values
When a family embraces its values and sets clear expectations, children can be confident about what is important in their daily lives. Additionally, a family can use its values to determine how it will spend its time together and plan for its future. A family can identify its values through the following activity:
Mary Ann Burke, Ed.D., Digital Education Expert, is a substitute distance learning teacher for Oak Grove School District in San Jose, California and the author of STUDENT-ENGAGED ASSESSMENT: Strategies to Empower All Learners (Rowman & Littlefield: 2020). Dr. Burke creates digital language arts and substitute teaching K – 12 activities for teachers and parents. She is the Cofounder of the Genparenting.com blog. Burke is the former Director II of Categorical & Special Projects for the Santa Clara County Office of Education that supports 31 school districts serving 272,321 students in Santa Clara County. She is also a previous Director – State & Federal Compliance for Oakland Unified School District, the former Director – Grantwriter for the Compton Unified School District, and was the initial VISTA Director for the Community Partnership Coalition in southern California. Much of her work focuses on creating innovative digital trainings and partnership programs for teachers and families to support students’ learning. These programs were featured as a best practice at a National Title I Conference, California’s Title I Conferences, AERA Conferences, an ASCD Conference, the NASSP Conference, and statewide educator conferences.
My grandchildren asked me what my New Year’s resolutions would be for 2017. I explained to them that each year I review my life’s challenges and accomplishments and journal the next steps in my life’s goals. My typical resolutions focus on keeping my life balanced in the areas of spiritual growth and family play. I also make resolutions to manage my exercise and financial planning. Finally, each year I aspire to increase my knowledge and skills in a new area of interest. Recent learnings include technology applications, blogging, watercoloring, and creating innovative curriculum. 
It has rained for days with little time for the children to play at the park. Today is my babysitting day for my three preschool grandkids! I arrive at my daughter’s home early in the morning. My daughter plans to spend her time completing a tutorial on her new computer. I plan to take the grandkids on their weekly trip to lunch, the park, and on errands. I then ask if I can purchase the 14 month old twins’ first pair of shoes and drive my grandson to preschool after taking him to his doctor’s office for a shot.