Question

A growing focus on STEM-science, technology, engineering, and math- has brought funding and excitement for these subjects into schools. Meanwhile, the push for standardized testing is requiring teachers to devote a large proportion of class time to reading and math test preparation. One consequence of these dual trends is that schools are skimping on social studies instruction.

Mindful world citizens need, at a minimum, a general awareness of foreign cultures, a passing familiarity with geography, and a basic understanding of history. If you're not sure your child's school is instilling these basic foundations of knowledge, you need to support your kids' learning yourself. Daunting as this may sound, it doesn't need to take an inordinate amount of time and effort.

A good first step is to keep a globe or world map in a prominent location in your home. Whenever possible, refer to this resource in conversation. For instance, if your child is interested in a particular animal, point out where in the world it lives. If older children ask questions about the news, show them where current events are happening If your budget allows it, keep a good children's atlas handy too. This will allow your conversations to go into greater depth if your children show interest.

Children have ever-greater access to high-quality fiction about people and cultures around the world. If you're reading together about a foreign place or time-or if you see your older child picking up a historical or multicultural book--take a moment to find a children's nonfiction book on the same subject. If you don't have time to do this research during a family library trip, most libraries allow patrons to browse and order books online.

Which sentence from the article shows the author's awareness that modern parents are often busy people?

a. A good first step is to keep a globe or world map in a prominent location in your home.
b. If you don't have time to do this research during a family library trip, most libraries allow patrons to browse and order books online.
c. If you're not sure your child's school is instilling these basic foundations of knowledge, you need to support your kids' learning yourself.
d. A growing focus on STEM - science, technology, engineering, and math - has brought funding and excitement for these subjects into schools.

Answer 1

The author indicates understanding of parental time constraints when suggesting that busy parents can order books online for social studies learning, highlighting the importance of world history and geography for developing global citizenship and critical-thinking skills.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sentence from the article that shows the author's awareness that modern parents are often busy people is: "If you don't have time to do this research during a family library trip, most libraries allow patrons to browse and order books online." This passage acknowledges that parents may not have the luxury of spending time in physical library spaces but still emphasizes the importance of providing tools for learning about world history and geography, both of which are crucial in fostering global citizenship and understanding the interconnected nature of our current global environment.

Knowing the past, the human story, has long been considered a mark of civilization, and its study has never been more important. The article suggests practical methods such as using a globe or map at home and incorporating nonfiction books into reading routines, both of which can help students develop critical-thinking and analysis skills necessary to become informed, empathetic participants in our global community.