Home& School Working Together for School Success CONNECTION Lakeside Primary School Laurent Thomas, Principal SHORT NOTES Conversations about school Exercise your brain Your child's brain is like a muscle- the more he uses it, the stronger it will become. Suggest that he give his brain a workout with activities like using his nondominant hand to throw a ball or When you think of parent involve- ment, do you picture moms and dads volunteering in classrooms? That's one way to help-but research shows that support- ing your child's education at home is even more impor- to color. Learning to speak a foreign language or play a musical instrument are also known brain boosters. tant. Here are conver- sation starters that will Children who regu- larly eat meals with their families tend to do better in school help you stay involved. DID YOU KNOW and avoid risky behavior. Eating dinner together is great, but other meals count, too. If you work at night, maybe you could make time for a family breakfast. Or on a weekend, try a picnic lunch. "Let's see what you worked on today?" Look at completed work to find out what your youngster is learning and how well she's doing. You could comment on her math work or shapes together. If she's fascinated by how animals adapt to winter, read a book or observe animals outside.V social studies project, for instance. ("You know a lot about our state's history!") Also, respond to notes from her teacher, and sign her weekly folder or daily plan- ner if required. Celebrate progress Suggest that your youngster create a fun reminder of all the things she has accomplished. Let her cover a box with construction paper and label it "I did it!" Then, she can write each success ("I learned to add fractions") on a slip of paper and put it in the box. If she's feeling discouraged, have her read the slips. After-school questions "Show me what you have for homework?" It's your child's job to do her home- work, but you play a role, too. Make sure she knows what she's supposed to do by having her explain the assign- ments to you. After she finishes her homework, glance over the work to see that it's complete. Asking "How was school today?" might not get you far. Instead, ask questions like these for a better pic- ture of your youngster's day: "What's the coolest thing that hap- pened today?" Pretend you're the teacher. How would you describe the day?" Worth quoting "The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up!" Mark Twain "Describe a book you enjoyed today?" This gives you an idea of what your youngster prefers to read. Then, build a daily reading habit by asking what she'd like to read tonight. Encourage her read- ing and listening skills by reading aloud to her and letting her read to you. "What made you laugh?" O "What was JUST FOR FUN the most Q: Can a kangaroo jump higher than the Empire State Building? creative thing you did?" "How A: Of course. The Empire State Building can't jump! "Tell me what you learned that you'd like to know more about?" Use her interests as jumping-off points for activities to share. If she likes geometry, you might hunt for were you kind or helpful today? How was someone kind or helpful to you?" © 2020 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated 0002442
Home & School CONNECTION® Page 2 What does respect look like? want to be healthy, but I love video games." Have him brainstorm other situations where Your youngster's daily dealings with adults and kids alike will be more pleasant if he speaks and acts respectfully. Try these tips for helping him learn about respect. people have different opinions but still speak to each other with respect. Respectful replies. Think about some- thing that you and your youngster disagree on (say, whether his video game time should be limited). Model having a respectful discussion about it. You might say that his brain and body are growing and that he needs to run and play to stay healthy. Then, suggest a respectful response, such as, "I Everyday acts. When you mow the lawn or clean up after your dog, you can teach your child about respect for neighbors. Explain that keeping your neighborhood clean and neat makes it nice for everyone. Ask him to think of other respectful things neighbors should do. If you share an apartment laundry room, he might say that you respect neighbors' time by removing your clothes when they're done so others get to use the washers and dryers. A reading challenge By reading more complex books, your child can learn new words, facts, and ideas. He'll also be exposed to more complicated plots and will grow as a reader. Share these suggestions: Knowing something about the topic or setting makes a tougher book easier to comprehend. If Strong study habits & A Q: My third grader has to spend more time studying this year. How can I make sure she studies effectively? A: Set your daughter up for success by help- ing her find a distraction-free study spot. Also, have her come up with a study routine. For instance, she could reserve time each evening to review her textbook and notes in the days leading up to a test. Also, many students find it helpful to jot down a purpose each time they study. Your child might write: "I will learn the definitions of all the boldfaced words in chapter 7, section 1." Finally, encourage her to experiment with study strategies to find what works best. She could close her eyes and imagine how a word is spelled or draw a grid with 9 squares to solve 3 x 3. Or she might find it helpful to spell or recite math facts aloud in rhythm or to a familiar tune.V your youngster is reading a novel set in France, he could talk to someone who has been there or look up the coun- try online (try a children's site like kids. nationalgeographic.com). Encourage your child to look at a simpler book on the same subject. A picture-book biography about Harriet Tubman may help your youngster better understand a textbook chapter on the civil rights movement, for instance. PARENT TO How to be careful online PARENT With my daugh- ter using the internet more for schoolwork, I was concerned she would wander to unsafe sites. We Sophie that real-life safety rules apply online. For instance, she shouldn't talk to Suggest that your child read compli- cated material with pencil and paper in hand. He can jot down questions, words to look up, or facts he wants to learn more about. set up parental controls as her teacher recommended, and I try to stay nearby when she's on the computer. But my older sister reminded me that strangers or go places she's not allowed. Before visiting a new site, she has to check with me so I can make sure it's appropriate. And just as in real life, she needs to tell me right away if a stranger tries to contact her or if O UR PURP OS E To provide busy parents with practical ideas that promote school success, parent involvement, and more effective parenting. Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated 128 N. Royal Avenue Front Royal, VA 22630 800-394-5052 rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.com www.rfeonline.com while supervision is important, Sophie needs to learn safe habits to use on her own. So I she sees something con- fusing or upsetting. I feel better that Sophie has ground rules, and I am going to keep this conversation going. ISSN 1540-5621 explained to © 2020 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated
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