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CONNECTION
Title I Program
My journal
Suggest that your child keep a winter-break journal. Each day, he can draw and write about something he did, like sledding with cousins or watching football. This will help his writing skills stay sharp while school is out. Encourage him to add to his journal each yearhe can reread old entries to enjoy favorite winter memories.
Ready for recess
Knowledge is everywhere
Whether you and your youngster are folding laundry, waiting for the bus, or going to the bank, there is something new for her to learn. Take advantage of everyday experiences to build background knowledge that she can draw on in school. Heres how.
In the house
Your youngsters class probably goes out for recess every day unless its raining or snowing. Make sure she keeps gloves and a hat in her backpack so she can stay warm while she plays. She might also wear leggings under dresses, and layers that she can remove if she gets too hot indoors.
Point of view
Show your child that people often see the same things differently. Let everyone look at a magazine photo for 35 seconds. Then, ask each person to share the first thing he saw, such as the shiny new car or the sunset in the background. Explain that peoples experiences and interests affect what they notice or pay attention to.
Worth quoting One kind word can warm three winter months. Japanese proverb
Help your child make discoveries while you do chores together. When you fold laundry, have her read the tags. Ask her what materials the clothes are made of (cotton, polyester) and which countries they come from (China, Vietnam). Later, she can find the countries on a map. Or if youre cooking dinner, let her hand you the spices. Talk about how they smell and taste (Chili powder is spicy. Cinnamon is sweet).
Around the neighborhood
What kinds of flowers do you sell? When you have guests, invite them to talk about what life is like where they live. Say you are in the country and they are from a citythey might describe riding the subway or working in a skyscraper.
Out and about
Everyone your youngster meets can teach her something new. Chat with neighbors while taking a walk or waiting at the bus stop. If someone mentions an interesting job (pilot, florist), encourage your child to ask questions. Examples: How did you learn to fly a plane? or
Your community is full of learning opportunities. At a hardware store, point out tools (wrench, drill) and talk about what theyre for. If youre at the bank drive-thru, let your youngster put your deposit in the canister and watch it go through the vacuum tube. Also, try to find new places to go. Visit a nature center, for example, and have your youngster read the displays to see what lizards and turtles eat.
you can make it easier for your youngster to behave well. Before you go shopping, you
pick consequences that you can stick with. If hes throwing a ball indoors during a family gathering, going home right away might not be reasonable. Instead, you could take the ball away and have him find something else to do. If you follow through, he will be more likely to listen next time.
can I help her use good study habits so she can do well?
A: Studying is a skill that your daughter can learn and prac-
tice. First, have her get into the habit of studying a little each day. That way, she wont need to cram the night before a test or quiz. An evening when she doesnt have much homework is a good time to look over class notes or review multiplication facts, for example. Also, encourage your child to experiment with different study methods. She might read a science or social studies chapter out loud. She could even record herself and play it back. Or suggest that she use different colored pens to underline or circle parts of spelling words that trip her up (receive, chief). Trying different strategies will help her find the ones that work best for her.
Make musical instruments to accompany your songs. Your child can play different types, like percussion (drums, tambourine), wind (flute, harmonica), and string (guitar, violin). For example, a wooden spoon on an oatmeal canister or a coffee can makes a good drum. Or help her create a guitar by wrapping rubber bands of different widths around an empty tissue box. O U R P U R P O S 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 540-636-4280 rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.com www.rfeonline.com ISSN 1540-5621
2012 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated