Webster Springs Elementary School

Relax and observe nature with your child Outdoor play is a great way to strengthen observation skills and creativity. To help your child learn and benefit from nature, ask questions like, "Can you feel where the wind is coming from?" or "What is that ant doing?" Have your child try to identify sounds with closed eyes. You can also suggest making up a poem or story about the outdoors. Don't rush; giving your child time to draw aimlessly with a stick or touch a flower creates a sense of calm. https://tpitip.com/?12cZ18889

Supervise and discuss your child's online activities Today's kids are growing up in the digital age, and the internet can be a wonderful learning tool for children. But it's important to make sure your child uses it safely. The FBI recommends that you supervise your child's online activity. Know the sites and apps your child uses. Talk about your values with your child, and make it clear which sites, apps and activities are off limits and why. Explain that your child should never give out personal information because people online are not always who they seem. https://tpitip.com/?12cY18889

A positive attitude supports your child’s self-confidence By age seven or eight, many children become self-conscious. A critical inner voice says things like, "That's stupid" or "You read like an idiot." These feelings can affect your child's willingness to tackle challenges in school. To help your child develop confidence, don't criticize the worrying. Instead, praise your student's effort and point out progress. Your calm reassurances will build a positive inner voice for your child. https://tpitip.com/?12cX18889

Problem-solving is a skill kids learn by doing Elementary students are developing their problem-solving skills. When your child comes to you with a problem, listen calmly and don't immediately try to solve it. Encourage your child to describe the issue and brainstorm possible solutions. Restate what you hear, and ask questions to help your child think. When children come up with a solution themselves, they are more willing to act on it. And they learn that they can solve problems! https://tpitip.com/?12cW18889

Let the teacher know about schoolwork struggles If your child is struggling day after day with assigned work at home, contact the teacher. Explain what is happening and ask for suggestions. Your child might need extra help from a tutor, or a schedule to make up missed assignments. More challenging assignments or help with English may be helpful. Work with the teacher on a plan to help your child, then follow up. https://tpitip.com/?12cV18889

Help your child make the most of strengths and talents What helps children succeed in and out of school? Families who help them develop their talents to the fullest. Instead of pushing your child to be the best, look for achievable ways to help your student improve. Encourage practice by making it enjoyable. Show interest in your child's talents by learning the skills yourself and spending time doing them together. And always, let your child know that your love and support is unconditional. https://tpitip.com/?12cO18889

Maps put the world at your child's fingertips Geography is a challenge for many kids. Posting a large world map in your home, where it's easy to see and touch, can help your child begin to master it. Together, locate the places where your child's clothes and toys are made on the map. Help your student find the places that are mentioned in books and on TV. Your child might also enjoy using the map to follow the travels of a favorite band or sports team. https://tpitip.com/?12cU18889

Help your child be a good sport, on and off the field Sports and sportsmanship should go hand in hand. But sometimes, kids feel they can break the rules as long as they win the game. Learning to win without gloating and lose without complaining will help your child on the field and in the classroom. Encourage your child to abide by the rules of the game, follow the coach's directions and play fair. Make it clear that good sports share in the responsibilities of the team. https://tpitip.com/?12cT18889

Nutrition and exercise boost brainpower March is National Nutrition Month. So it's a great time to talk with your child about healthy eating and the foods that nourish bodies and brains. Exercise is another critical part of health. Encourage your child to turn off digital devices and have a push-up contest, walk up and down the stairs 20 times or shoot some hoops. Or go for a walk as a family; kids get more exercise when their parents get involved! https://tpitip.com/?12cS18889

Talk with your child about school safety rules Schools and families all want to ensure that students are safe while learning. To help, make sure you and your child both know the school rules and safety policies. Be clear with your child about exactly what is and isn't allowed. You might say, "Hitting is never allowed, even if another child makes you very angry." Ask your child about behavior that goes on at school, too. And if your child has experienced or witnessed bullying, let the school know. https://tpitip.com/?12cR18889

Routines encourage positive study habits Even if your child doesn't like homework, having a study routine will make it easier to settle down and do it. Choose the same time each day for studying or doing assignments. Turn off the TV and other distractions, and have the rest of the family read or do quiet chores. Ask your child to write assignments on a calendar. Then keep things on track by asking questions like, "How's the report coming? It's due Friday." https://tpitip.com/?12cQ18889

Help your child hear what fluent reading sounds like Skilled readers read fluently. They move quickly through sentences, understanding the words and the meaning. Hearing what fluent reading sounds like can help students gain this skill. When you read aloud to your child, try to sound as though you are speaking naturally, rather than reading. Audiobooks also let your child hear what fluent reading sounds like. https://tpitip.com/?12cP18889

Help your child feel capable of doing hard things Feeling capable gives children the confidence to take on challenges and succeed in school. To encourage that self-confidence, teach your child how to do things without help. Notice your student's strengths and encourage them. Ask for and appreciate your child's help. And always praise your child for trying, no matter what the outcome. https://tpitip.com/?12cN18889

How to enforce limits without saying 'no' all the time Every parent has to set limits. But when kids hear "no," they often stop listening and start arguing. To teach your child to respect the reasons behind the rules, try giving a conditional "yes" instead of a "no." For example, if your child asks to watch TV, instead of saying "No. You have to do your reading," you might say "Yes, when you have finished your reading." That "yes" may keep your child listening to the rest of the sentence. https://tpitip.com/?12cM18889

Reading gives your child words to use when writing To be strong writers, students need large vocabularies. To help your child develop one, encourage lots of reading. More reading exposes your child to more new words. When an unfamiliar word appears, see if your child can guess its meaning from the text around it. Later, look it up together. For fun and practice when writing, see how many words your child can replace without changing the meaning. https://tpitip.com/?12cL18889

Service projects boost connection and community When your family volunteers in the community together, your child gets quality time with you and learns the joy of helping others. Great projects to do with kids include collecting canned goods for a food pantry, or asking neighbors and friends for gently-used children's books and donating them to a homeless shelter. You and your child might also write letters or make care packages for people serving in the military.

Here's an easy formula for helping your child with math You can help your child learn math even if you don't remember any of the math you took in school. For a start, ask questions about your student's math work, such as "How did you arrive at that answer?" or "Look at this page of problems. Do you see a pattern?" Then make an effort to involve your child often in practical math at home, such as measuring. Making sure your child has a study routine that includes daily math practice will also add up to better math skills. https://tpitip.com/?12cJ18889

Here's an easy formula for helping your child with math You can help your child learn math even if you don't remember any of the math you took in school. For a start, ask questions about your student's math work, such as "How did you arrive at that answer?" or "Look at this page of problems. Do you see a pattern?" Then make an effort to involve your child often in practical math at home, such as measuring. Making sure your child has a study routine that includes daily math practice will also add up to better math skills. https://tpitip.com/?12cJ18889

Build skills and closeness with a bedtime reading ritual When your child was younger, you may have read aloud every night at bedtime. But now that your child can read, should you keep up the habit? You bet. Research shows that, in addition to building literacy skills, the sound of reading aloud can help soothe kids. Make daily bedtime reading with your child a relaxing time together. You'll be building cozy memories and reading skills for a lifetime. https://tpitip.com/?12cH18889

Trade unwanted items for more time with your child Children feel more connected and loved when their parents spend time with them. This stability helps them do better in school. One way to find more time for your child is to get rid of unneeded items at home. The less stuff you have, the less time you spend using, maintaining or looking for it. Store commonly used items in easy-to-reach places. For example, teach your child to keep items for school in a box by the door. https://tpitip.com/?12cG18889