Webster Springs Elementary School

Compliment actions and effort more than intelligence The way you use praise can affect the way your child will face challenges in school and in life. Look for reasons to compliment your student often, but make sure that the praise is deserved. You can lose your child's trust by over-praising. When offering praise, be specific about what your child did right. "I'm proud that you stuck with that tough math problem," is better than "You're so smart." https://tpitip.com/?12aJ18889

Pull the plug on power struggles By the time children are in the upper elementary grades, they have learned to reason. So when you set rules, it's appropriate for you to explain the reasons for them. To avoid power struggles, respond to any argument from your child by repeating your reasoning. Then look for ways to say "yes." For example, replace "No, you can't watch TV" with "Yes, you may watch for half an hour when you have finished your assignments." https://tpitip.com/?12aI18889

Ask your child to teach you technology skills Young people are great at picking up the latest technology. And it reinforces their skills when they teach them to others. So when you are working on the computer or using a new app, ask your child to help you (even if you know what you're doing). Watch closely. If your child does something clever, ask, "Can you show me how you do that?" Your child will gain confidence and you may learn some useful skills. https://tpitip.com/?12aH18889

Ask your child to teach you technology skills Young people are great at picking up the latest technology. And it reinforces their skills when they teach them to others. So when you are working on the computer or using a new app, ask your child to help you (even if you know what you're doing). Watch closely. If your child does something clever, ask, "Can you show me how you do that?" Your child will gain confidence and you may learn some useful skills. https://tpitip.com/?12aH18889

Increase sleep hours to improve learning Studies show that even one more hour of sleep per night can help children be more alert in school and remember material with greater accuracy. To make sure that your child gets at least nine to 12 hours of sleep, provide plenty of exercise, and avoid serving caffeinated beverages. Then create a soothing bedtime routine that includes reading together and talking about something positive from the day. https://tpitip.com/?12aF18889

Spreading kindness empowers your child Children aren't always kind to one another. They pick on others or say mean things behind people's backs. But your child doesn't have to accept unkindness as the norm. Talk together about ways to respond if a classmate is being treated unkindly. Then challenge your child to do at least one nice thing for a classmate each week. Explain that your child has the power to make a difference. https://tpitip.com/?12aE18889

Challenge your child to solve a letter puzzle A good puzzle is "brain food." To feed your child's thinking and writing skills, play a letter puzzle game. Give your child these seven letters: A, C, I, L, O, P and V. The goal is to make as many words as possible from them. Award one point for each one-letter word, two for a two-letter word, and so on. Give a younger child easier letters and two of one letter, such as S, S, A, I, T, O and N. https://tpitip.com/?12aD18889

Set goals now for success in the new year The start of a new year is a great time to help your child set new school goals. Talk together about successes in the fall and what your child would like to improve in the rest of the year. Then write down some realistic goals. They might include things like: keeping class notes more organized, saying hi to new people, mastering math facts and reading for 20 minutes each day. https://tpitip.com/?12aA18889

Help your child get organized for a great new year As you and your child make plans for 2022, resolve to help him get organized. Do activities together that involve sorting or classifying. Help him figure out the time it takes to do things and show him how to break big projects into smaller steps. Encourage him to organize his things by providing bins, baskets and boxes to put them in. And develop consistent routines for completing recurring tasks. https://tpitip.com/?11le18889

Don't be in a rush to eliminate boredom You're worn to a frazzle trying to get your child to all her practices, activities and meetings. "At least she's not bored," you say. But a little boredom from time to time can actually encourage kids to be creative. It can inspire your child to draw, read a book or build a fort from a blanket and chairs. Too much boredom can be bad, but if you and your child never have a minute to spare, a little might be a good thing. https://tpitip.com/?11ld18889

Learning 'gifts' and disabilities can go hand in hand Did you know that children can be both gifted and have learning disabilities? Does your child focus so intently on one activity that it is difficult to shift attention to another task? Does your child have an above average vocabulary, but also struggle with speaking, reading, writing or doing math problems? Ask the school about how to help children who have both gifts and disabilities. Work together to support your child. https://tpitip.com/?11lc18889

Reinforce the connection between school and life One of the best ways to be involved in your child's education is to show him how what he is learning in school relates to life outside the classroom. You can do this by pointing to specific things as they occur ("I am using fractions to follow this recipe") and by talking about the things your education has enabled you to do. Explain things you are learning now, and emphasize that learning is valuable and continues throughout life. https://tpitip.com/?11lb18889

Learning is the prize in a fun library scavenger hunt Going on a scavenger hunt at the library is a fun way to help your child learn where to find certain kinds of information. Write down some facts for your child to find, then help her identify where she could look. You might start with: The capital of each state in the U.S. The height of the world's tallest building. A list of Beethoven's symphonies. A recipe for chocolate chip cookies. Need help? Ask a librarian. https://tpitip.com/?11la18889

Practice gratitude and writing skills Help your child brush up his writing skills and strengthen family bonds by making today "Thank-You Note Day." Your child can thank family for gifts, friends for their friendship or teachers for their help. If he is too young to write a thank-you note, have him dictate one to you. Older kids can write their own notes and address envelopes. https://tpitip.com/?11lZ18889

Devote more time to compliments than complaints It takes only seconds to give a compliment, while a complaint often takes a minute or more. To encourage good behavior and build your child's confidence, flip the balance and spend more time on compliments than complaints. Say what you don't like about your child's actions quickly. When you see the right behavior, offer plenty of specific praise. You'll spend less time on discipline and more on motivating your child. https://tpitip.com/?11lX18889

A chore chart promotes responsibility the nag-free way Doing chores helps kids learn responsibility and the importance of contributing to the common good. A chore chart is a time-tested way to encourage that responsibility without nagging. Seeing "Feed the dog" on a chart beside her name makes it hard for your child to say she didn't know she was supposed to do it. For younger kids, earning stickers they can add to the chart can be a great motivator. https://tpitip.com/?11lW18889

Take your child's questions to the library Children learn by asking questions. Answering some of them is easy. (No, you can't stay up later. Tomorrow is a school day.) Others are harder. When your child asks you a question you can't answer, suggest that you look up the answer together at the library. Write the questions on index cards and take them on your next library visit. Help your child find answers in reference books or other sources the librarian suggests. https://tpitip.com/?11lV18889

Enrich a museum visit by giving your child a preview A visit to a museum is a great way to keep children learning when they aren't in school. Just talking about the exhibits can get kids excited about new information and ideas. Check out the website of a museum near you together. Talk about what you see. Then when you can, make an in-person visit. Your child will enjoy finding the things you've discussed. Museums bring lessons to life. https://tpitip.com/?11lU18889

Grocery store ads offer real math value Those grocery store ads that appear in your mailbox each week are great for helping your child practice math skills. Look through the ads with your child and have him cut out pictures of foods he likes along with their prices. Now help him create and solve word problems using the pictures. "Joey bought one pound of bananas for 60 cents. How much would two pounds of bananas cost?" https://tpitip.com/?11lT18889

Let your child know that you expect great things Kids care how their parents view them. Your expectations for your child can motivate her to be the best student she can be. Make a list of high, but still realistic, expectations for your child, such as giving her best effort, completing work on time, etc. Discuss them with her, then uphold them consistently. Help your child take pride in her progress and see herself as someone who can succeed. https://tpitip.com/?11lS18889