Glade Elementary School

Offer your child funny and interesting reading Sometime between ages seven and nine, children typically transition from mostly listening to and looking at books to reading them on their own. How can you ease this transition? Boost your child's motivation to read. Seek out books that make her laugh or want to know what happens next. Nurture her curiosity. Then show her how to look up the answers to her questions in reference books or online. https://tpitip.com/?11lC18889

Start your sleepyhead's morning with Snuggle Time If it is a struggle to get your child up for school on time, try waking him 15 minutes earlier for Snuggle Time. Turn on the light and call his name. Have him acknowledge you verbally, then turn off the light. That's the signal that your child can snuggle in for a little more snooze time. This transition time may make it easier for him to get up when you return in 15 minutes. https://tpitip.com/?11lB18889

Replace greed with giving Holiday commercialism makes it easy for kids to focus entirely on their own needs and wants. This year, help your child learn that it is important to think about others. Look for ways to help people as a family. Is there an elderly neighbor who needs help taking out the trash? Could you collect blankets or food for a shelter? Your child will learn that she has a lot to give to the community. https://tpitip.com/?11lA18889

Build math recall with flash cards Using flash cards to quiz your child is a great way to help him learn math facts. You can have him write or say the answer as you show him the problem. Or have him write a problem that fits the answer. Flash cards are a perfect way to fill odd moments. Just keep sessions short and frequent. Spend more time with math facts that are harder, and end each session with praise for your child's efforts. https://tpitip.com/?11kd18889

Create afternoon routines for easier mornings "Where is my library book?" "I can't find my math worksheet!" If your mornings sound like this, add some routines to the afternoon. Designate a special box for your child's school materials. As soon as she walks in the door, have her go to that box to unload. After completing assignments, she should put them back in the box. Each evening, your child can pack the contents of the box into her backpack, ready for the next day. https://tpitip.com/?11kc18889

Keep the focus of sports on sportsmanship If pressure is taking the fun out of sports for your child, talk with him about what it means to be a good sport. Remind him that fun should come first. If everyone is having fun, winning and losing don't seem so important. Make sure your child understands the rules of the game, too. Praise good sportsmanship when you see it, and always be a good sport yourself. Cheer for all the kids on both teams, not just yours. https://tpitip.com/?11kb18889

Start with easy questions to keep communication flowing If you worry about whether you'll be able to talk to your child when she's a teen, you're not alone. Worrying won't help, but good communication habits will. One helpful way to get a quiet child to talk is to ask specific questions, such as "What was the best thing that happened today?" Start with questions that aren't threatening, like "What do you think of this picture in the catalog?" Try it when you're relaxing together. https://tpitip.com/?11ka18889

Put learning on the list of things to be grateful for A positive outlook helps children do better in school. Gratitude builds that attitude. Take time to sit down with your family often and share lists of things you are thankful for. Be sure to mention school and any progress your child is making. Has a teacher done something special to help? Have your child take a few minutes to write or say "Thanks." https://tpitip.com/?11kY18889

To encourage reading, call for blanket time Here's a tip for promoting family reading: Grab a blanket and spread it on the floor. Have family members each pick a book and lie on the blanket. Then enjoy reading together! When children are young, parents can do the reading, but as kids grow up, they will enjoy reading to everyone else. Blanket time is a great way to connect and turn your children into happy readers. https://tpitip.com/?11kX18889

Look back at learning successes to revive your child's motivation Is your child less than motivated to do well in school? Put him on the right track by helping him see how much he has already accomplished. Remind him how his efforts have helped him master previous topics. If he's baffled by fractions for example, you might pull out some of his old math worksheets and say, "You really struggled with division, remember? But you practiced and got the hang of it. You can do that with fractions, too." https://tpitip.com/?11kW18889

Positive reinforcement improves self-discipline Teachers have found that talking to students about the good things they do is an effective way to reinforce the students' self-discipline. These informal talks work at home, too. For example, you can turn a bedtime story into a bedtime chat. When the lights are out, your child may open up. And when you give her a genuine compliment, she'll go to sleep thinking about something she does well. https://tpitip.com/?11kV18889

Collect all the states in a license-plate game Studies show that U.S. students tend to do poorly in geography. Here's a game to help your child learn where places are. When your child is in the car, make him the "license-plate lookout." He should write down the out-of-state license plates he sees. When you get home, help him locate the states on a map or globe and let him mark each one with a sticker. https://tpitip.com/?11kS18889

We’re thrilled to announce Webster County Board of Education’s new app! It’s everything Webster, in your pocket. Download the app on Android: https://bit.ly/3oKNJ3n or iPhone: https://apple.co/3ukSWjE.

Use loving notes to build vocabulary You can increase your child's vocabulary as well as her self-esteem by including an encouraging note with her lunch. From time to time, write a note for your child to let her know you are proud of her. Use simple words she knows and also a few challenging words that she might have to sound out or look up. She'll enjoy getting it and may even write back to you! https://tpitip.com/?11kR18889

Help your child stay organized with checklists Help your child be organized for school by teaching him to use checklists. He can use a "head-to-toe" checklist to make sure he's ready to go out the door: "My hat is on my head, my coat is on my body, my backpack is on my back. My gloves are on my hands. My boots are on my feet." Have him make another list of items he needs for school each day. Post it where he can check it as he gets organized the night before. https://tpitip.com/?11kQ18889

Creating acronyms can help your child remember To help your child learn lists of words or facts, teach her to use acronyms (words made up from the first letters of a group of words). To remember the names of the Great Lakes, for example, she can think of the acronym HOMES, which stands for Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior. What other acronyms can your child make up for lists of words to remember? https://tpitip.com/?11kP18889

Celebrate Geography Awareness Week with a map activity November 15-19 is Geography Awareness Week. Here's a fun activity that will give your child practice reading maps. Find a road map of the country online. Let your child choose a place he'd like to visit. Together, try to determine the best route. Have your child use the map's scale to estimate how many miles it is to your destination. How many hours or days would it take to drive there? https://tpitip.com/?11kO18889

School friendships help students thrive Children learn a lot from their friends, such as loyalty, sharing, leading and following. And research says friends can also help children do better in school. Children who know they have school friends are more likely to take positive risks, such as trying out for a team or participating in class. Encourage friendships by inviting your child's school friends to join your family for an activity. https://tpitip.com/?11kK18889

Promote responsible choices with encouragement You want your child to learn to make responsible choices, at home and at school. But constant lectures can wear him down. Instead, encourage good behavior by thanking him when he behaves responsibly on his own. Praise his efforts, not just their outcomes. And encourage your child's involvement in activities that keep him busy. Busy kids need less external control than those with too much time on their hands. https://tpitip.com/?11kJ18889

You are the teacher your child looks to most Parents are their children's first teachers. Even after kids start school, they spend only about 16 percent of their time in class. Parents have the other 84 percent of their children's time. Make your child's education a priority for that time. You are her most influential teacher. https://tpitip.com/?11kI18889