Hacker Valley Elementary School

Teach your child to tell time the 'old-fashioned' way It's the digital age. But some kids get so used to digital clocks that they don't learn how to tell time the standard way. To make sure your child does, keep at least one "old-fashioned" (analog) clock in your house. Practice reading the time on it together often. Make sure your child understands the concepts of a.m. and p.m. Then play a game: Ask how many more minutes or hours it will be until a certain time. https://tpitip.com/?12iY18889

Spelling skills are the prize in this homemade game Here's a game to make studying spelling words fun! Create a game board that has a path of connecting squares. Write the letters S or R on most of the squares. On a few, write directions like, "Go ahead 2 squares." Next, have your child write spelling words on index cards. To play, each player rolls a die and moves that number of squares. If the square has an S, the player must spell the word on the top card. If it has an R, the player must read the word. https://tpitip.com/?12iW18889

Encourage curiosity and nonfiction reading Children ask a lot of questions. Reading nonfiction is a great way for them to find the answers. To encourage curiosity and help your child engage with nonfiction, look for books and articles that answer questions about how things work. How does a wheat field end up in your family's pasta? Or, have your child choose a familiar activity and write a how-to manual explaining the process. https://tpitip.com/?12iV18889

When to discuss your child's schoolwork complaints with the teacher Your child fusses that an assignment is "stupid." But how do you know if you should contact the teacher? Get in touch with the teacher if your child refuses to do assigned work, even after you've tried motivating strategies. Or if your child regularly finds the work too hard or too easy, or doesn't understand the instructions, even with your help. And let the teacher know if your child needs school supplies you can't provide. https://tpitip.com/?12iU18889

Your support helps put academic success within reach for your child Some kids (and even some parents) believe that smart students are just born that way. But teachers know that students can learn and build the skills they need for academic success. To help your child develop them, make learning a priority and provide lots of fun ways to do it. Maintain a balance between school and sports, work and play. And if your child is struggling, work with the teacher on a plan to help. https://tpitip.com/?12iT18889

Teach your child the rules of school bus safety Although school buses are the safest way for children to get to school, it's still important to make sure your child follows bus safety rules. Here are just a few: Wait in a safe place away from the traffic. Never walk behind the bus. Don't stick hands, heads or objects out the windows. Don't push and shove. Walk three "giant steps" (six feet) away from the side of the bus. Wait until the driver says it's safe to get off the bus. https://tpitip.com/?12iS18889

A positive attitude is a plus in math You can help your child learn math even if you don't remember any of the math you took in school. Here are some tips: Let your child know that you think math is important, useful and fun. Ask questions about your student's math work, such as "How did you arrive at that answer?" or "Do you see a pattern in this page of problems?" Then build daily math practice into your child's routine, and involve your child in household math, such as measuring. https://tpitip.com/?12iK18889

A new library card is cause for celebration What do you do to celebrate special days in your child's life? Did you take pictures on the first day of school? Did you save a lock of hair from your child's first haircut? Getting a library card is another big "first." It opens a world of learning to your child. If your student doesn't have a library card yet, go together to get one. Then do something special to celebrate. Take a picture or fix a treat. And be sure to make regular library visits all year. https://tpitip.com/?12iJ18889

- https://tpitip.com/?12iE18889 For email/Facebook: Daydreaming can be a productive use of time It may sound surprising, but daydreaming can be a useful activity as kids start thinking in more abstract terms. Daydreaming helps children reduce stress. It allows them to be creative, develop empathy and spend time on self-reflection. Give your child some free time and a place to daydream undisturbed. Build a little downtime into family activities, too. After a ball game, relax on a hill. Watch the clouds. https://tpitip.com/?12iE18889

Have your child do the math for a sweet summer treat Make "ice cream-in-a-bag" on a hot summer day together, and your child will get some measuring practice along with a treat. Have your child measure one half-cup of milk, one tablespoon of sugar and one quarter teaspoon of vanilla and seal them into a zip-top sandwich bag. Put the bag into a gallon-size zip-top bag, along with crushed ice and eight tablespoons of rock salt. Seal and shake until you get ice cream! https://tpitip.com/?12hV18889

Give reading a creative edge Combining reading and creative activities develops your child's imagination and keeps the reading interesting. Offer some crayons and encourage your child to draw pictures of characters or scenes from a favorite story. You can also ask your elementary schooler to make up songs about stories and books. Ask, "What might the three little pigs sing when the wolf is coming? How would the music sound?" https://tpitip.com/?12hT18889

Sneak some writing into your child's daily life Being able to communicate well in writing will help your child succeed in school and in a career. So look for fun ways to provide practice. Your child may enjoy sending emails or texts to friends and family. You might also write your elementary schooler a letter about a book you've read together and have your child write back. Challenge your child to rewrite the ending of a movie. Encourage journaling, too. It's a great outlet for self-expression. https://tpitip.com/?12hS18889

Have you seen these signs of reading difficulty? When children encounter words they can't read, many squirm, get sleepy, look anxious or act up. If you see any of these signs, ask if there's a word that is causing difficulty. Help your child look it up in the dictionary. Then verify understanding by asking your child to use the word in a sentence. And if your student claims to know all the words, do some spot checks. Ask, "What does this word mean?" https://tpitip.com/?12hR18889

Teach your child to take 'no' for an answer Kids who understand that they can't always get their own way have a much easier time in school. And the way you say "no" can help your child manage disappointment. When your child makes a request, pause and say "Let me think about this for a minute," before answering. This shows you have heard the request. Then think out loud. "If I let you go to Maya's house, we won't have time to eat dinner together, so I have to say no." https://tpitip.com/?12hQ18889

Create a routine that gets your family ready for the day The start of a new school year is exciting, but it often means families must make a few adjustments. This year, decide on some basics for your school-year routine. Set a regular time for reading and completing assignments. Create a chart of your child's daily tasks to serve as a reminder until they become habits. Post a calendar and have everyone write down their activities. Then review it each week with your child and plan ahead. https://tpitip.com/?12hP18889

Show your child that respect makes working together easier Students and families have important roles to play in making the school a productive learning environment. Promoting respectful behavior is a big one. When it comes to teaching your child about respect, the best way is to demonstrate. Make an effort to be fair, honest, kind, dependable and polite to your child. Then expect your child to do the same for you and others. https://tpitip.com/?12hO18889

Give your child a chance to make the right choice When your child has to make a big decision, it may be tempting to take over and make it. But there are a few things you should do first: Listen as your child considers possible solutions. Restate what you hear, and ask follow-up questions to help your child think things through: "If you don't go to the game, how would your teammates feel?" Then be patient. Your child may come to the right conclusion independently, and will gain useful problem-solving skills. https://tpitip.com/?12hL18889

Set your child up to be a responsible learner Students who take active responsibility for their own learning get more out of it. Explain to your child that this involves being prepared to learn, as well as asking questions, participating in class, and talking about school subjects at home. It also means staying organized, and continuing to try when facing learning challenges. Say that you expect your child to be a responsible learner, and you will help. https://tpitip.com/?12hI18889

Make the most of read-aloud time Reading aloud with your child fosters language and reading skills, no matter how old your student is. When you read, begin by reading the book's title and the name of the author. Then, as you read the story, use plenty of expression in your voice and be sure to stop and talk with your child about the plot, the characters and the illustrations. Most importantly, read stories that you and your child enjoy. https://tpitip.com/?12hG18889

Don't be afraid to let your child be bored Many parents fill every minute of their child's day with activities. "At least my child is not bored," they tell themselves. But a little boredom can actually encourage kids to be creative. Your child may decide to build a fort from blankets and chairs, draw with crayons or even read a book. When children are given a little time just to sit and think, great things can happen! https://tpitip.com/?12hD18889