Webster Springs Elementary School

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

Social skills help your child get along in school One of the best indicators of children's future school success is their ability to interact with others. Class discussions, group projects and activities all require students to work with one another. To reinforce social skills at home, role-play being friendly, honest and a good listener with your child. Teach him to be a good sport. Then engage him in some cooperative projects, such as making a family dinner. https://tpitip.com/?11lR18889

Shared interests improve communication As children grow, their interests change. To maintain a connection, parents need to find new ways to talk, listen and be with their kids. One good way is to find an interest you and your child share: woodworking, biking, playing board games, baking, etc. Whatever it is, make time to do it with her. Communication will flow easily when you both can share in and discuss an enjoyable activity. https://tpitip.com/?11lQ18889

This is an update to inform all parents and guardians that the Webster County Board of Education is aware of the Nationwide social media post that has been shared on the Tik Tok platform. Which referred to a threat to all schools in the USA on Friday, December 17th. This Tik Tok post did not originate in Webster County and there is no threat to any Webster County Schools. We have collaborated with the West Virginia Fusion Center,The West Virginia State Police, and the Webster County Sheriff's Department to plan for the safety of all students and staff. As of this evening, there has been no credible threats to any school in West Virginia. This is an example of the importance to educate our students and children not to share social media information that refers to school safety. There are serious consequences that are involved with this type of behavior. We ask that all parents and guardians continue to monitor the use of social media platforms with your children and discuss the potential risks involved with sharing such information. We continue to encourage all students, staff and families that witness information related to a threat towards any of our schools to please report it immediately so that immediate action can be taken. We thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Calm explanations work better than angry scolding It's important to let your child know when he has misbehaved. Understanding what he did wrong is how he learns. But nothing is accomplished if you get angry and lose control. For more effective discipline, try this three-step process: 1. Calmly describe the behavior that is unacceptable. 2. Tell your child how it makes you feel when he does that. 3. Explain why the behavior isn't allowed. https://tpitip.com/?11lP18889

Talk about freedoms on Bill of Rights Day December 15 is Bill of Rights Day in the United States. On this day in 1791, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution were ratified. They became known as the Bill of Rights. Talk with your child about the freedoms this document grants. For example, the First Amendment protects freedom of speech and freedom of religion. The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial by jury. https://tpitip.com/?11lO18889

A systematic approach can help your child read and remember Your child will read many textbooks and nonfiction sources in her school career. To help her retain what she reads, encourage her to preview the text by reading the main headings and scanning the pictures. Next, she should read the introduction, summary and any questions that follow the passage. Then she can read the main text in short sections, making sure she understands each section before moving on. https://tpitip.com/?11lN18889

Strong writing starts with pre-writing Pre-writing is an important first step in good writing. It's when your child thinks about what he's going to write and who his audience is. To help your student develop pre-writing skills, give him access to lots of reading materials. Encourage him to take notes on what he reads and to brainstorm ideas. Listen and make suggestions. If he gets stuck when he starts writing, suggest he go back and pre-write some more. https://tpitip.com/?11lM18889

top the self-criticism cycle from derailing your child Some children can be very hard on themselves. They feel like failures if they aren't the "best." This can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. To ward off perfectionism, set reasonable goals for your child and relax about normal mistakes. And don't brush off her self-criticism. Instead, discuss it. Remind her that no one can be perfect. Point out her strengths, and teach her to use affirmative self-talk, such as "I'm proud of how hard I tried." https://tpitip.com/?11lL18889

Learning techniques that teachers use also help at home Many of the strategies that teachers use to help children learn will also work at home. To help your child think more deeply about something she has learned, ask her to tell you about it. Can she come up with a practical example? (For 3x3, for example, three groups of three chocolates make nine chocolates.) Ask her to draw a picture of what she is learning. If she's reading, ask what questions she would like to ask the author. https://tpitip.com/?11lJ18889

Discuss ways that school is like a job It's not always clear to young children why parents hold jobs. Talk to your child about your reasons for having a job and the responsibilities it involves, such as being on time every day. Then discuss the ways that being in school is like having a job: like you, she is counted on to be there, work hard, etc. She'll learn that school is an important daily responsibility. https://tpitip.com/?11lH18889

Tune in to a special news report from your child When it comes to school, no news isn't necessarily good news. Parents need to know as much as they can. Find out more by asking your child to give you an "evening news report." After school, have him make a list of a few things that happened during the day. Ask him to report on what made him happy and what was tough. Then, over dinner, enjoy this very special news program. https://tpitip.com/?11lG18889

Let your child make some schoolwork choices Giving your child some choices about how to do school assignments can reduce study time problems. Let your child decide things like: whether to work in a bedroom or at the kitchen table, whether to start right after school or after relaxing a bit, and whether to start with math or reading. If a choice doesn't work out, let the consequences teach your child to make a different choice next time. https://tpitip.com/?11lF18889

Create a chart of family rules and consequences At home and in class, children need to respect and follow rules to function well in a group. To make discipline easier, create a chart of four or five of your family's most important house rules and the consequences for breaking them. Make sure your child understands them. Then enforce them consistently. Point to the chart and say, "Taylor, you broke rule #3. What is the consequence?" https://tpitip.com/?11lE18889

Consider these features when choosing digital products for your child Computers, tablets and smartphones are part of children's lives and learning these days. But not all content labeled "educational" really is. When choosing programs or apps for your child, look for games with levels that change as your child improves. They should encourage him to discover the content for himself, without distracting him with unnecessary flashing lights or buttons to push. Look for programs that let you interact with your child and talk about the content together. https://tpitip.com/?11lD18889

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