The Computer Lab: A newsletter designed to help parents help their kids use computers productively Helping Your Child Learn Geography: Articles written to help you as a parent improve your child's geography skills, a complete outline, free materials Helping Your Child Learn Math: Activities and suggestions Help Your Child Learn To Read: Activities and suggestions Helping Your Child Learn Science: Activities and suggestions Family Math Home Page: Family math newsletter archives Reading Links: Great links online stories Children's Music Web: A non-profit organization dedicated to music for kids The History Of Math The Math League Education4Kids This site above is neat, it has interactive online flash cards in every subject! The Dinosaur Web Pages NASA HomePage Reading Rainbow SuperKids, Educational Software Reviews Starting A New School by Evelyn Petersen Question: We have moved to a new state and my elementary school children are as nervous about starting school as if they were just starting kindergarten. We also have a kindergartener starting school. What can we do to ease the anxiety? K.S.P. Houston Answer: Make sure that all the old school records have been sent to the new school, and call the school principal to see that these important papers arrived safely. Check to see if any new health records are needed. After that, include your older children in all the things you are doing to help the kindergartener feel more comfortable. The things you do will lessen their anxiety, and the "excuse" of helping little sister or brother allows them to "save face," and not admit they are nervous. If the kids are used to staying up late, ease them from this summer habit into a school day routine by having them go to bed and get up earlier starting a week before school starts. If your children will ride a school bus, arrange a mini "field trip" to the bus garage to see the buses and have the little one practice getting up and down the steps. Practice the traffic safety routine; cars do NOT always stop for a stopped school bus! Take the children to visit the new school the week before; call ahead to say you are coming. Explore the gym, playground and cafeteria. Find their classrooms and meet their teachers. Being familiar with the school setting, meeting the teachers, and seeing that you are friendly with the teacher will all help your children feel more at ease about the new school. See if the teachers will give you the names of parents and children who may live near you and who will be in your children's classes. Try to get the kids together sometime before school starts for milk and cookies. Having a friend always helps. When school starts, remember that long days of dealing with change takes lots of energy! Be sure they get lots of sleep (at least 8 hours) and eat good breakfasts. Always lay out clothes and prepare backpacks the night before a school day to eliminate rushing. Send them all off with a smile and a hug, and save time after school to say, "Tell me about your day." Tips for Preparing for a Parent/Teacher Conference by Evelyn Petersen Hundreds of parents feel nervous about the first parent conference of the year, but remember that many teachers are just as nervous as you are. They need to tell you about your child's school progress in a very short time, they don`t know what questions you'll have, and their next parents may be waiting in the hall. Also remember that what you have to say is just as important as what the teacher says. The purpose of the conference is to SHARE information about your child so that the teacher can do his or her best job of teaching. You know your child`s personality best, so plan to tell a little about your child`s strengths, talents and interests. You know what would make your child feel motivated to work hard. This is information you`ll need to share. To make the best use of your short conference time, prepare ahead. Before the conference: Ask your child what he wants you to talk about. (This strategy may clue you in to possible problems.) Decide whether or not to tell the teacher about any family problems that might be affecting your child's progress. (If your child has health problems, share them.) Write down any questions you have ahead of time, and prioritize your list in case time runs short. Be specific. You may want to know how your child gets along with others, or if the teacher has suggestions about encouraging friendships. You may want to know how your child`s progress is assessed. Is there a record book? Does the teacher keep examples of your child`s work in a folder or portfolio? Plan to leave a card for the teacher containing your home and work phone numbers. During the conference: Listen carefully as the teacher tells how your child is doing. Write down questions you have, if any, while he/she talks. Tell the teacher the things about your child that you want him/her to know. Ask your questions...both the questions you may have written down and questions you brought with you. Find out if there are any problems, and brainstorm ways to work on them together. Ask for specific ways you can help at home. Sharing and working together is what conferences are all about. After the conference, don't forget to talk with your child about it. BACK
The Computer Lab: A newsletter designed to help parents help their kids use computers productively
Helping Your Child Learn Geography: Articles written to help you as a parent improve your child's geography skills, a complete outline, free materials
Helping Your Child Learn Math: Activities and suggestions
Help Your Child Learn To Read: Activities and suggestions
Helping Your Child Learn Science: Activities and suggestions
Family Math Home Page: Family math newsletter archives
Reading Links: Great links online stories
Children's Music Web: A non-profit organization dedicated to music for kids
The History Of Math
The Math League
Education4Kids
This site above is neat, it has interactive
online flash cards in every subject!
The Dinosaur Web Pages
NASA HomePage
Reading Rainbow
SuperKids, Educational Software Reviews
Starting A New School
by Evelyn Petersen
Question:
We have moved to a new state and my elementary school children are as nervous about starting school as if they were just starting kindergarten. We also have a kindergartener starting school. What can we do to ease the anxiety?
K.S.P. Houston
Answer:
Make sure that all the old school records have been sent to the new school, and call the school principal to see that these important papers arrived safely. Check to see if any new health records are needed. After that, include your older children in all the things you are doing to help the kindergartener feel more comfortable. The things you do will lessen their anxiety, and the "excuse" of helping little sister or brother allows them to "save face," and not admit they are nervous.
If the kids are used to staying up late, ease them from this summer habit into a school day routine by having them go to bed and get up earlier starting a week before school starts.
If your children will ride a school bus, arrange a mini "field trip" to the bus garage to see the buses and have the little one practice getting up and down the steps. Practice the traffic safety routine; cars do NOT always stop for a stopped school bus!
Take the children to visit the new school the week before; call ahead to say you are coming. Explore the gym, playground and cafeteria. Find their classrooms and meet their teachers. Being familiar with the school setting, meeting the teachers, and seeing that you are friendly with the teacher will all help your children feel more at ease about the new school.
See if the teachers will give you the names of parents and children who may live near you and who will be in your children's classes. Try to get the kids together sometime before school starts for milk and cookies. Having a friend always helps.
When school starts, remember that long days of dealing with change takes lots of energy! Be sure they get lots of sleep (at least 8 hours) and eat good breakfasts. Always lay out clothes and prepare backpacks the night before a school day to eliminate rushing. Send them all off with a smile and a hug, and save time after school to say, "Tell me about your day."
Tips for Preparing for a Parent/Teacher Conference
Hundreds of parents feel nervous about the first parent conference of the year, but remember that many teachers are just as nervous as you are. They need to tell you about your child's school progress in a very short time, they don`t know what questions you'll have, and their next parents may be waiting in the hall.
Also remember that what you have to say is just as important as what the teacher says. The purpose of the conference is to SHARE information about your child so that the teacher can do his or her best job of teaching. You know your child`s personality best, so plan to tell a little about your child`s strengths, talents and interests. You know what would make your child feel motivated to work hard. This is information you`ll need to share.
To make the best use of your short conference time, prepare ahead.
Before the conference:
Ask your child what he wants you to talk about. (This strategy may clue you in to possible problems.)
Decide whether or not to tell the teacher about any family problems that might be affecting your child's progress. (If your child has health problems, share them.)
Write down any questions you have ahead of time, and prioritize your list in case time runs short. Be specific. You may want to know how your child gets along with others, or if the teacher has suggestions about encouraging friendships. You may want to know how your child`s progress is assessed. Is there a record book? Does the teacher keep examples of your child`s work in a folder or portfolio?
Plan to leave a card for the teacher containing your home and work phone numbers.
During the conference:
Listen carefully as the teacher tells how your child is doing. Write down questions you have, if any, while he/she talks.
Tell the teacher the things about your child that you want him/her to know.
Ask your questions...both the questions you may have written down and questions you brought with you.
Find out if there are any problems, and brainstorm ways to work on them together. Ask for specific ways you can help at home. Sharing and working together is what conferences are all about.
After the conference, don't forget to talk with your child about it.
BACK