Homework

Homework can be a difficult time for parents and children. Even though we have covered the material in class, often the student will want or need a bit of help when s/he approaches the homework assignment. A recent book, Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children by J. Trachtenberg, offers several suggestions for making this time easier. Some of the ideas from this book: break assignments into smaller pieces--don't plan to do it all in one sitting; start with the easiest material first; don't give answers, but help them find answers; and ask them what they can do on their own and what they might need help with. Your student should always have the homework calendar in the homework folder. Assignments and due dates are listed as well as other important information such as minimum days and field trips. Thanks for your help. It is important for your child's success.

Supplies

We are entering the last third of the school year. Our students are beginning to look older and (we hope) wiser. Sadly, supplies are looking older and more sparse. Can you help? We need boxes of tissues (the school ones are rather hard and rub little noses raw), pencils, wipes (to clean desks), erasers, and wide ruled notebook paper. Thanks so much to those of you who have sent supplies in the past.

Teacher Work day

Although we learn new things every day, teachers had a special day for learning about learning on Friday. Our speaker, Carole Helstrom, reminded us of things we have known as well as telling about some of the more recent research on brain function. She focused on study tips and test taking skills.
Our third grade students have a special work book called Skills for School Success. In it we practice memorization, neat work habits and how to take a test. Some of the skills we practice are exactly those study tips we reviewed on Friday. A few of the mian ones are: Study in your best environment (some people need complete quiet, others do better with quiet music); Eliminate distractions and have materials ready; Be sure you are well rested, well fed and have fluids available.