November 2014
Odyssey School Parental Involvement
Mrs.Priser,
[email protected]For a less frantic schedule, put
school and family first
Are you eating dinner in the car again?
Is your child so tired from karate
class and soccer practice he cant focus
on his homework? Your family may
be over-scheduled. Its a common
problem. But there are things you can
do to ensure you and your child have
the time you need for activities and
time together. Try these tips:
Get a big calendar. Block out
time for critical things. Your child
has to go to school every day. He
needs time for homework. These arent negotiable.
Talk about the activities that matter most to your family. Is eating
dinner together a high priority? What about a family visit to grandparents?
Put these on the schedule next.
Add your childs activities. Include the real time each one takes. Add
in the time to drive to and from practice or the game.
Think about things you dont have time for that youd like to do.
Choose one or two of these and put them on the schedule.
Dont feel that you need to fill in every minute. Your child needs
some downtime where he can do nothing at all. So do you. And you need
time together.
If you have to say no to an activity, you may be saying yes to school success
and a closer family. Thats not a bad trade.
When it comes to discipline, be positive
Your child may not love
homework, but a homework
routine will make it easier for
her to settle down to study
time. To create one:
Choose the same time each day.
It reduces the need for nagging.
Include the whole family. Turn off
the TV. Read or do quiet chores.
Keep rescheduling to a minimum.
If there is a conflict, be sure your child
knows when homework time will be.
Keep track with an assignment calendar. Ask questions such as Hows the
report coming? Its due Friday.
Make reading a happy habit
Before crossing homework off
the to-do list each day, remember the importance of daily
reading. Kids who read often
and enjoy itdevelop positive
attitudes about this important skill. Try to:
Show enthusiasm. Hooray! We get
to relax and read now!
Keep appealing books on hand.
Get psyched for science
20 minutes each night, start with
a shorter time and build up.
Give frequent and specific
compliments. Awesome! You
shared the first time Sarah asked!
Show enthusiasm. Theres
a big difference between saying
Good job and SUPER! with a
smile and a high five.
Your child is participating in a science fair.
You say Great! but worry about the workload. To keep it manageable and fun:
Consider your childs interests.
Look for intriguing, educational experiments together at the library or online.
Be creative. Ask What if ... ? and
brainstorm about different twists your
child might give a popular experiment.
Supervise. Help your child make a
step-by-step plan for completing his
project on time. Encourage him while
he does the work.
Source: How to Use Attention and Praise
Effectively, Yale Parenting Center.
Source: Science Fair Secrets for Parents, Steve Spangler
Science, niswc.com/fair.
Preparing your child for academic success involves using appropriate discipline.
But discipline is not the same as punishmentits almost the opposite! One of
the most critical parts is encouraging good behavior. Research shows it works to:
Focus on changing two or
three behaviors at a time.
Provide details of the way you
want your child to behave. Saying
When Sarah asks for a turn,
please give her one, is better than
simply saying Be nice.
Model good behavior. Kids
learn from watching parents.
Take one step at a time. If
you want your child to read for
Avoid homework headaches
Copyright 2014, The Parent Institute, www.parent-institute.com
Prepare for test success
November 2014
How do I help my defiant
child get more organized?
Q: My daughter and I are locked in a
power struggle over just about everything. She refuses to pick up after
herself, and her room is a disaster. She
cant find her homework. She cant get
ready on time in the morning. She says,
Its my room. I can do what I want.
How do I get her to take responsibility?
A: This battle is about more than just a tidy
room. Its time to help your daughter remember
that there are boundaries and rules she needs to
follow. While it may be her room, its your house and you get to set the
rules for the family. Motivate your child to take responsibility by using a
combination of help and consequences.
To get her started:
Set a timer and a small goal. By now, tidying the room may seem
like an overwhelming task. Set the timer for 15 minutes and offer to help
her put away her clothes. The key is to helpnot to do the job yourself.
Establish a positive consequence. Is there something she wants you
to do? Perhaps give her a ride to a friends house? Say youre happy to do
itafter the clothes are picked up.
Refuse to engage in power struggles. She knows the rules, and
she knows the consequences. When she meets her part of the bargain,
you will meet yours.
Does your child read aloud to you?
Reading aloud doesnt have to be a one-way street. Parents who encourage
children to read aloud to them help their children become stronger readers.
Are you helping your child develop reading fluency? Answer yes or no:
___1. Do you set aside at least a
little time each day for your
child to read aloud?
___2. Do you try to make reading
time low-stress by having it
when you can give your child
your undivided attention?
___3. D
o you avoid jumping
in right away if your child
mispronounces a word?
___4. D
o you switch books if
there are too many words
your child doesnt know?
___5. Do you talk about the
book with your child when
he finishes it? Which parts did
you each like?
How well are you doing?
More yes answers mean you are building your childs reading skills. For each
no, try that idea.
You know your child should prepare for
tests, but what should you do to help? Its a
good idea to:
Have your child ask the teacher what
will be covered.
Supervise several study sessions.
Studying works best when its done over
timenot at the last minute.
Use resources. Make flash cards, print
out blank maps, or have your child take a
practice test.
Be positive. Youve got this material
memorized! Youll do well! Theres no
need to pressure your child. Support and
preparation are all she needs.
Team up against stress
He used to love school, but now he often
says hes too sick to go. His grades are falling. He doesnt spend time with his friends.
Your child may be under stress.
Remind him that you are on his side.
And if you suspect stress is causing schoolrelated issues for your child, contact his
teacher. See if there are things you can do
together to work on the problem.
Keep screens in their place
By age nine, many children
are media savvy. They are fans
of actors, music groups and
online games. But too much
screen time interferes with
study timeand some online
activity can be dangerous. To get control:
Set and enforce limits. Kids this age
should spend no more than two hours
per daytotalin front of a screen.
Be aware of what your child sees.
Record TV shows. Let your child watch
them on your schedule, without the ads.
Source: J.P. Steyer, Talking Back to Facebook, Simon and Schuster.
t
oesn
d
d
l
chi
dom
at a
n sel
a
}Wh
c
e
es
ve h
Jam
recei
P.D.
~
.
e
giv
later
Copyright 2014, The Parent Institute, www.parent-institute.com
Helping Children Learn
Published in English and Spanish, September through May.
Publisher: Phillip Wherry.
Editor: Alison McLean.
Staff Editors: Rebecca Miyares & Erika Beasley.
Production Manager: Pat Carter.
Translations Editor: Victoria Gaviola.
Layout & Illustrations: Maher & Mignella, Cherry Hill, NJ.
Copyright 2014, The Parent Institute, a division of NIS, Inc.
P.O. Box 7474, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-7474
1-800-756-5525 www.parent-institute.com ISSN 1526-9264
1527-1013
X02716742
