May 2015

Odyssey School Parental Involvement

Mrs.Priser, [email protected]

The year in review: Celebrate

successes and plan ahead
May is an ideal time for you and your child
to put this school year into perspective.
Understanding how things went can make
a positive difference in how your child does
next year. So look back, look forward, give
thanks and celebrate. Heres how:
Talk to your childs teacher. Ask for
her thoughts on your childs strengths
and weaknesses. How has he improved?
Where does he need to put in more effort?
Ask what you can do to help him this summer.
Talk to your child. What does he think went well this year? Help him
figure out what changes he could make to work more effectively next year.
Review your childs successes. Together, look over schoolwork
youve saved during the year. Point out how much hes learnedhow
many new words, for example. Or how he can add or divide. Or how his
writing has improved.
Help your child come up with learning goals for the summer.
Guide him based on what youve learned from his teacher.
Encourage your child to thank people who have made the year a
good onethe teacher, bus driver, cafeteria worker, etc. Help him write
thank-you notes to them. This will make him realize how many people
have helped him.
Celebrate his efforts with a special activity. Take your child out for
some one-on-one time.

Recommit to helpful homework habits

With only weeks left to go in the school year, many children start acting as
though they are already on summer vacation. But there is still learning and
homework to do! Try these time-tested ways to keep your child focused:
Stick to a schedule. Perhaps
youve let your set homework
time slide a little. Get back to a
regular time every day.
Help her get organized. Does
your child have to hunt for a
pencil before doing her math?
Collect her supplies in one place.
Break big tasks down. Dont
let her get overwhelmed. Divide
projects into smaller chunks.

Talk about homework before

your child starts it. Help her think
about what she has to do and
plan how to use her time best.
Recognize effort. Give her a
high five or a hug for sticking with
her homework until its finished.
Source: J. Walker and others, Parental Involvement
in Homework: A Review of Current Research and
Its Implications for Teachers, After School Program
Staff, and Parent Leaders, Harvard Family Research
Project, niswc.com/chunks.

Swap boredom for books

One great way to encourage your child to
keep reading this summer is to help him
organize a book swap. Heres how:
Invite kids to donate a
book they liked in exchange
for one they havent read.
Sort donated books by
categoryfiction, nonfiction, mystery, etc.
Swap and read!

How to say no positively

There are times when you must say no to
your child. He cant postpone writing his
report or stay home from school when hes
not sick. But the way you say it can help him
accept the answer. Try to:
Hear your child out. Even if the
answer will be no, let him finish asking.
Think out loud. Children need to
learn how adults make decisions.
Acknowledge your childs feelings.
Sometimes, just saying I know youre
disappointed can help.
Source: Positive Ways to Talk and Listen, PBS Parents,
niswc.com/sayno.

Volunteer with your child

When kids volunteer, they learn
that every person makes a difference, and that when people
work together, the results can
be amazing! That gives them
confidence to take on challenges.
To find an activity that fits your child:
Discuss her interests. If she likes
math, for example, you might work
together on a fund-raiser.
Consider her skills. A great reader
could read to younger children.
Ask about need. Does the school
need help? The homeless shelter?
Think about time. Set realistic goals
that leave room for other priorities.

Copyright 2015, The Parent Institute, www.parent-institute.com

Your time matters most

May 2015

Is my childs behavior linked

to fear of middle school?
Q: As the end of the year gets closer,
my daughter is acting out more and
more. Shes headed to middle school
next year and I know shes anxious
about that. But she loves her teacher
and, until recently, has rarely misbehaved at home. Why is she causing
trouble now? And what do I do?
A: Transitions are hard on all kids. And
some kids have a rougher time with them than
others. The move from one school to another
can be scary. Your child has a lot of worries
will she still see her friends? Will she be able to do the work?
See if you can get her to start expressing her fears out loud. A low-key
approach usually works best. To open up a conversation, you might say,
I bet youre wondering about who will be in your classes next year.
Once your child tells you about her worries, you and her teacher can start
to address them. Could the teacher lead a few class discussions about life in
middle school? Can you arrange a meeting for your daughter and someone
she knows who is already at the school, so they can talk about what its like?
Why is your child acting out with you and her teacher? Because she feels
safe. Knowing that wont make it any easier to deal with her. (And you still
need to be sure she is following the rules at home and school.) But letting
her get the fears out in the open will be a first step in dealing with them.

How will your child stay fit over break?

Kids who stay active over the summer are more likely to go back to school
ready to learn. Are you making sure that your child will have plenty of
opportunities for safe physical activity this summer? Answer yes or no:
___1. Have you talked with
your child about the kinds
of exercise he enjoys? Theres
something for everyone!
___2. Have you helped your
child set personal fitness
goals for the summer?
___3. Do you limit your childs
screen time? Have everyone
get up and move during TV
commercials.
___4. Have you checked out
activities being offered at
local recreation centers,
pools or parks?

___5. Have you mapped out

some routes for family walks?
How well are you doing?
More yes answers mean you and
your child are on track for a healthy
summer. For each no, try that idea.

Investing time in your childs education

pays off. One study that followed more
than 10,000 children found that family
involvement at home was more effective
than a positive school environment at
increasing academic achievement. Try to:
Talk about school and its importance.
Visit the school and attend school
activities when you can.
Check that your child is completing
homework and getting it back to school.
Remember, when schools and families work
together, children are most successful.
Source: Parenting More Important Than Schools to Academic
Achievement, Study Finds, Science Daily, niswc.com/invest.

Writing, your childs way

To keep your child writing and
thinking this summer, encourage him to keep a journal.
But not just any journal! Hell
enjoy it more if you let him
pick a type he likes. An album of photos
and captions? A scrapbook of mementos
and stories? Reviews of his favorite movies?
A collection of drawings and observations?
Source: Fun ways to stop summer brain drain, KDFW Fox 4,
niswc.com/journaling.

Take learning on the road

Start planning now to avoid hearing the
dreaded Im bored! when your child is
out of school. In addition to stockpiling
supplies such as books, recipes and games,
think about scheduling some field trips.
Consider:
Museums. Call or check online for
exhibits. What would your child enjoy?
A local garden or arboretum.
The zoo. Read about animals youll see.
The library. Get a calendar of summer
events and pick some to attend.

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Copyright 2015, 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 2015, The Parent Institute, a division of NIS, Inc.
P.O. Box 7474, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-7474
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