Parent Resource

Tips on how to help support your child's education will be posted on this page. The partnership between home and school IS the key to the child's success!

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Our Mission (Bucket Fillers - www.bucketfillers101.com)
• To create safer, kinder, more respectful school cultures where children are ready to learn
• To create communities where all children grow up confident, resilient, caring, and responsible
• To strengthen, encourage, and support families to become bucketfilling families
• To create positive, supportive workplaces
• To make bucket filling a habit and a way of life, resulting in individuals with full buckets who are healthy mentally, emotionally, and socially.
Please click on the picture below to read a newsletter from the Bucket Fillers website:



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11 Ways to Help Your Child Prepare for Tests

To help children prepare adequately for tests (whether teacher-made or standardized), you can do several things to provide support and create a positive test-taking experience.
 
1. The best way to prepare for tests is to study, know the work, and take the right courses.
 
2. If your child is nervous at test time, ask her teacher for tips on helping her relax.
 
3. Make sure that your child is in school during the testing sessions. Do not plan any doctor or dental appointments on test dates.
 
4. Make sure that you are aware of your child's performance and that you can help interpret the results when they become available.
 
5. Remember to keep well-informed about your child's tests. Know how test results are used, and how they will affect your child's placement in school.
 
6. If there are major differences between standardized test scores and school grades, find out why.
 
7. Encourage your child to study over a period of time rather than "cram" the night before.
 
8. Encourage your child to listen carefully to all test-taking directions given by the teacher and to ask questions about any directions that are unclear.
 
9. See that your child gets his/her regular amount of sleep before the tests and is well-rested.
 
10. Make sure that your child eats his/her usual breakfast on the day of the test. Hunger can detract from a good test performance.
 
11. Encourage your child to do his/her best.

Brought to you by the American School Counselor Association



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How Parents Can Help Children
Improve Writing at School
(Lance Armstrong Foundation)

Overview

Learning to write as a child provides the skills for an adult to send emails, write business correspondence, create reports and send letters to friends and family. Proficient writing skills may be a critical factor when applying for jobs. All of these writing activities include generating ideas, creating informative sentences, connecting the thoughts logically and maintaining correct grammar. Parents play an important role in encouraging and motivating their children to continually improve their writing skills.


Step 1

Show your child that writing, language and words are intriguing to you. The National Council of Teachers of English reminds parents to show their children that words and language are fun. Point out interesting words and phrases that you come across in the newspaper, on the radio, in a magazine or from a book you are reading. Play with words and names when you name your pet. Create silly word games.


Step 2

Encourage different kinds of writing. In addition to class assignments, suggest that your child write a poem, a short story or a play. Put magnetic words on your refrigerator and provide opportunities for your child to put the words together in funny ways, create unusual-sounding combinations of words or create a poem. Find age-appropriate writing contests and suggest your child submit a story. Instead of store-bought cards, encourage your child to generate his own birthday wishes or words of encouragement.


Step 3

Provide multiple reading formats. At EduGuide, Mary Leyman--a language arts teacher--tells parents that reading is one of the best ways to improve a child's writing. Reading books, instead of computer or video games, she says, expands a child's vocabulary and widens her knowledge of the written word. In addition to having your child read novels, encourage your child to read magazines, poetry, newspapers, short stories and plays.

Step 4

Discuss how writing includes developing ideas, writing a draft, making revisions and editing. Often, children and teens think that quickly putting some words on paper is the final writing product. Share with them that writing is a process of refinement. Tell them that all writers have to make changes to their first drafts. Help them understand the importance of editing until the words are precisely correct by quoting Mark Twain, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."

Step 5

Save your child's writing assignments and projects. When you display your child's writings or maintain a folder to keep them, it creates a sense of pride. Occasionally comment about any work that's displayed on the refrigerator. Ask your child to pull things from his saved writing folder from time to time and talk about what you liked about it and what aspects you think he can incorporate into future writing projects.

Reference:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/80382-parents-can-children-improve-writing/

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND IMPROVEMENT

Help Your Child Learn to Write Well

April 1993
American children must be ready to learn from the first day of school. And of course, preparing children for school is a historic responsibility of parents.
Should you help your child with writing?
Yes, if you want your child to:
  • Do well in school
  • Enjoy self-expression
  • Become more self-reliant
You know how important writing will be to your child's life. It will be important from first-grade through college and throughout adulthood.
Writing is:
Practical.
Most of us make lists, jot down reminders, and write notes and instructions at least occasionally.
Job-Related.
Professional and white-collar workers write frequently--preparing memos, letters, briefing papers, sales reports, articles, research reports, proposals, and the like. Most workers do "some" writing on the job.
Stimulating.
Writing helps to provoke thoughts and to organize them logically and concisely.
Social.
Most of us write thank-you notes and letters to friends at least now and then.
Therapeutic.
It can be helpful to express feelings in writing that cannot be expressed so easily by speaking.
Unfortunately, "many schools are unable to give children sufficient instruction in writing." There are various reasons: teachers aren't trained to teach writing skills, writing classes may be too large, it's often difficult to measure writing skills, etc. Study after study shows that students' writing lacks clarity, coherence, and organization. Only a few students can write persuasive essays or competent business letters. As many as one out of four have serious writing difficulties. And students say they like writing less and less as they go through school.
That's why the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) suggests that you help your child with writing. OERI believes you, a parent, can make a big difference. You can use helping strategies that are simple and fun. You can use them to help your child learn to write well--and to enjoy doing it! This leaflet tells you how.

Things to Know

Writing is more than putting words on paper. It's a final stage in the complex process of communicating that begins with "thinking." Writing is an especially important stage in communication, the intent being to leave no room for doubt. Has any country ratified a verbal treaty? 
One of the first means of communication for your child is through drawing. Do encourage the child to draw and to discuss his/her drawings. Ask questions: What is the boy doing? Does the house look like ours? Can you tell a story about this picture?

Most children's basic speech patterns are formed by the time they enter school. By that time children speak clearly, recognize most letters of the alphabet, and may try to write. Show an interest in, and ask questions about, the things your child says, draws, and may try to write.
Writing well requires:
  • Clear thinking. Sometimes the child needs to have his/her memory refreshed about a past event in order to write about it.
  • Sufficient time. Children may have `stories in their heads' but need time to think them through and write them down. School class periods are often not long enough.
  • Reading. Reading can stimulate a child to write about his/her own family or school life. If your child reads good books, (s)he will be a better writer.
  • A Meaningful Task. A child needs meaningful, not artificial writing tasks. You'll find suggestions for such tasks in the section, "Things To Do."
  • Interest. All the time in the world won't help if there is nothing to write, nothing to say. Some of the reasons for writing include: sending messages, keeping records, expressing feelings, or relaying information.
  • Practice. And more practice.
  • Revising. Students need experience in revising their work-- i.e, seeing what they can do to make it clearer, more descriptive, more concise, etc.

Pointers for Parents

In helping your child to learn to write well, remember that your goal is to make writing easier and more enjoyable. Provide a place. It's important for a child to have a good place to write--a desk or table with a smooth, flat surface and good lighting.
Have the materials. Provide plenty of paper--lined and unlined--and things to write with, including pencils, pens, and crayons.
Allow time. Help your child spend time thinking about a writing project or exercise. Good writers do a great deal of thinking. Your child may dawdle, sharpen a pencil, get papers ready, or look up the spelling of a word. Be patient--your child may be thinking.
Respond. Do respond to the ideas your child expresses verbally or in writing. Make it clear that you are interested in the true function of writing which is to convey ideas. This means focusing on "what" the child has written, not "how" it was written. It's usually wise to ignore minor errors, particularly at the stage when your child is just getting ideas together.
Don't you write it! Don't write a paper for your child that will be turned in as his/her work. Never rewrite a child's work. Meeting a writing deadline, taking responsibility for the finished product, and feeling ownership of it are important parts of writing well.
Praise. Take a positive approach and say something good about your child's writing. Is it accurate? Descriptive? Thoughtful? Interesting? Does it say something?

Things to Do

Make it real. Your child needs to do real writing. It's more important for the child to write a letter to a relative than it is to write a one-line note on a greeting card. Encourage the child to write to relatives and friends. Perhaps your child would enjoy corresponding with a pen pal. Suggest note-taking. Encourage your child to take notes on trips or outings and to describe what (s)he saw. This could include a description of nature walks, a boat ride, a car trip, or other events that lend themselves to note-taking.
Brainstorm. Talk with your child as much as possible about his/her impressions and encourage the child to describe people and events to you. If the child's description is especially accurate and colorful, say so.
Encourage keeping a journal. This is excellent writing practice as well as a good outlet for venting feelings. Encourage your child to write about things that happen at home and school, about people (s)he likes or dislikes and why, things to remember or things the child wants to do. Especially encourage your child to write about personal feelings--pleasures as well as disappointments. If the child wants to share the journal with you, read the entries and discuss them--especially the child's ideas and perceptions.
Write together. Have your child help you with letters, even such routine ones as ordering items from an advertisment or writing to a business firm. This helps the child to see firsthand that writing is important to adults and truly useful.
Use games. There are numerous games and puzzles that help a child to increase vocabulary and make the child more fluent in speaking and writing. Remember, building a vocabulary builds confidence. Try crossword puzzles, word games, anagrams and cryptograms de- signed especially for children. Flash cards are good, too, and they're easy to make at home.
Suggest making lists. Most children like to make lists just as they like to count. Encourage this. Making lists is good practice and helps a child to become more organized. Boys and girls might make lists of their records, tapes, baseball cards, dolls, furniture in a room, etc. They could include items they want. It's also good practice to make lists of things to do, schoolwork, dates for tests, social events, and other reminders.
Encourage copying. If a child likes a particular song, suggest learning the words by writing them down--replaying the song on your stereo/tape player or jotting down the words whenever the song is played on a radio program. Also encourage copying favorite poems or quotations from books and plays.
OERI's strategies for helping children learn to write well are helping youngsters throughout the country. We hope they will help your child.
This brochure is in the public domain. Feel free to photocopy or reprint it.

Resource: http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Writing/index.html
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12 Tips For Solving Word Problems

Teaching Children How to Solve Mathematics Problems

Jun 19, 2008 David R. Wetzel
Children have a difficult time solving math word problems. However to develop a basic understanding of math they need to learn how to solve even the most difficult math problem. These difficult math problems are typically, word problems. Teaching children how to solve word problems in math is critical if they are to develop full understanding of math.

Children can typically solve a math problem presented in numbers and equations. However when the same math problem is written in a paragraph or sentence format, many children have difficulty sorting the important information from the distracting information. It is not the fact they cannot solve the math problem in most cases, it is simply they do not know a plan or strategy for solving the problem.

 

Strategies for Math Problem Solving

The key to solving math word problems is to have a plan or strategy, which works in any math word problem solving situation. For children having problems with math word problems, the following 12 tips are provided for helping children become good problem solvers.
  1. Read the problem carefully looking for clues and important information. Write down the clues, underline, or highlight the clues.
  2. If necessary, rewrite the problem to help find these clues.
  3. Look for clues to determine which math operation is needed to solve the problem, for example addition, subtraction, etc. Look for key words like sum, difference, product, perimeter, area, etc. They lead to the operation needed to solve the problem.
  4. Look for what is needed solve the problem, for example: how many will are left, the total will be, everyone gets red, everyone gets one of each, etc.
  5. Use variable symbols, such as “X” for missing information.
  6. Eliminate all non-essential information by drawing a line through distracting information.
  7. Draw sketches, drawings, and models to see the problem.
  8. Is the word problem similar to a previous work, if so how was it solved.
  9. Develop a plan based on the information determined to be important for solving the problem.
  10. Carry out the plan using the math operations which were determined would find the answer.
  11. Does the answer seem reasonable, if it does then it is probably ok – if not then check the work.
  12. Work the problem in reverse or backwards, starting with the answer to see if you wind up with your original problem.

 

Math Problem Solving Help

Here is another extra bit of information, which is a common mistake made when working with word problems. Forgetting to use the correct units of measure throughout the problem often results in the wrong answer. Units of measure can be mixed in the same word problem and not use the appropriate units leads to errors. These must be used properly to keep the answer correct.

Value of Math Problem Solving

These are good tips for developing a plan or strategy for any math word problem. Most children using the tips described above will typically use them for a few problems and then adapt the tips to fit their style of learning and problem solving. This is perfectly fine, because these tips are only meant as a starting point for learning how to solve math word problems.
Along with learning how to solve math word problems using these 12 tips, they are also useful for everyday life. Daily life is full of solving problems and these tips will help provide a foundation for success throughout life.

Reference:  http://www.suite101.com/content/12-tips-for-solving-word-problems-a57713

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Safety Tips for a Happy Halloween

Whether you're trick-or-treating or marching in the ghost and goblin parade, keep Halloween scares to a minimum.

By Shama Narang
Let adults do the pumpkin-carving to keep little fingers safe.
Let adults do the pumpkin-carving to keep little fingers safe.

For a tear-free celebration, observe these safety recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Los Angeles Fire Department, and the National Safety Council.
Dress-Up Smarts
  • Choose fire-retardant costumes. Look for a label that indicates flame-resistance on any costumes, wigs, and headpieces you purchase. If you're making the costume yourself, examine the fabric content and talk the salesperson to help you choose the least flammable material.
  • Use make-up instead of masks. Hypoallergenic, non-toxic face paint is a better choice than a mask, which may obscure your child's vision and hinder his breathing. If you do opt for a mask, cut oversized holes for his eyes and mouth, and encourage him to take the mask off each time he crosses the street.
  • Avoid oversized costumes and shoes that can trip her up. Choose comfortable shoes and make sure clothes don't drag on the ground.
  • Select light-colored costumes when possible. This makes it easier for drivers to spot trick-or-treaters. For costumes that have to be dark, accessorize with a white pillowcase your child can use to stash his loot and help him stand out in the dark.
  • Attach reflective tape to her costume to make her easier to spot. A few strips on her back, front, and goodie bag should do the trick. If she's planning on biking or skateboarding, stick some tape on that as well.
  • Ensure his emergency information (name, number, and address) are somewhere on his clothes or on a bracelet if you're not going to be with him.
  • Choose accessories that are smooth and flexible. Look for swords, knives, and other accessories that don't look too realistic or have sharp ends or points.
  • Give her a flashlight, watch, and cell phone or coins to help her see where she's going, know when to head home, or make a call if she's in trouble. Make sure she knows her curfew and how to contact you.
Stay Safe on the Trick-or-Treat Beat
  • Make sure children under 12 are supervised by an adult or teen chaperone if you can't take her around yourself. Teens should have a curfew.
  • Round up a group. It's best for kids of any age to travel in groups of three or more—there is safety in numbers., Plan a route with your child, making sure he knows to call you if she deviates from the plan. Keep his route to familiar streets and houses, working up the street then back down without criss-crossing. Set a time limit when he should come home or call you.
  • Tell her to visit well-lit, familiar houses. Make her promise to stick to the stoop — and never go inside unless she knows the grown-ups very well. Remind her to say "thank you" for her treats.
  • Remind him of police and fire safety. Practice the principle of "Stop-Drop-Roll," just in case his clothes catch on fire. Encourage him to talk to a policeman or call you if anything makes her uncomfortable or upset.
  • Review pedestrian rules. It's easy to overestimate your child's ability to remember to cross at corners, wait for walk signals, and stay on the sidewalks. Between the evening's excitement and the novelty of being out at night, reviewing traffic-safety is a good idea. Remind her to walk — not run — between houses.
Prepare for Treat-Seekers
  • Turn on the porch lights and replace burnt out bulbs.
  • Decorate the walkway or steps with lanterns instead of candles. Battery-powered light sources such as light sticks are just as decorative and not as dangerous.
  • Let adults do the carving. Give your child a marker to draw the pumpkin pattern, but keep knives in the your own hands. If you plan to use a candle in the pumpkin, small votives are the safest bet. Stash the lit pumpkin on a sturdy surface away from anything flammable and don't leave it unattended.
  • Remove tripping hazards on your porch, walkway, and driveway. Clear your lawn of hoses, branches, bikes, wet leaves, or wires that could trip trick-or-treaters.
  • Keep pets inside. Between the noise, visitors, and pranksters, Halloween is not very pet-friendly. Keep dogs and cats in a closed, quiet room if possible.
Sift Through the Loot
  • Check candy wrappers. Pinholes, tears, or unusually loose packages can indicate possible tampering.
  • Remove choking hazards for young children, including hard candies, small toys, peanuts, or gum.
  • Don't let your child eat anything that isn't sealed. Unless you know the source, throw away homemade or fresh food items.
  • Keep candy and wrappers away from your pets. Chocolate can be deadly to animals, and they can choke on hard candies and wrappers. Store candy well out of your pet's reach.
  • Regulate candy intake. Set a daily quota on your child's consumption and set a deadline for when leftover Halloween candy gets thrown out.

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Ten Tips for a Successful Parent-Teacher Conference

by Peggy Gisler, Ed.S. and Marge Eberts, Ed.S.

Parent-teacher conferences present an excellent opportunity to find out how your child is adjusting to the new school year and to get to know her teachers.
Here are some general hints on how to have a successful conference:
  1. Ask your child if there is anything that he would like you to discuss with the teacher.
  2. Jot down everything that you want to talk about at the conference.
  3. Arrive promptly or a few minutes early.
  4. Begin with positive comments about the teacher or classroom.
  5. Avoid lengthy discussions of topics that are not related to the purpose of the conference.
  6. Be open-minded to suggestions from the teacher.
  7. Keep your emotions under control.
  8. Take notes about what has been discussed to share with your child.
  9. Express appreciation for the conference.
  10. Do not stay beyond your allotted time.
http://school.familyeducation.com/parents-and-school/parent-teacher-conferences/38585.html
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Activities to Reinforce High-Frequency Words and Sight Words

  • Create 2 sets of flashcards and play concentration/memory. Place the cards face down on a table. Have each player take turns flipping over two cards at a time, read the words and tell if they are the same. If the words are the same, the player keeps the cards.
  • Make up sentences using the words. First you think up sentences, later let your child think up sentences for you to read.
  • Have your child search magazines or books for the words. Pick out a few words a night to search for.
  • Pick a few difficult words to work on and place copies of these words where your child will see them often.
  • Have your child write the words in rainbow colors. Have him say the word, say the letters as he writes them and repeat the word.
  • Line up several word cards on a desk or tabletop. Say one of the words and have your child point to the word and remove it from the row. Repeat the activity with another word.
  • Lay the words on a flat surface, provide clues to the word and have your child find the word, for example: This word starts with the letter “a” and rhymes with car (are).
  •  Use a flashlight to highlight one of the words in a group of high frequency words spread out on a tabletop. Have your child read the word. Then give your child the flashlight and have her highlight a word for you to read.
  • Make high frequency words using letter cards. Have your child close his or her eyes while you remove one of the letters. Have your child open their eyes and tell you the letter that is missing.
  • Place several high frequency word cards on a surface. Challenge your child to use as many words as she or he can use in one sentence.
  • Write on a piece of paper a sentence using several high frequency words. Read the sentence with your child as you point to each word. Then have your child cover his or her eyes while you cover one of the words. Have your child read the sentence and tell you what word is missing. Add the word and have your child read the sentence again to check. Alternatively, write the words on cards and have your child hold up the card that shows the missing word in the sentence.
  • Place several flash cards face down in a stack. Have your child draw the cards and read them as fast as he she can. You can time your child and encourage him or her to read them as fast as possible. You might want to make a graph with your child and record their time over a period of several days.
  • Give your child a set of flash cards. Have him or her arrange the words in alphabetical order and then read the words.
 
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Math Matters!!

Interested in bringing Mathematics into your home??  Connect to this link and read the article "Doing Mathematics with your Child"...

http://www.math.com/parents/articles/domath.html

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Reading Tips for Parents:
(Please copy and paste these links to your web browser)

Link for 1st grade parents - 
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/7835
Link for 2nd grade parents - 
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/7836
Link for 3rd grade parents - 
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/7837


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