TIPS TO HELP Your Child Succeed In School:
- Model a positive attitude toward school, learning, and education. Stay upbeat, involved, and interested. If you are enthusiastic about learning, your child will be more likely to view learning as an exciting aspect of life. Avoid saying, "I'm bad at math" or "I couldn't read well when I was your age". Many students hear this message and stop putting in their best effort. Instead say, "Let's try to figure this out together" or "where could we find the answer for our questions?" You can ALWAYS email me if you don't understand what your child is learning - I am happy to help. I also suggest reading the math parent letters (in the math section) for advice on helping your child with math.
- Maintain a consistent routine on weekdays after school. Tweens thrive when they have a predictable schedule. Be consistent. It is only natural for a tween to test the boundaries of the adults in his/her life. At this age, many children will experiment with ways to avoid homework. Consistency with your routine and expectations will pay off in the long run. More ideas for homework help are listed in the "Study Tips" section of this website.
- Be forgiving. I don't expect my students to be perfect; I expect them to learn. Making mistakes is a natural part of that learning process. I want my students to grapple with math problems, think deeply about their reading, express themselves through writing, explore the world around them, and connect with their peers. For some students, diving into new academic territory seems risky, because they are afraid of making mistakes. This type of anxiety can make it hard for students to take in new information and master concepts. While I do have consistent expectations and work to challenge my students, I also strive to make my classroom a learning community and alleviate anxiety as much as possible. Mistakes are okay. We all make them, and as long as we learn from them, they are a valued part of the educational experience.
- Stay connected. Let me know if you have questions, comments, or concerns. Also, if there is a major change in your child's life (moving, new sibling, etc.), share this information so that I may better understand your child's behavior and emotions during these transitional periods.
- Encourage your kids to get up and move! Children who spend time playing outside, moving around, and getting exercise are usually able to focus better in school. If your child has a hard time focusing on homework one afternoon, try going for a walk before heading back to the assignment. Playing with pets helps, too!
- Make learning social. Students this age LOVE working with others: parents, friends, siblings, etc. Homework will feel painful if they always have to do it alone. Spend time reading with your child. Ask them to be the teacher and teach you about their homework. Invite some friends over to work on projects together. Learning with others makes learning more fun for many kids this age.
Thanks to Sunshine Anstine, a wonderful teacher in Southern Oregon, for sharing some of these tips with us!
Homework Tips
1. If at all possible, schedule a regular time for homework. Make a special quiet study area, free of distractions such as TV. To help your child develop effective study habits that will help in middle school, high school , and beyond, try to set aside a consistent 45 minutes each night. If he or she finishes early, use the remaining time to read. Knowing that the time is a consistent 45 minutes discourages students from rushing just to get done, and typically improves quality.
2. Each day, your child will write every assignment in his or her planner. Ask to see each assignment that is listed in your child's planner, even if they say that it's finished. Help your child manage his/her time with long-term assignments. If your child is struggling to copy down assignments correctly in his or her planner, contact me. I can assist at school.
3. Help your child to keep the homework folder organized by removing all corrected papers and flyers. I suggest holding on to these in a bin someplace until the end of the trimester. Old homework assignments can be helpful for reviewing for unit tests, looking at information for long-term projects, or referring back to.
4. Please check the quality of your child’s completed work each night. Have high, but reasonable, expectations. Fourth-grade students should be using capitals, end-of-sentence punctuation, and full sentences by the end of the year. Some spelling errors are to be expected.
5. After your child completes each night’s homework, encourage him/her to put it back in the homework folder immediately.
6. Have your child pack his or her own backpack the night before. This allows for smoother mornings and fewer tardies. Fourth-graders are able to handle this task (with assistance and reminders) on their own. Allowing your child to pack his or her own backpack helps them become more responsible and stay organized. I also find that they are less likely to blame missing work on their family members.
2. Each day, your child will write every assignment in his or her planner. Ask to see each assignment that is listed in your child's planner, even if they say that it's finished. Help your child manage his/her time with long-term assignments. If your child is struggling to copy down assignments correctly in his or her planner, contact me. I can assist at school.
3. Help your child to keep the homework folder organized by removing all corrected papers and flyers. I suggest holding on to these in a bin someplace until the end of the trimester. Old homework assignments can be helpful for reviewing for unit tests, looking at information for long-term projects, or referring back to.
4. Please check the quality of your child’s completed work each night. Have high, but reasonable, expectations. Fourth-grade students should be using capitals, end-of-sentence punctuation, and full sentences by the end of the year. Some spelling errors are to be expected.
5. After your child completes each night’s homework, encourage him/her to put it back in the homework folder immediately.
6. Have your child pack his or her own backpack the night before. This allows for smoother mornings and fewer tardies. Fourth-graders are able to handle this task (with assistance and reminders) on their own. Allowing your child to pack his or her own backpack helps them become more responsible and stay organized. I also find that they are less likely to blame missing work on their family members.