10 Partnering Tips for a Strong School Community- The main reason people join PTA is to gain access to the organized, high quality parent involvement opportunities that will help their children achieve in school. This list is one National PTA resource you can keep and refer to as you bridge the gap between home and school, initiating conversations and implementing programs or events that will enrich the learning experiences of your school's children.
10 Tips For Good Study Skills- One of the main things that kids struggle with during their school years are proper study habits. Developing a habit can take a couple of weeks, so be consistent, and implement these ten tips to help them study better.
Back to School Allowance Advice for Parents- Learning how to reflect before making a decision – learning to think in terms of choices, alternatives and consequences -- is a great life skill for parents to teach kids. Since back to school time is rapidly approaching, here are answers to the four most common questions we get from parents about allowances. When? and How much? are two of the questions answered by Eileen Gallo, Ph.D., and Jon Gallo, J.D., experts about children, psychology and money.
Back to School Bicycle Safety Tips- It's time to head back to school, and kids will be
donning their backpacks and hopping onto their
bicycles. Be sure to go over this checklist with
your kids to get them off to school safely.
Back to School for Your Toddler: Fun Learning Routines for Young Children- As children are in the midst of their first few weeks back to school this year, they're not the only ones who are starting off a new year of learning. Younger children, especially those younger than three, can be exposed to learning-routines as well. Bette Holtzman, Vice President of Consumer and Family Advocacy at The Goldberger Company, has some pointers for families to keep in mind for their toddlers going "back to school."
Back to School...um, I Mean Home- That time of year is rapidly
approaching. If it is not so evident in
the weather yet, just check out your
local store. The stocks of
sunglasses and swim goggles are
being rapidly replaced by
back-packs and notebooks. Yup,
snuck up on you, didn't it? It's "Back
to School" time! Just not at my
house, as of this year.
Bullying - Both Sides of The Fence- It's time for kids to go back to school. And time again to deal
with bullies. Is your child a bully? Is your child a victim?
Parenting expert, Elizabeth Pantley, has some great advice for
parents and kids on both sides of the fence.
Does Your Child Lose Sleep When School Starts?- High school schedules are causing high school adolescents to not get enough sleep, reports researchers from Northwestern University in the United States. When school begins (for most U.S. children in September) they lose on average two hours of sleep per night.
According to a recent survey in the Journal of School Health many elementary and middle school age children are not getting enough sleep.
Easing Into "Senior Slump" Can Put Students In A Tight Spot This Fall- If you've noticed a distinct change in your son or daughter's academic attitude since the day that highly anticipated college acceptance letter appeared in your mailbox, you're not alone. For generations, the phrase "Senior Slump" has characterized the tendency to ease up on studying and kick back and enjoy the last few months of high school. And since most colleges and universities don't even look at last-semester grades once admissions decisions have been made, both you and your child may be tempted to believe that some "down-time" is a well-deserved reward for years of hard work.
Everything-4-Elementary Education- Who is responsible for
what when it comes to
your child's
homework? Does the
parent carry any
burden, the teacher, or
is it the student who
needs to bear the
brunt? Hear from a
veteran school teacher on his views.
Extra Curricular Overload- School is about to open and with it comes
the barrage of extra curricular activities.
Talent shows. Science projects.
Homework. Dance class. Basketball
practice. Violin recitals. Book reports.
When is enough too much?
Get Your Child Ready for a Successful School Year- For many students, going back to school is an exciting occasion — a chance to make new friends, embark on new extra-curricular activities and take on new responsibilities. For all students — including those who may have struggled through the last semester — it’s also a chance for a fresh start toward academic success. As the most important "coaches" in our children’s race to achieve, there are three key steps we can take to prepare them for the journey ahead.
Getting Organized for Back to School- How many days left of summer? When does school start? Are those the voices of bored teenagers that I hear, or the whine of frazzled parents? Summer is coming to a close, and it's time to begin thinking of back to school basics. No, not the 3 R's, but how to organize your home for the back to school schedule. Here are 5 tips to help you jazz up those blues:
Getting Your Kids to Talk About School- Does getting your kids to offer information about school seem more difficult than pulling teeth? Do you ever feel like a lawyer cross examining your child in an attempt to find out what's really happening at school? Do you wish your child would volunteer more information about his educational experience so you wouldn't have to ask so often?
Handling Homework- Limited amounts of homework in the primary grades may be beneficial; however, it should not be excessive, especially in the lower grades. The amount of homework assigned varies greatly from school to school.
Helping Your Child Look Forward to School- "I hate school!" No
parent wants to hear
their third grade
daughter yell out
these words on a
regular basis. Your
first grader
conveniently forgets
to bring home his
homework every day of the week.
Your 10 year old daughter
complains every morning that she is
too tired to go to school.
Home Alone: When and How?- I'm trying to decide if my children are ready to be home alone for short periods of time. I'm thinking specifically of the time after school until I arrive home from work, or in evening when I attend a meeting or go out to dinner. How can I tell when it's okay to get by without a baby-sitter?
How Busy Parents Can Stay Involved- There are ways that busy parents
can stay involved in their children's
educational growth. Whether you
work outside of the home, run a
home office, or take care of other
children, you too can be a part of
your child's school life that they will
remember for a lifetime.
How to Help Your Child be Successful in Kindergarten- Your child’s first year of school should be a fun and exciting
time. Children who are comfortable with and prepared for this
first school experience are more likely to have rewarding and
productive years, and therefore associate positive feelings with
education. Since parents are children’s first and most
important teachers, you can play a key role in preparing your
children for a successful school experience by pre-exposing them
to key concepts they will experience in school. This can be
done in a fun, enjoyable manner by making everyday play
experiences learning experiences as well.
I'm Sitting Up Front!- It's a common situation, all over the country. Who gets to sit in the front seat on the way to school? "It's my turn! He got to yesterday!" whines Jessica. "No way! I'm the oldest, so I get to!" argues Andrew. So what to do?
Improving Your Child's Note Taking Skills- Taking good notes is an essential skill for any student. Good notes help kids study and learn, do well on tests, and keep track of what the teacher sees as important. Check out these suggestions for improving your child's in-class attention and note-taking skills:
Is Your Child's Homework Worth Doing?- The drive to assign more and more homework to children at younger ages is in full force in some schools. The homework binge threatens to cut into prime family time, extra-curricular activities, and rest and relaxation. It also increases conflict over scheduling and completing the ever-increasing number of assignments.
Letter to the Principal- Dear Ms. Cameron:
Thank you for your letter. Yes, we are pleased to report,
your father's old high school is still standing and our library
was able to locate yearbooks dating "all the way back" to
his graduation. In fact, a few teachers even remember your
father, which I will get to in a moment.
Lost Boys: Helping Males Succeed in School- According to recent headlines, boys are falling behind in school across the nation. Not only are high school boys slipping in standardized writing test scores, younger boys are more likely to be diagnosed with a learning disorder, or say that they don't like school.
Managing Morning Madness- Are your mornings rushed,
chaotic and disorganized? Then
it's time to get control and make
morning a good start to a
wonderful day! When your
morning activities run smoothly,
and you're out the door on time
it can make your whole day feel
better. To create a peaceful
morning routine, follow these
steps.
Mission Impossible- After twelve weeks
of hearing "I’m
bored" and "It’s
too hot to play
outside," I am
more than ready to
send my little
angels back to school. As the first
day of enrollment rolls around, I am
never sure if I should celebrate with
champagne or prepare with
migraine medication.
My Son's Teacher was a Bully- When my son was in sixth grade, he came home with a rip in his new sneakers. He told me the gym teacher did it during a sneaker check. It sounded like a fib, or at best, an accident on the teacher's part, but I needed to clarify things.
Organizing Your Homeschooling Day- When you decided to homeschool, did your first official day
of school leave you feeling really great - and did your
second day leave you in tears? Are you so busy with field
trips, music lessons, and library runs that you never seem to
have time for math?
Pain in the Back: Your Child's Backpack May Not Be the Cause- Back pain is one of the most common reasons to visit a doctor. Young children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previously reported, and the use of overweight backpacks is a major contributing factor.
Preparing Your Child For Kindergarten- As a parent, you are your child’s most important teacher. It is vital that you spend quality time with your child each day. Following is a list of suggested activities to help prepare your child for starting Kindergarten in the fall.
July 4th is almost here. Celebrate Independence Day this year with crafts, recipes and plenty of other ideas. Here are a few examples to get you started...
Fun Picture Riddles Help with Letter Recognition: Scholastic has done it again, releasing yet another fabulous book in its popular I Spy series. This time Jean Marzollo's witty riddles married with Walter Wick's vibrant photographs make for a fun and engaging read for children of all ages. Through the seemingly magical power of rhyme and repetition, children will obtain several early reading skills without even trying!
Family Matters Radio
FMR is a nationally syndicated radio program developed to help you live your best life, hosted by Caroline & Jacquie. No rants and raves - you get enough of that from your kids. Choose a segment below to begin listening!
The main reason people join PTA is to gain access to the organized, high quality parent involvement opportunities that will help their children achieve in school. This list is one National PTA resource you can keep and refer to as you bridge the gap between home and school, initiating conversations and implementing programs or events that will enrich the learning experiences of your school's children.
Learning how to reflect before making a decision – learning to think in terms of choices, alternatives and consequences -- is a great life skill for parents to teach kids. Since back to school time is rapidly approaching, here are answers to the four most common questions we get from parents about allowances. When? and How much? are two of the questions answered by Eileen Gallo, Ph.D., and Jon Gallo, J.D., experts about children, psychology and money.
As children are in the midst of their first few weeks back to school this year, they're not the only ones who are starting off a new year of learning. Younger children, especially those younger than three, can be exposed to learning-routines as well. Bette Holtzman, Vice President of Consumer and Family Advocacy at The Goldberger Company, has some pointers for families to keep in mind for their toddlers going "back to school."
School is about to open and with it comes
the barrage of extra curricular activities.
Talent shows. Science projects.
Homework. Dance class. Basketball
practice. Violin recitals. Book reports.
When is enough too much?
Does getting your kids to offer information about school seem more difficult than pulling teeth? Do you ever feel like a lawyer cross examining your child in an attempt to find out what's really happening at school? Do you wish your child would volunteer more information about his educational experience so you wouldn't have to ask so often?
Limited amounts of homework in the primary grades may be beneficial; however, it should not be excessive, especially in the lower grades. The amount of homework assigned varies greatly from school to school.
It's a common situation, all over the country. Who gets to sit in the front seat on the way to school? "It's my turn! He got to yesterday!" whines Jessica. "No way! I'm the oldest, so I get to!" argues Andrew. So what to do?
The drive to assign more and more homework to children at younger ages is in full force in some schools. The homework binge threatens to cut into prime family time, extra-curricular activities, and rest and relaxation. It also increases conflict over scheduling and completing the ever-increasing number of assignments.
According to recent headlines, boys are falling behind in school across the nation. Not only are high school boys slipping in standardized writing test scores, younger boys are more likely to be diagnosed with a learning disorder, or say that they don't like school.
Back pain is one of the most common reasons to visit a doctor. Young children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previously reported, and the use of overweight backpacks is a major contributing factor.
As a parent, you are your child’s most important teacher. It is vital that you spend quality time with your child each day. Following is a list of suggested activities to help prepare your child for starting Kindergarten in the fall.
Fun Picture Riddles Help with Letter Recognition
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Missed the last couple of newsletters? Haven't visited for a while? This section highlights articles and crafts that have recently been added to FC...
