Octubre De 2020

November 2020 Gregory - Portland ISD Conference time A parent-teacher confer- I’m an alphabet detective! ence, whether virtual or in person, Let your child play detective lets you share information about your and investigate the alphabet youngster and learn how you can with these fun “cases.” He’ll help her. Mention what she likes best practice recognizing letters about school and what’s challenging and their sounds—skills for her. And ask what you can do that that will help him learn will build on what she’s learning. to read. Note: Have your young- Dancing flashlight ster write each letter, A–Z, Here’s a fun way for your youngster to on a separate slip of paper explore the beat in music. Together, to use for these activities. take a flashlight into a dark room. Mysterious sounds Play a fast song—can he make the Put all the letters in a pillow- flashlight “dance” to the music? Now with tiny print (toothpaste tube, gift case. Secretly pull one out, and say a play a slower tune while he moves the card, coin). Can he use his magnifying word that starts with the letter, empha- beam. Idea: Have him make colorful glass to spot every letter of the alpha- sizing its sound. (“R-r-rainbow.”) beams of light by taping squares of col- bet? To keep track, as he finds each one Encourage your child to repeat the ored tissue paper over the end of the he can turn the slip of paper with the word and tell you the first letter. (“R-r- flashlight. matching letter upside down. rainbow, R!”) Now let him pull out a Prevent choking letter and make its sound for you to Vanishing letters Little ones don’t always chew their “investigate.” Ask your child to arrange the letters food completely, which can lead to Hidden clues in ABC order. Next, he should close his eyes while you take away a letter. His choking. Minimize the risk by mak- Help your youngster make a “magni- mission is to tell you which letter has ing sure your child always sits down fying glass”: Cut the center from a “disappeared.” If he needs help, he while she eats. Slice grapes, carrots, small paper plate, tape plastic wrap could sing the alphabet song as he and hot dogs in half lengthwise. over the hole, and attach a craft-stick touches each letter. Play again, and let Also, wait until she’s older for hard handle. Then, have him gather items candies and chewing gum. him make a letter “vanish.”♥ Worth quoting What we’re thankful for “If you look the right way, you can see Noticing small things to be grateful for each day that the whole world is a garden.” helps everyone in your family have a brighter outlook. Frances Hodgson Burnett Here’s how to start a daily thankfulness routine. Just for fun 1. Set aside time every day to share what you’re Q: What followed the piglet? grateful for. Perhaps you’ll chat at bedtime or during dinner. A: Its tail. 2. Have each family member name three things she’s thankful for that day—big and little. Your child might say she’s grateful for you and for takeout pizza, for instance. 3. Let your youngster make a gratitude notebook. Help her write down what everyone is thankful for each day and illustrate it. Tip: Read over past entries together as a reminder of all the positives in your lives.♥ © 2020 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated Early Years November 2020•Page 2 tokens.’ She hands me a token in Tame screen time exchange for 15 minutes of Electronic devices often keep screen time. When she’s out of little ones happily occupied, tokens, her screen time is up for which can make limiting screen the day.” time a challenge for busy par- Play games. “The car is the ents. We asked parents to share number one place where my their top tips for cutting back, child begs to play on my phone. and here’s what they told us. So we started playing screen-free Keep track. “I discovered this idea games instead. Our favorite is last year after taking my daughter where we act like storybook char- to an arcade. When we got home, acters and have to guess each other’s she got four checkers to use as ‘game identities. We might pretend to breathe fire like a dragon or talk in a squeaky voice like a mouse.” Redirect. “I found this strategy by accident. My daughter asked to use my tablet because she was bored. I cheerfully replied, ‘But it’s not tablet time, it’s coloring time.’ It worked! Now if she asks for too much screen time, I suggest it’s time for a different Following directions: activity. She usually shifts gears without complaint.”♥ A simple strategy My son Lucas sometimes struggles to Praise that builds self-confidence follow directions when he does school- Q: I usually just say “good job” when my daughter work or chores. I asked his teacher for does something well. Is there a better way to advice, and she said that before she gives praise her? instructions, she signals students to listen by touching her ear. A: Everyone wants to hear that they’re doing well, and your child is no different. While there’s nothing wrong with saying “good job,” a more specific compliment tells your daughter exactly what she did well. If she shows you her completed jigsaw puzzle, you might say, “That puzzle has a lot of pieces—you really stuck with it.” Or when she shares a toy with a sibling, you could tell her, “I So when Lucas left his Legos on the noticed you were generous by letting your brother play with your favorite train.” floor, I held my finger to my ear and said, She’ll feel good about herself—and be likely to find more ways to solve problems “Please put your Legos in the bin.” Lucas on her own or get along with others.♥ laughed and replied, “Mrs. Sanchez does the same thing!” And he promptly did exactly as I asked. Then recently, he had an assignment to draw healthy Thanks- Think outside—and inside— giving foods. I read the instructions the box aloud, tapping my ear for healthy and Thanksgiving. He listened, then drew Big cardboard boxes can inspire your Or perhaps he’ll create an undersea envi- foods like turkey and carrots—and no child to think creatively. Let him try ronment with colorful fish. pumpkin pie. these ideas: ● Suggest that your youngster decorate I like having a silent reminder to use, ● A box can become a cozy “classroom” the outside of a box. He might draw and Lucas is getting better at following for your youngster’s stuffed animals. He gumdrops and lollipops to turn it into a instructions.♥ could “teach” them by reading aloud or gingerbread house or add zigzags to OUR PURPOSE showing them how to count. make a race car, for instance. To provide busy parents with practical ways ● Encourage your child to Tip: No large box? to promote school readiness, parent climb inside a box and Have your child help involvement, and more effective parenting. Resources for Educators, draw on the “walls” you make one. Open a division of CCH Incorporated with crayons. Maybe several smaller 128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630 800-394-5052 • [email protected] he’ll design stars and boxes at the seams, www.rfeonline.com planets so it looks like and tape them ISSN 1540-5567 an outer space scene. together.♥ © 2020 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated Home&School ® Working Together for School Success CONNECTION November 2020 Gregory - Portland ISD Memory builder Strengthen your Learn to manage emotions youngster’s memory with this playful Is your youngster’s behavior idea. Have her look away while you sometimes a mystery to you? build a small block tower. Then, let Acting out can be a child’s her study it for 30 seconds and turn way of showing you he’s her back. Can she duplicate it from angry or upset. Use this memory, using the same shapes, col- advice to help him express ors, and positions for her tower? Now his feelings in more posi- let her build a structure for you to tive ways. copy—and test your memory! Make a chart Prepared for conferences Together, brainstorm You can make the most of parent- a list of emotions, such teacher conferences—whether yours is as happy, frustrated, virtual or in person—by listing ques- excited, and bored. For tions ahead of time that you’d like to each one, your child can ask. Here are three to include: “What draw and name a character does my child seem most interested (Happy Henry, Frustrated Fred). in?” “What is hardest for him?” “How If he misbehaves (say, he yells at his sis- will feel heard and cared about. As a can I support him at home?” ter for touching his toys), he could use result, he may be less apt to take out his A vote for good citizenship the characters to talk about his feelings. frustration on others. (“Uh-oh, I’m acting like Angry Andy!”) Good citizens take an active role in Find coping techniques selecting their leaders. Show your Ask “why?” Equip your youngster with strategies youngster how it’s done. Talk about Simply asking “Why do you think for handling negative emotions.

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