Parenting Tips from the Principal

PARENTING TIPS FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Parenting Tips on Enriching Vocabulary

Vocabulary plays a fundamental role in the reading process, and contributes greatly to a reader’s comprehension. A reader cannot understand a text without knowing what most of the words mean. Students learn the meanings of most words indirectly, through everyday experiences with oral and written language. Parents are the first “language models” for children. The language children use is modeled, or based, on what they hear from their parents. Parents need to create an environment that enriches what a child hears. The words your child hears, he/she will use with encouragement. Other words are learned through carefully designed instruction. With the help of parents and teachers, kids can overcome vocabulary limitations that affect their reading. Below are some tips and specific things to do.

What Parents Can Do At Home Engage your child in conversations every day. If possible, include new and interesting words in your conversation. Read to your child each day. When the book contains a new or interesting word, pause and define the word for your child. After you're done reading, engage your child in a conversation about the book. Help build word knowledge by classifying and grouping objects or pictures while naming them. Help build your child's understanding of language by playing verbal games and telling jokes and stories. Encourage your child to read on his own. The more children read, the more words they encounter and learn.

At Home Vocabulary Activities

Read Aloud – Continue to read aloud to your child – even after he/she is able to read well independently. Choose books that are above your child’s reading level because these books are sure to contain vocabulary that is new to your child. By reading these books aloud to your child, you are introducing words into his/her listening vocabulary, and this will make it much easier for the child to recognize and understand these words when he/she comes across them in the future.

Preview Words – Before reading to or with your child, scan through the book and choose two words that you think might be interesting or unfamiliar to your child. Write the words on sticky notes and tell your child what the words are and what they mean. As you read the book, your child will be listening for those words.

Hot Potato (version 1) – Play hot potato with synonyms. Choose a word, and then your child has to think of another word that means the same thing. Take turns until someone is stumped. For example, you may say, “Cold,” and your child might say “Freezing.” Then you could say “Chilly,” and so on. Try the game again with antonyms. For younger children, the categories can be simple: pets, clothes, family members.

Word Collecting – Have each family member be on the lookout for interesting words that were heard that day. At dinner or bedtime, have everyone share the word they collected and tell what they think it means. If the child shares an incorrect meaning, guide him/her to the correct meaning. Try to use some of the words in conversation. Little Chief/Early Bird Gazette Volume I, Issue 30 Title 1 Newsletter April 28, 2016

North Mullins Primary School 105 Charles Street, Mullins, SC 29574 Phone 843-464-3750 Fax 843-464-3755

Principal’s Pals Patricia C. Burch, Principal

This week’s Principal’s Pals are:

Jarvis Porter -4K MECC

Saniya Benjamin -Kindergarten NMP

Nigel Goodyear -1st Grade

Timothy Baxley -2nd Grade

Lunch for May 2-6 Dates to Remember Corn Dog, Broccoli, Kidney Beans, Monday Pears, Cantaloupe and Milk April 30: Spring Fling Dance 5:00-7:00 at Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes, Palmetto Middle School Gymnasium. Tuesday Garden Peas, Rolls, Applesauce, May 9: Second Grade Students Visit Orange Wedges, and Milk McCormick Elementary

Ham and Cheese on a Bun, Potato May 13: MECC students visit NMP Wednesday Wedges, Fruit Salad, Apple, and Milk May 20: Field Day

Baked Chicken, Brown Rice, Stewed May 25: Kindergarten Awards Program @ 9:00 a.m. Thursday Tomatoes, Lima Beans, Rolls, Peaches, Watermelon, and Milk May 26: First Grade Awards Program @ 9:00 Sherbet Sale $1.00 a.m. Cheeseburger, Baked Beans, May 27: Second Grade Awards Program @9:00 Friday Pineapple, Fruit Cup, and Milk a.m. Popcorn Sale $1.00