Home&School ® Working Together for School Success CONNECTION May 2019 Shoally Creek Elementary SHORT NOTES Being neighborly Show your child how Summer learning traditions neighbors can depend on each other. Your child has spent the entire If a package is delivered on a rainy day school year learning new and the family isn’t home, she could things. Help him hang write a note saying she’s holding it for onto that knowledge, them. Or if someone leaves headlights and learn even more, on, knock on their door together to let by starting summer the person know. traditions like these. Everyday research STEM Olympics Sharpen your youngster’s research Boost your young- skills by challenging him to use them ster’s STEM skills with for practical purposes. Say he wants a series of household a pet or wonders why he needs to go engineering competi- to bed on time. Ask him to look into tions. For the first contest, what being a pet owner would require each person could build a catapult or how sleep affects kids. with craft sticks and rubber bands. See whose catapult can launch a ball the Growing up farthest. Next, maybe family members will on July 21 or a back-to-school celebration As your child approaches puberty, compete to engineer a boat that carries the the last weekend of summer break. she might compare herself to others. most pennies without sinking. Reading pals Explain that everyone develops at their Family celebrations For a fun way to stay in touch—and own pace. The tallest person in her Have your child use math to plan practice reading—help your youngster class right now may not be tallest special events, such as an Independence find a relative to be his reading pal. in a few months. Good hygiene can Day cookout. Give him a budget, and let Maybe he and his grandfather will take boost confidence, so discuss routines him look through grocery and dollar store turns reading chapters of a novel via like showering and using deodorant. flyers for the best prices on ingredients video chat. Or record a video of your Worth quoting and supplies. He should list items and youngster reading a book to send to a “It’s not what you look at that matters. prices, and add up the total. Next, perhaps younger cousin. The little one can do It’s what you see.” Henry David Thoreau he’ll host a National Ice Cream Day party the same to show her big cousin how she’s learning to read.♥ JUST FOR FUN Let’s limit screen time Q: Why do bees hum? For a healthier body and mind, your youngster needs to fill her days with A: Because they forget the words! something other than screen time. Here’s how to encourage physical activity and real-life interactions: ● Decide on a daily screen time limit that is right for your family. Then, create rules to enforce the limit, such as “Play outside every day” and “Screen time ends at least one hour before bedtime.” ● Be a role model by putting away devices yourself. For example, avoid using your phone when you’re talking to or playing with your youngster. Or turn off the TV, and announce that it’s time for a walk together.♥ © 2019 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated Home & School CONNECTION® May 2019 • Page 2 Likewise, let her know to Beyond please acknowledge when they leave by walking them to the door and thank you and saying goodbye. Whether your child is at home, in Share public spaces. public, or at someone else’s house, When you use an escalator, using good manners shows respect you might say to your for others. Consider these tips. child, “We’re standing on Acknowledge visitors. Explain the right side. The left side how to welcome guests. If your is for walking.” Or while youngster is playing a game and waiting for the elevator, people visit, she should stop and chat. you could tell her, “Let’s step back so people can ACTIVITY get off before we get on.” CORNER Answer politely. “Would you like pretzels or grapes?” When your child is offered options at someone else’s home, she may think it’s good manners to What’s in the reply, “Either one.” Point out that it’s more helpful for the host newspaper? if she says what she wants. (“I’d like grapes, thank you.”)♥ A newspaper brings plenty of learning opportunities to your youngster’s door- Q step. Take advantage of the paper with & Musical experiences these activities. A Q: My daughter loves music class in Alphabet grab bag school. She said she’ll miss it this Let your child cut out individual let- summer. Any ideas for “music class” at home? ters from headlines and use them to A: It’s great that your child likes music. In spell as many words as possible. He addition to bringing lifelong enjoyment, might also make sentences using upper- music can improve math and language skills case and lowercase letters. by helping her recognize patterns and build vocabulary. Comic relief Luckily, music is everywhere. Explore styles by listening to different radio sta- Your youngster tions in the car. Or let her ask your smart speaker to play everything from rock can put events in and jazz to classical and bluegrass. Encourage your daughter to discover favorite a logical sequence genres and songs and to sing and clap along. with this idea. Cut If your community has a summer concert series, plan to attend a few shows out comic strip panels, mix them up, together. She’ll get to see and hear a variety of instruments—not only guitars and and ask him to arrange them in the right drums, but perhaps banjos, bagpipes, or accordions. order. For a bigger challenge, mix up Also, check the parks and recreation department for low-cost music classes. ♥ panels from several comic strips for him Maybe she’ll learn to read music, sing harmonies, or even play the ukulele. to sort and put in order. Picture this Have your child practice critical think- PARENT Appreciating teachers ing. Cut out a newspaper photograph TO During a recent top note, he wrote, “Thank you for and show it to him without the caption PARENT PTA meeting, par- teaching me to write!” Since his art or article. Can he figure out what the arti- ents were brainstorming low-cost gift teacher’s favorite color is yellow, he’s cle is about? He could write a caption for ideas for Teacher Appreciation making her a yellow- the photo, then read the article to see if Week May 6–10. I wanted my themed goody bag with his caption makes sense.♥ son Aiden to recognize dollar store items— OUR PURPOSE what his teachers do for including highlighters To provide busy parents with practical ideas him, so I wrote down the with a note saying, “You that promote school success, parent involvement, and more effective parenting. suggestions for him to shine bright!” Resources for Educators, choose from. Aiden is enjoying a division of CCH Incorporated My son decided to put putting together the 128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630 800-394-5052 • [email protected] candy, pencils, and sticky gifts. He can’t wait www.rfeonline.com notes into a jar for his class- to hand them out and ISSN 1540-5621 room teacher. On the pad’s express his appreciation.♥ © 2019 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated .