Port Barre Elementary School

Commercials are prime time for conversation Don't let screen media shut down family conversations. Instead, use it to start them. "Half-hour" TV shows are typically 22 minutes of program and eight minutes of commercials. Use those eight minutes to ask your child to think critically about the program. Does your child think the characters and settings are realistic, or not? Does the plot make sense? What other choices could the characters have made? https://tpitip.com/?14ga17376

Promote a healthy body image Some self-criticism is normal, but kids who obsess about their weight or their looks may be on the road to trouble that can affect their health and their schoolwork. To set a healthy example, avoid criticizing your body or anyone else's. Teach your child to make nutritious food choices, but don't allow dieting without a doctor's approval. Then, promote wellness by making fitness into fun for the whole family. Hike, ride bikes or play sports together. https://tpitip.com/?14gZ17376

Go hunting for treasures at a museum Are you planning a family museum visit? To keep your child interested and sharpen observation skills, describe a detail of an artifact or painting and ask your child to find it. Or, ask your elementary schooler to find a work of art with favorite colors, shapes or objects in it. You might also ask your child to find things that are very old, new, strong, shiny or rough. Your child will enjoy the search and take a closer look at the collection. https://tpitip.com/?14gY17376

Steer your child clear of problem-solving pitfalls Learning how to solve problems is as important in life as it is in the classroom. But learning how NOT to solve them is also critical. Teach your child not to deny or ignore problems (they often get worse!). Getting mad won't help either, and the sooner your child gets over being angry about a problem, the more time there is to solve it. Tell your child not to worry too much about making a mistake, either. Success is often built on them. https://tpitip.com/?14gX17376

Choose learning activities that interest your child One way to encourage reading, writing and learning over the summer is to make those things part of activities that are meaningful to your child. Let your elementary schooler pick a book for you to take turns reading to each other. If your child likes contests, post a "word of the week" and see who can use it correctly in a sentence most often. Or, ask your child to plan a family event, including the budget and the menu. Then, carry out the plan! https://tpitip.com/?14gW17376

Take your child on a learning safari Visiting a zoo or nature center is a fun way to excite your child about learning. Bring along some paper and pencils and have family members draw an animal that interests them. Later, visit the library and help your child check out books on the animals you all drew, and a book that can help identify wildlife in your area. https://tpitip.com/?14gV17376

Are your priorities on your schedule? It sounds odd, but it's true: It takes time to find time. Spend some time reviewing your family's schedule. Does it reflect your priorities? If family comes first, for example, are you spending more time with family than anywhere else? Can you cut back on activities that interfere with your goals? This can be a challenge, but remember that kids would rather have time with their parents than material things. https://tpitip.com/?14gU17376

New experiences build reading skills Reading involves more than sounding out words. Children use their prior knowledge and experiences to understand what they read. A sentence such as "Sam touched a prickly cactus," will mean much more to a child who has seen and felt a cactus. Fill your child's life with new experiences, and introduce the words for things you see together. The more vocabulary and concepts your child experiences, the more knowledge your child can apply to understanding reading. https://tpitip.com/?14gT17376

We will be following a staggered entry schedule for the first two days students return to school. The schedule is as follows: August 8th - Last names beginning with A-I; August 9th - Last names beginning with J-Z; August 12th - All students report. We are looking forward to our students returning to school for a successful school year!

Add an element of fun to chore time Doing chores at home reinforces your child's sense of responsibility, and that will pay off in school. But nothing says that chores can't be fun! Try writing all the chores that need to be done during chore time on slips of paper and putting them in a jar. Then, add several fun ones, such as "Kiss Mom on her elbow," or "Eat a cookie." Take turns drawing slips and doing the tasks. You'll all have fun pitching in. https://tpitip.com/?14gS17376

To encourage creative thinking, just look up Relax with your child and encourage creative thinking at the same time by considering the clouds. Sit together outside or by a window. Take turns using your imaginations to describe what the clouds look like to you. A llama? A pair of pants? Great Aunt Martha? No idea is too silly. https://tpitip.com/?14gR17376

Acting helps your child remember reading Teachers often follow up a story with a fun activity to help children remember what they've read. You can do the same thing at home. After you finish reading a story, act it out with your child. Duplicate the order in which the events occurred, the characters' names and other details so that your child will remember the book correctly. https://tpitip.com/?14gQ17376

Your child's success in school starts with you Your actions are more important to your child's success in school than your income or your education. To help your child achieve, talk often and openly together. Listen and help your child solve problems. Explain, then set an example of the values and behavior you want your child to show. When school resumes, stay aware of your student's progress. And seek out community resources and assistance if needed. https://tpitip.com/?14gP17376

Review the moves for making friends Making new friends isn't always easy, and many children need some help with this. Remind your child that when looking for friends, it often helps to make the first move. Encourage your elementary schooler to say "hi" and show an interest in other people. Your child might ask someone to play a game or eat together. Suggest sharing stories about personal experiences so the person can get to know your child better. Friendship skills matter because having friends at school can boost your child's enthusiasm for education. https://tpitip.com/?14gO17376

We hope that you are enjoying your summer. Mrs. Perry will be out next week, July 15-July 22. The office will be closed for custodians to complete summer maintainance. We will reopen on Monday, July 22 to address any new registrations, withdrawals, and/or return phone calls.

Remember the funny side of discipline Discipline is serious business, but that doesn't mean you can't have a sense of humor about it. Humor can diffuse a tense situation, motivate children to act appropriately, and even help them see the error of their ways. For example, instead of sending your foot-stamping, cookie-demanding first grader to time-out, join the protest. Stamp and demand every sweet possible. Your child may be too distracted to keep up a tantrum. https://tpitip.com/?14fd17376

Put your child's personality on a poster Creating an "all about me" poster together is a great way to celebrate what makes your child special. It's also a fun way to learn more about your elementary schooler. Look through magazines and catalogs together for pictures of activities your family has done. Also look for images of things your child likes, like pets, foods and clothes. Have your child arrange and paste the pictures on a large sheet of paper. Then, encourage your student to write a few words about each. https://tpitip.com/?14fc17376

Look for opportunities to encourage conversation Meaningful conversations with your child are hard to schedule; they happen when they happen. But there are things you can do to encourage them. Many children prefer to talk while they are doing other things. Find the time when your child is most likely to open up: while walking the dog, for example. Use this time for conversation. To keep it going, ask your child follow-up questions, like "What happened next?" https://tpitip.com/?14fb17376

Inspire your child with real-life superheroes Being a positive role model for your elementary schooler is important. But don't stop there. Create a gallery of heroes for your child. Find pictures and stories of real people who have overcome great odds, starting with people in your family. Did someone persist in the face of obstacles, or give up a lot so you could get an education? Talk with your child about these heroes and what you both can learn from their example. https://tpitip.com/?14fa17376

Make learning part of the fun this summer To combine learning and fun this summer, try having a family spelling bee (give each family member words that are appropriate for their skills). Or, add math to a family outing (How many miles until we get there? How much gas will we need? How many steps to climb the hill?). Ask questions about things you see in nature and try to find the answers together. You can also tell family stories that connect history to your child's life. https://tpitip.com/?14fZ17376