Student Services/ Federal Programs
- Jackson County School District
- Federal Programs
eTips: Daily Paren Engagement Messages JANUARY 2020-2021
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Sunday, January 17, 2021
Encourage scientific thinking with a 'laundry lab'
Doing laundry can be more than just a chore. It can also teach your child science skills, such as observing and classifying. Scientists notice details. Ask your child, "Does this towel feel different from that one? Why could that be?" Scientists also put things in groups. Help your child sort the laundry by color, size or family member. Challenge her to come up with a new way to "classify" clothes. -
Saturday, January 16, 2021
When helping with schoolwork, think ABC
Helping your child with schoolwork can be as simple as ABC (and D and E)! A is for Attitude. Model a positive attitude about learning for your child. B is for Breaks. Let him take short breaks during study sessions. C is for Choice. Let him choose what to work on first. D is for Directions. He should read them carefully, then restate them. E is for Encouragement. Find positive things to say about your child's efforts. -
Friday, January 15, 2021
This trick looks like magic, but it's science
Try this science experiment with your child: Place a penny on a sheet of paper. Set a clear glass of water on top of the penny. Can your child see the penny? Next, cover the top of the glass with a saucer. The penny disappears! Explain that we see objects when light rays reflect off them into our eyes. But the light reflecting off the penny has to pass through air, water and glass, which makes it bend. The saucer blocks the bent light ray from reaching your child's eye, and the penny seems to disappear. -
Thursday, January 14, 2021
A failing grade is feedback for the future
Your child didn't pass a test. What should you do? Think of F as standing for "feedback." First, notice anything your child got right. Then help her learn from the rest by asking questions such as: What kinds of questions did you miss? Did you miss them because of something you didn't read or remember from your notes or the book? What does this test tell you about how you should prepare for the next one? -
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Send your child off to sleep with positive thoughts
The last words you say to your child at bedtime will be the words he hears in his head all night. Make a daily habit of remembering the best thing your child did that day. Tell him at bedtime.
eTips: Daily Parent Engagement Messages DECEMBER 2020-2021
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Thursday, December 31, 2020
Make new goals as clear as a bell
Ring in the New Year by helping your child improve her schoolwork habits. Help her identify negative habits she wants to get rid of and decide on new positive habits she'd like to embrace. Next, have your child cut some bell shapes out of paper. Write the habits your child wants to stop and start on the bells and hang them from some colorful streamers. Then ring out the old and ring in the new! -
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Reaffirm your commitment to help your child
Families have made a vital difference in education this year. 2020 may be over, but the need for your involvement continues until your child graduates. As we head into 2021, consider making this parent pledge: "I promise to monitor schoolwork and talk about school. I will expect my child to give school his best effort. I will read with him every day. I will tell my child I love him and I know he can do well." -
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Token earning can motivate learning
When learning something new, some children respond well to learning incentives. These are rewards your child earns for things she has done. Give points or tokens when your child does what's expected. Take them away when she doesn't. Let her trade the tokens for play time or small prizes. Don't make it too difficult to earn them, or your child may end up feeling defeated.
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Monday, December 28, 2020
Prepare your child to tackle challenges
Competence leads to confidence. To give your child the confidence to face academic and life challenges, help him improve his organizational skills, so he'll always have what he needs. Also, give him plenty of opportunities to express his opinions and have them taken seriously. Talk to your child about how you handle your work challenges, too. Your attitude will inspire similar behavior from your child.
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Sunday, December 27, 2020
Whip up some enthusiasm for spelling
Here's a fun idea to help your child master the alphabet and the spelling of simple words: Spread a layer of whipped cream on a dark-colored tray or plate. Have your child use her finger to write letters and words. Mistakes are easily wiped away, and correct spelling is quickly rewarded with a lick of a finger.
eTips: Daily Parent Engagement Messages NOVEMBER 2020-2021
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Monday, November 2, 2020
Three daily ways to support your child
From day to day, you may be helping your child with schoolwork in many different ways. But three things, according to research, will help every day. The first is making class attendance a priority, whether your child is learning at home or at school. The second is reading together. The third is managing recreational screen time. When the school day is over, turn off the screens and encourage your child to read, play games, exercise or think.
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Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Expect your child to try hard and learn well
Expectations matter. When you let your child know that you expect him to give schoolwork his best effort, he is more likely to do well. If you don’t expect him to work hard, he won't. And if you make him think he is a poor student, that is what he’ll probably be. Keep in mind, however, that even the best student will make mistakes. Your child needs to know that is OK, and he can learn from his mistakes. -
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Try a sweet way to encourage independence
You want your child to ask for help with schoolwork when she needs it. But some kids ask for help with every problem. To encourage your child to try to figure things out for herself, put out a bowl with a few small treats, like candies or grapes. When she asks for help, give it, but remove a treat. When the treats are gone, so is the help. Tell your child she can eat anything left in the bowl when her work is complete.
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Thursday, November 5, 2020
Accomplishment is worth a little struggle
If you rush to solve your child's every problem, you send the message that you don't think he can manage by himself. When kids work problems out for themselves, it makes them feel competent and confident. That's why sometimes, it's best to let your child struggle through a problem on his own. Offer support and encouragement ("I know you can figure this out"), and then give him some space. -
Friday, November 6, 2020
Give your child the confidence to speak up
Speaking in front of others, in a classroom or online, doesn't come naturally to all kids. But you can build your child's public speaking confidence by being an attentive listener. Start by paying attention when she talks. Show your interest and look her in the eye. Then be patient; don't interrupt to correct her or give an opposing view. Let your child express her opinion before you give yours.
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Monday, October 26, 2020
How to help when your child is frustrated
Statements like, "I hate school!" or "I'm dumb!" are often signs that a child is frustrated with schoolwork. To help your child in this situation, share a story of how you struggled with something when you were young. Explain how you worked through it. Ask guiding questions to help him come up with strategies he could use. Then encourage him to try again. If frustration persists, let the teacher know. -
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Show your child what subtraction looks like
If your child is having difficulty with subtraction basics, try using paper clips to show her what subtraction looks like. Suppose she must subtract 8 from 16. Make a chain of 16 paper clips. Have your child count them. Then she can count again as you remove eight clips, one at a time. Finally, have her count the remaining clips. Visual aids like this can help kids get a clearer idea of math concepts.
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Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Help your child check for writing quality
Before your child hands in a writing assignment, help him review it. Give him this checklist of questions to ask himself: 1. Does his writing make sense? Are the facts correct? 2. Does each paragraph connect logically to the ones before and after? 3. Are his sentences complete? Do subjects and verbs agree? 4. Are all the words spelled correctly? Are any overused? 5. Is his final draft neat and legible?
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Thursday, October 29, 2020
With your help, your child can do great things
Research makes it clear: All parents, no matter their own level of education, can help their children succeed academically. To do it, set high (but still realistic) goals for your child. Then stress the importance of persistence, and praise her effort and progress. Be firm about limits and enthusiastic about school. Show respect for your child's ideas, and share your family's values. -
Friday, October 30, 2020
Predictable books help kids connect with reading
Children who are just learning to read need books that help them along. When you choose books for your child, look for text with rhythm and rhyme, and repeated words and sentences. Predictable plots and events that follow a natural time sequence make it easier for young readers to follow the story. So do pictures that provide clues to what is happening. A plot or character your child can relate to will boost interest.