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5/11/2007 11:30 AMIt takes a Village to Raise a Child… Starting the school year off with research-based tips for success The start of the new school year is filled with promise. Notebooks are filled with shiny white paper. Crayons still have sharpened points. Even your child’s backpack is organized! The start of a school year can also be a time for you to set some goals. Research has identified three easy and important ways to help your child be more successful in school this year. 1. Get to know your child’s teacher. When parents and teachers are on the same team, kids do better in school. Make plans to go to school events. If you can’t attend, contact the teacher to set p a short meeting to talk. Once you have met face to face, you will find it easier to ask a question or share a concern about your child. 2. Settle into a routine. Kids thrive on predictability. Have a regular bedtime. Set and keep a regular bedtime. Plan a morning routine that gets everyone out the door on time. Your family will be happier and everyone will have less stress. 3. Make reading a habit. Set aside 20 to 30 minutes each day for reading time. If your child is learning to read, let her show off her new skill. Set aside some time when you all read together and then talk about what you have read. If your child sees you reading, she is sure to catch the reading bug! Help your child ask questions to improve reading comprehension One thing that sets good readers apart is the questions they ask. Research indicates that good readers ask themselves questions as they are reading. The question may focus on what is going on in the story: “What might happen next?” “Why did he do that?” Good readers might also ask about words they do not know. “It says she is slumbering. What could that mean?” Help your child become a better reader by showing him how to ask questions as he reads: • When you are reading aloud, stop when you get to an exciting part in the story. Ask your child, “What do you think is going to happen next?” Listen to what your child says. Ask, “Why do you think that?” Then turn back to the book and say, “Let’s see if you are right.” • While you are reading, stop when you read an unfamiliar word. “James is irritable. What could that word mean?” Together, think about other clues that might show what the word means. • After you finish, ask questions to help your child connect the book to thinks he already knows. “Did you ever have a day when you felt irritable like James?” Research confirms importance of regular school attendance. Parents often wonder, “Is it okay to take my child out of school for an appointment or a vacation? Could this really affect my child’s school success?” New research on kindergarten through third grade students suggests that students who are chronically absent (missing more then 10% of the school year or greater then 17 days) are more likely to perform low in school, have a higher rate of school drop out, and show an increase risk of substance abuse. Students should come to school, on time, every day. Schedule appointments before or after school, and vacations on natural school breaks. 
Expo May Newsletter
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