Study Tips

Kindergarten
For maximum academic and social growth of the student, please be consistent in the following areas:
1. Regular rest and sleep schedules.
2. Healthy breakfast before school.
3. A daily time to discuss school activities with your child and review any papers from your child's folder. Be sure and check it each day!
4. Incorporate a daily reading time 1 on 1 with your child.

1st Grade
The most important thing you can do to help your first grader become a competent reader is to listen as he/she reads aloud! If you attend the special parent meeting on how to use the Home Reader with your child, you will learn to use the phrases and strategies used by teachers to support your growing reader. Here are some general suggestions for making this experience a happy time. When a word seems difficult:
1. Wait a moment! Give your child some time to work on figuring out the word independently. (30 - 60 seconds) Before frustration sets in ask, "How could you help yourself with this word?"
2. Encourage your child to self-correct,
3. Help your child talk about ways to decide what the unknown word could be.
4. Never say, "That's an easy word." If you don't know it, it doesn't seem easy!
5. Make your hints specific.
a. What do you see?
b. What would you expect to hear there?
c. What would make sense there?
d. Do we usually say it that way?
e. Try it again to check what you read.
f. Have you seen this word earlier in this story?

2nd Grade
1. Your child should read daily. They are participating in the AR reading program and will have opportunities to take book tests and earn points.
2. Check your child's take-home folder daily and review your child's work with him/her.
3. Study spelling words daily. Keep a list handy so you can review on the way to school, on the way home from school, on the way to ball practice, any time you are in the car or waiting in line somewhere.
4. Practice addition and subtraction facts frequently. Children are required to have these facts MEMORIZED by the end of second grade.

3rd / 4th Grade
Helping children complete their homework assignments may be easier than you think. Try these suggestions:
1. Have your child use the Daily Assignment notebook to write down homework assignments before leaving school. Parents should check that book every night.
2. Set a nightly study time. If there is no homework assignment, read with or to your children or have them practice their multiplication facts.
3. Designate a quiet, well-lit area. Pick a spot away from the television, stereo, and other distractions.
4. Do not interrupt children with telephone calls, chores, or errands.
5. Some kids may work better if they have a snack first and 30 - 45 minutes to relax before they begin their homework.
6. Ask your child to explain assignments to you to be sure they understand the instructions.
7. Children in after-school programs should take advantage of time and space provided for doing their homework.
8. Check on their progress periodically.
9. If they are having trouble, don't solve the problem for them. Help them discover the answer by asking questions.
10. Calculators should be used primarily to check answers. Your child should work out the problem on their own.
11. Check that assignments are completed and done correctly.
12. Parents who work at night should have children leave completed homework assignments and papers needing to be signed in a special place. Parents can review them when they get home and sign any papers.
13. Place homework and books in a special spot where they can easily be found in the morning.
14. If children have questions, encourage them to ask the teacher the next day. Parents should also feel free to call. They each have a homework buddy they may also call with questions.
15. Enlist older siblings to help.
16. Encourage kids to use their math skills to solve real-life problems. For example, ask them to figure out how much the family spends on junk food each week.
17. Homework can fit into busy schedules, for instance, while washing dishes parents can listen as children read and explain their homework assignments. Keep spelling lists and math flash cards in the car to review as you run errands and go to and from school and practices.
18. Offer encouragement. Spend more time emphasizing your child's successes than pointing out their failures.
19. If teachers don't give homework assignments, inquire why. Your child is participating in the AR reading program so they will always have a book to read. They must also have MEMORIZED their addition, subtraction and multiplication facts.