Support Your Child!

 

Are you interested in finding a solution to help support your child successfully completing their homework?  Like a basketball player practicing her shot or a gymnast doing a series of back handsprings, to achieve success, your child will complete homework to practice his or her school work.  If he or she is like most youngsters, homework can be full of challenges, from making a diorama to solving equations in advanced algebra.

You can help your child get started when he or she gets home from school, following a Zoom online meeting with their teacher, or back from a friend’s house.  Children are different with their approach to school work.  Some children may want to relax or play outside, others like to begin with their work immediately.  Try challenging your child to keep track of the two methods for one week to see what is most successful for them.  Your child use a calendar to keep track of their successes.  They may note the avenue they took to complete their school work and if it worked well, or if it was difficult.  At the end of the trial period, have him or her look over the calendar and make a determination of which method was the best.

Your child may need assistance in solving problems.  Strategies are important to use when he or she is stuck during an assignment.  For instance when your child is working on math, he or she may want to use a number line or find a how to section on the internet or in a book.  When your child is reading and gets stumped he or she could look up words over the internet, ask you, or reread the paragraph.

Assist your child by helping him or her stay motivated.  Most children do not enjoy doing homework, so you can help by giving them options for seating areas, and supplying snacks.  You can help by suggesting that he or she change chairs, or plop down in a bean bag chair.  Having a new area to work may promote creativity and increased motivation.  There is no right or wrong sitting position for doing homework, some children. If you have questions regarding Columbia School District, call 5175926641, or email me at Pamela.Campbell@myeagles.org .

School is Cool!

 

Many times our children struggle with the discrepancy between being a good student or being viewed by their friends as “cool.”  How can we as parents send our children the message that “school is cool?”  Here are some tips to spark excitement for your child to get engaged in learning.

Make learning personal for your child.  Look for ways to tie school lessons to your youngster’s life.  For example, if he is learning about verbs, ask him to name his favorite actions: eating, skateboarding or playing basketball.  If he is working on division with decimals, look at the price of a case of pop versus on can, or the price or a loaf of bread versus one piece of bread.  Relating subjects to his interests will help to build his enthusiasm.

Reward your child’s effort in completing his or her school work.  When your child works hard on an assignment, let her know you noticed.  For example, “you solved that tough math problem.  Way to go!”  Focusing on progress, not just on grades, encourages hard work and discourages the urge to give up.

Be an educational tour guide.  Invite your child on a fun learning journey.  For example, tackle a craft project together using a how-to-book.  If you want to order a pizza let her help you find information in the phone book or on the internet.  If you are going on a trip, have her help you use an atlas.  Use a trip to a museum, the zoo, or an arboretum to be a spring board for learning about a science fact, animal or an artist.  The desire to learn can be contagious.  Let’s get our children excited to learn! If you want to learn more about Columbia School District, call me at 5175926641 or email Pamela.Campbell@myeagles.org .