Parents’ Guide to Getting Through School

1. Parents’ Guide to Getting Through School September 29, 2003 Alan B. Shepard, Jr. Elementary School Presented by Dr. Kathleen Hoeker

2. Why is Homework Important? • Increases understanding • Helps students become self-disciplined • Improves independent work habits • Communicates with teachers • Connects home and school

3. Tips for Completing Homework • Establish a routine including a time and place to complete homework • Create a homework tool kit • Encourage your child to work independently, providing guidance as needed and not answers • Stay positive- your reactions are important • Punctuality- make sure you understand the consequences for late assignments and reinforce them with your child

4. Encourage Helpful Habits • Putting things away • Getting along with others • Listening carefully • Sticking to a schedule • Doing simple chores • Packing and unpacking school materials

5. Organization • Encourage your child to write down his assignments • Plan ahead for long-term assignments • Create a study space complete with supplies • Set a required study time, including a specific amount of time • Make daily- kid to do lists

6. When Following Written Directions: CIRCLE Circle the direction words UNDERLINE Underline the directions that follow the direction words COUNT Count up the number of directions CHECK Check that you have followed all directions

7. Study Skills • Use headings, bold type and pictures • Answer questions at the end of each reading selection • Writing down the answers always helps with remembering • Use abbreviations and symbols to make note taking faster • Review daily- rather than the night before a test

8. Note Taking • Use flashcards for definitions, dates, names, facts, formulas, and new words • Group the flashcards and learn one group at a time • Shuffle the cards in each group so they are not learned in any particular order • Practice often for short periods of time • Spend most of your time on the cards you haven’t mastered

9. Self-Assessment • Encourage your child to look over their own work • Assist them by asking the following questions: How do you think you did? What can you do better next time? What did you do best?

10. Math Word Problems • Use the 5 step rule: Step 1: Figure out the question(s) that need to be answered Step 2: Write down the information needed to solve the problem (just the facts) Step 3: Develop a plan to solve the problem (add, subtract, multiply or divide) Step 4: Solve the problem Step 5: Check your work

11. Reading • Encourage your child to read daily • Get your child a library card • Read books, magazines, news articles, etc. aloud • Let your child see you read, tell them why you are reading • Keep a dictionary handy- encourage its use. Keep a log of new words and review them periodically. • Talk about what you read • Make a connection with the information and real life • Practice, Practice, Practice Remember, reading is an essential life skill.

12. SQ3R • SURVEY: Have your child quickly skim a reading assignment picking out key information (hint: use pictures, bold types, and headings). • QUESTION: Have your child think of questions about the material (hint: turn headings into who, what, where, when, why and how questions). • READ: Have your child read the assignment while trying to find the answers to his questions. • RESTATE: Your child should test himself by restating what he has learned in his own words. • REVIEW: Look over the assignment and make sure all of the directions were followed.

13. Vocabulary • Challenge your child to learn and use synonyms and antonyms • Use index cards (flashcards) to learn new words • Keep a journal while watching TV • Check meaning by using context clues

14. When Should You Call The Teacher? • You feel your child does not understand the homework • You are unable to provide basic study supplies • Homework takes hours • A personal problem may be affecting your child’s ability to study • You are unsure about your child’s progress

15. No Parent Left Behind • Focus on family involvement • Stay informed • Ask questions • Encourage your child to tackle difficult challenges by doing their best, rather than making excuses • Follow through with established rules Your attitude toward school and school assignments carries through to your child!

16. The Truth • Our goal is not just to get our students to achieve an “A” or to complete their homework . Our goal also includes motivating students to WANT TO LEARN and to WANT TO DO WELL and TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

17. Web Resources • www.njpep.org/Parents_Students/index.html • www.ajkids.com/ • www.njpep.org/Educators/HomeworkHelp/index.htm • www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/index.html • www.Parent-institute.com

18. Thank you for your participation in tonight's workshop.Should you need further assistance, please feel free to contact me at Kathleen.Hoeker@obps.org.