How can I help my child succeed in kindergarten and first grade?
Continue to be involved in your child's school and education.
You are your child's first and most important teacher.
Anderson and Minke describe how "parent involvement in education has been associated with a positive variety of positive academic outcomes [for students], including higher grade point average... increased ability to self regulate behavior... and higher levels of social skills" (Anderson & Minke, 2007).
Anderson, K.J. & Minke, K. M. (2007). Parent involvement in education: Toward an understanding of parents' decision making.The Journal of Educational Research, 100(5), 311-323, 328. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/204203048?accountid=31683.
You can...
- Keep the reading and studying experience POSITIVE! Positivity in academic activities increases student achievement.
- Continue reading together every night for at least 20 minutes.
- Continue to go over all papers in the take home folder and Friday folder with your child.
- Help your child with homework at the same time everyday.
- Have a consistent homework area.
- Take short breaks during frustration. Work at your child’s pace.
- Ensure that your child eats a healthy breakfast, gets enough rest, and practices good hygiene.
- Play fun learning games (Bananagrams for spelling and reading, Monopoly for counting and money sense, etc.)
- Take trips to museums, plays, musicals, and more! Get excited about learning!
- Create hands-on activities such as counting leaves, pennies, or other objects and making words with toothpicks or cereal.
- Create a consistent daily routine.
- Enroll in an after-school program in and/or outside the school to enhance skills and build self-confidence.
- Hire a tutor. Ask a friend or relative to be a volunteer tutor. Ask a responsible high school student who needs service learning experiences to help tutor your child.
- Use technology to build academic skills by playing educational games on your computer, phone, iPad or other device.
- Purchase learning materials from teacher stores based on your child's learning goals.
Book Recommendation from a Class Parent who Works for Chicago Public Schools: Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons By: Siegfried Engelmann
Reading
- Read together every night and engage your child in the reading by asking questions about the book.
- Use technology to engage your reader. (Raz-kids.com, iPad apps)
- Go over phonemic awareness, the different sounds individual words make. Example: c...a...t
- Go over letter recognition and letter sounds, especially short and long vowel sounds.
- Create sight word flashcards or sight word games.
- Sound out words together. Create words with letter flashcards.
- Use hands-on learning (paint the words, build the words with LEGOS, etc.)
- Write a book with your child!
- Go to the library as a family as much as you can.
- Go over old spelling words to make sure your child has retained the words.
- Discuss rhyming words, words with blends, and more.
More tips at http://www.sauganash.cps.k12.il.us/reading%20tips.html.
Math
- Practice math facts with your child through flashcards or technology.
- Use hands-on learning to understand addition and subtraction. (legos, blocks, spoons, anything!)
- Use art to engage your child in learning about math concepts.
- Review math sheets sent home with your child.
- Create fun math problems. (draw and write)
- Discuss math topic described in the "Curriculum" section of this website.
Writing
- Have your child write letters to family members, friends, and neighbors.
- Practice indenting, using capital letters, and staying on topic.
- Practice writing, using correct grammar and punctuation.
- Practice writing, using descriptive words.
- Write a recipe, list, book, or informative poster on an interest.
- Create a family journal.
- Have your child create a personal journal.
- Write about pictures.
- Type a story on the computer and use digital images.
Science
- Use technology to engage your scientist! brainpopjr.com!
- Discuss animals,plants, habitats, the solar system, etc.
- Discuss science topics based off of worksheets and activities sent home in the folders.
- Visit museums such as the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd Aquarium, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the Children's Museum at Navy Pier and more.
Social Studies
- Use technology to engage your child! Brainpopjr.com!
- Discuss self, family, school, communities, Chicago, Illinois, and the United States.
- Discuss community workers.
- Discuss social studies topics through the worksheets and activities sent home.
- Talk about holidays.
Anderson and Minke describe how “parent involvement in education has been associated with a variety of positive academic outcomes [for students], including higher grade-point average…increased ability to self regulate behavior…and higher levels of social skills” (Anderson & Minke, 2007).
Anderson, K.J. & Minke, K. M. (2007). Parent involvement in education: Toward an understanding of parents' decision making. The Journal of Educational Research, 100(5), 311-323,328. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/204203048?accountid=31683.
Anderson, K.J. & Minke, K. M. (2007). Parent involvement in education: Toward an understanding of parents' decision making.The Journal of Educational Research, 100(5), 311-323, 328. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/204203048?accountid=31683.
You can...
- Keep the reading and studying experience POSITIVE! Positivity in academic activities increases student achievement.
- Continue reading together every night for at least 20 minutes.
- Continue to go over all papers in the take home folder and Friday folder with your child.
- Help your child with homework at the same time everyday.
- Have a consistent homework area.
- Take short breaks during frustration. Work at your child’s pace.
- Ensure that your child eats a healthy breakfast, gets enough rest, and practices good hygiene.
- Play fun learning games (Bananagrams for spelling and reading, Monopoly for counting and money sense, etc.)
- Take trips to museums, plays, musicals, and more! Get excited about learning!
- Create hands-on activities such as counting leaves, pennies, or other objects and making words with toothpicks or cereal.
- Create a consistent daily routine.
- Enroll in an after-school program in and/or outside the school to enhance skills and build self-confidence.
- Hire a tutor. Ask a friend or relative to be a volunteer tutor. Ask a responsible high school student who needs service learning experiences to help tutor your child.
- Use technology to build academic skills by playing educational games on your computer, phone, iPad or other device.
- Purchase learning materials from teacher stores based on your child's learning goals.
Book Recommendation from a Class Parent who Works for Chicago Public Schools: Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons By: Siegfried Engelmann
Reading
- Read together every night and engage your child in the reading by asking questions about the book.
- Use technology to engage your reader. (Raz-kids.com, iPad apps)
- Go over phonemic awareness, the different sounds individual words make. Example: c...a...t
- Go over letter recognition and letter sounds, especially short and long vowel sounds.
- Create sight word flashcards or sight word games.
- Sound out words together. Create words with letter flashcards.
- Use hands-on learning (paint the words, build the words with LEGOS, etc.)
- Write a book with your child!
- Go to the library as a family as much as you can.
- Go over old spelling words to make sure your child has retained the words.
- Discuss rhyming words, words with blends, and more.
More tips at http://www.sauganash.cps.k12.il.us/reading%20tips.html.
Math
- Practice math facts with your child through flashcards or technology.
- Use hands-on learning to understand addition and subtraction. (legos, blocks, spoons, anything!)
- Use art to engage your child in learning about math concepts.
- Review math sheets sent home with your child.
- Create fun math problems. (draw and write)
- Discuss math topic described in the "Curriculum" section of this website.
Writing
- Have your child write letters to family members, friends, and neighbors.
- Practice indenting, using capital letters, and staying on topic.
- Practice writing, using correct grammar and punctuation.
- Practice writing, using descriptive words.
- Write a recipe, list, book, or informative poster on an interest.
- Create a family journal.
- Have your child create a personal journal.
- Write about pictures.
- Type a story on the computer and use digital images.
Science
- Use technology to engage your scientist! brainpopjr.com!
- Discuss animals,plants, habitats, the solar system, etc.
- Discuss science topics based off of worksheets and activities sent home in the folders.
- Visit museums such as the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd Aquarium, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the Children's Museum at Navy Pier and more.
Social Studies
- Use technology to engage your child! Brainpopjr.com!
- Discuss self, family, school, communities, Chicago, Illinois, and the United States.
- Discuss community workers.
- Discuss social studies topics through the worksheets and activities sent home.
- Talk about holidays.
Anderson and Minke describe how “parent involvement in education has been associated with a variety of positive academic outcomes [for students], including higher grade-point average…increased ability to self regulate behavior…and higher levels of social skills” (Anderson & Minke, 2007).
Anderson, K.J. & Minke, K. M. (2007). Parent involvement in education: Toward an understanding of parents' decision making. The Journal of Educational Research, 100(5), 311-323,328. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/204203048?accountid=31683.
