Hacker Valley Elementary School

Is your teen outside the 'in crowd'? When you think back to your own school days, you probably remember the faces of the "popular" kids. Popularity is as important to teens now as it was then. If your teen feels unpopular, be supportive. Remind her that she's worthy of friendship and has a lot to offer. Help her practice friend-making skills, such as smiling and introducing herself. Encourage her to invite a classmate to join your family in an activity. https://tpitip.com/?31jN18889

It's no joke that humor can make reading fun Learning to read can be hard work. So it's important to remind your child how much fun reading can be. Write a joke on silly stationery and tuck it in with your child's lunch. When he reads it to his friends, the laughter he hears will make him feel special and proud. And he'll connect those positive feelings with reading. https://tpitip.com/?11jN18889

Help your child put travel time to good use Time management is a valuable study skill. One way to help your child make use of spare minutes is to make the most of time in the car. For example, you might tape cards with spelling words to the backs of the front seats. If your child practices them each time she's in the car all week, by Friday she will be ready for the spelling test! https://tpitip.com/?11jM18889

Address mistakes respectfully and privately Elementary school students are learning the social skills that help make a classroom comfortable and productive, such as how to treat people with respect. When your child makes mistakes, don't point them out in front of others. That will only make him ashamed, not teach him to be considerate. Ask yourself what he needs to learn, then teach him those skills one-on-one. https://tpitip.com/?11jL18889

Daily conversations show your child that schoolwork matters Talking with your child about school shows her you care about her life and her education. Make it a regular habit to have your child show you at least one example of her schoolwork each day. Comment on progress she's making, praise her effort and encourage her to do her best work. You'll learn more about what your child is learning, and your child will learn that schoolwork is important. https://tpitip.com/?11jK18889

Anger often masks other emotions Disrespectful, angry children may be perfectionists—and very good students. Or they may show their anger and disrespect by doing poorly in school. Anger and disrespect are often a cover for other emotions, such as fear or frustration. If your child has recently begun behaving defiantly, think about what's changed in her life. Ask what's bothering her and say you want to help. Then discuss ways to change her behavior. https://tpitip.com/?11jH18889

Teach listening by example There isn't a class at school called "Listening." That's because listening is important in ALL school classes. One of the best ways to teach your child to listen is to set an example. Each day, set aside some time to talk about school. Ask questions to get the ball rolling. Then stop what you're doing and pay attention to what your child is saying. Make eye contact as you listen, and give your child time to put thoughts into words. https://tpitip.com/?11jG18889

A 'checkbook' can help your child account for money Giving a child an allowance is one way to teach financial responsibility. But you may not always have the right cash on hand. Give your child a "checkbook." Make up some checks that look like the real thing. On the first day of the month, "deposit" your child's allowance in the checkbook. When he needs to make a purchase, he can write you a check, and you can pay for the item. He'll get practice writing and learn math skills in the bargain. https://tpitip.com/?11jF18889

Rev up your read-aloud routine Want to strengthen your child's vocabulary, improve her reading scores and have fun…all in 20 minutes a day? Read aloud! Try these hints for effective read-alouds: Pick a regular reading time and stick to it. Look for books you'll both like. If you preview them yourself first, you can read them aloud with style for your child. Finally, stop each reading session while your child is still eager to hear what will happen next. https://tpitip.com/?11jD18889

Reach out to the counselor with questions or concerns about school Whether your child is facing pandemic-related issues or you have more typical learning or development questions, the school counselor is a great resource. Here are just a few of the issues you can talk about together: Concerns about schoolwork and school access. Worries about any social or discipline issues. Your child's strengths, limitations or special needs. Thoughts about your student's education goals. Counselors even help elementary schoolers begin to think about career interests. https://tpitip.com/?11id18889

Families are valued partners in education There is a mountain of evidence showing that family engagement makes a big difference in children's education. Your involvement can improve student achievement and attendance, and give your child a more positive attitude toward school. Plus, you'll get a better understanding of school programs and policies. Ask the teacher or principal how you can get involved. https://tpitip.com/?11ic18889

Give your child the facts about tough topics Experts say the best time to begin talking to kids about difficult issues is when they are between ages nine and 11. They're old enough to grasp the complexity of an issue. But they're still young enough to listen. When you talk together, find out what your child already knows. Share facts without exaggerating, and explain your position. Then set a good example by making sure your actions support your words. https://tpitip.com/?11ib18889

Use a conversation game to find out about school To encourage conversations about school, play a game called "My Day, Your Day." In the evening, let your child ask you a question about your day. After you answer, you get to ask a question about his day. This helps him feel involved instead of interrogated. Ask questions that require more than a one-word answer. Specific questions, like "What did you do in math today?" are better than general ones like "How was your day?" https://tpitip.com/?11ia18889

Let your child know that science and math are for everyone Research suggests that children's attitudes toward math and science tend to be set in elementary school, and their parents' attitudes play a part in this. Support success in these subjects by expressing confidence in your child's abilities to master them. Point to diverse role models, and let your child know that math and science are for everyone, not just one kind of person. https://tpitip.com/?11iX18889

Encourage creative writing, one sentence at a time A little daily writing practice helps your child build skills. To make it fun, give her a special notebook and ask her to write down the first sentence of a made-up story. Then each day, have her add one sentence, and only one, to move the story along. It's helpful to set aside a regular time for this writing. Once a week, have her add an illustration. In time, your child will have written an imaginative and fun story. https://tpitip.com/?11iW18889

Can you collect all the letters on an alphabet hike? Turn an ordinary walk into an alphabet hike and have some learning fun! Have your child write the alphabet on a piece of paper. Then grab a grocery bag and set out together to find one item that starts with each letter. Pull up a Dandelion, pick up a Penny, dig for a Worm. When you get home, ask your child to arrange the items in alphabetical order. https://tpitip.com/?11iV18889

Give your child an encouraging signal to keep on trying Your child has been working to master a new skill, but her work shows that she still doesn't understand it. Your words can motivate her…or cause her to give up. Replace "You're still not getting it," with "You haven't quite mastered this yet." The word "yet" sends a signal that your child can get the answer if she just keeps trying. Children are more likely to keep working when they believe they can succeed. https://tpitip.com/?11iU18889

The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible families and households who are struggling to stay connected during the #COVID19 pandemic. Eligible households can also receive a discount of up to $100 for the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. For more info, please visit: fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit. #DigitalDivide #BroadbandForAll

Webster County Schools will be dismissing 1 hour early today, Wednesday, September 1, 2021 due to weather conditions.

Welcome back students and staff! We hope you have the best year yet.