Hacker Valley Elementary School

Reduce resistance by acknowledging feelings Successful students take responsibility for doing what's expected of them. Along the way, however, they often argue about it. One way to stop arguments is to acknowledge your child's feelings. If your child says, "I don't want to do my reading," you might respond with "Wouldn't it be nice if we never had to do things we don't want to?" Then get back to reality. "But we do. I have to wash the dishes, and you have to finish that chapter." https://tpitip.com/?12fI18889

Inspire your child's inner drive to strive Does your elementary schooler practice free throws for hours, but whine after five minutes of math problems? Tap into the internal motivation that drives your child on the court to motivate efforts with schoolwork. You can do it by praising your child's effort, progress and persistence. Instead of rescuing your student when problems crop up, ask, "What ways can you think of to figure out a solution?" https://tpitip.com/?12fG18889

Curiosity and science go hand in hand To encourage an interest in science, make the most of your child's natural curiosity. Take a nature walk and stop to notice and ask questions about what you see. Then see if you can find the answers together. Or try simple experiments. For example, you could fill the sink with water and give your child some items from around the house. Ask which your child thinks will float and which will sink. Then test to see! https://tpitip.com/?12fF18889

Newspapers deliver daily reading practice - https://tpitip.com/?12ea18889

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The arts add to your child's education Research indicates that studying music, theater and other fine arts can improve children's achievement in school. There are lots of ways to add the arts to your child's life: Sing in the car. Keep a box of art supplies handy. Visit local museums together. Check out books about art and artists at the library. Watch TV programs about the arts with your child. Look for listings of local arts events for kids, too. https://tpitip.com/?12eS18889

Help your child see the meaning of the reading Some kids work so hard to read individual words that they lose the meaning of the passage. To help your child with comprehension, pause from time to time as your child reads and ask, "Does that make sense?" Suggest that your student reread the passage. Your child's teacher may also have a list of sight words your child can study to help build reading fluency. https://tpitip.com/?12eR18889

Give chores a positive spin Doing chores helps kids develop responsibility, and that pays off in school. But how do you get your child to do chores? Kids love to plan and to carry out their plans. So involve your child in deciding what to do when. Each week, let your student choose two or three chores from a list. Schedule a "family chore time," then follow up with fun: Fill a jar with activity suggestions your child can pick from when chores are done. https://tpitip.com/?12eQ18889

Here's a way to make schoolwork a game Here's a creative way to motivate your child to do schoolwork: On sticky labels, write small rewards your child would like, such as choosing what's for dinner, watching a TV show or reading an extra book together. Then get a spinner from a board game and apply the labels to it. When your child completes assigned work without being reminded, offer the chance to spin the dial for a reward. https://tpitip.com/?12eP18889

To improve behavior, explain, encourage and set an example The way parents communicate with their children has a lot to do with how the kids behave, both at home and in the classroom. To encourage better behavior, explain why rules are needed, and involve your child in setting rules and consequences. Then offer lots of genuine praise and encouragement, and give your child more attention for good behavior than misbehavior. Set an example by making sure your own words and actions show respect for rules and the rights of others. https://tpitip.com/?12eO18889

At family meals, make conversation the main course Shared meals strengthen families. Family meals also help children build children's vocabulary and social skills. Try to make eating together a regular habit. While you eat, engage your child in relaxed conversation by asking specific, open-ended questions. "What was the funniest thing that happened today?" will probably get a more detailed response than "How was school?" Never use mealtime to criticize your child. Then keep the conversation going as you clean up together! https://tpitip.com/?12eN18889

Brush up decision-making with a decorating project Redecorating your child's bedroom can be a great way to help your child practice reasoning, planning and decision-making skills while expressing personality. Begin by brainstorming ideas. How would your child like the room to look? Next, set a budget, and figure out together which of your child's ideas are realistic. Then work together on a step-by-step plan of action. It's OK if you don't like the results; the goal is for your child to make choices and live with them. https://tpitip.com/?12eM18889

Help your child learn the difference between needs and wants Learning to manage money teaches children math skills as well as school success skills like responsibility, patience and how to set priorities. Help your child distinguish between "needs" and "wants" and keep track of them in a notebook. Explain that your child should pay for the needs first. Any money left over can be saved toward the cost of the wants. Help your child track the savings in the notebook. https://tpitip.com/?12eL18889

Use report cards to plan for the future Many adults remember report card time as stressful. But it doesn't have to be! Eliminate surprises by talking with your child throughout the grading period about how schoolwork is going. When the report card comes, comment on something positive first. Then calmly discuss each grade with your child. If there's room for improvement, what steps does your student think will help? Write up a plan together. You may want to consult the teacher for ideas. https://tpitip.com/?12eK18889

Talk about real people who write To spark an interest in writing, talk about the authors of the books your child reads. What information does the book give about its author? How does the author's life relate to the book, if at all? Help your child think about the author's style: humor, short sentences, or a certain point of view, for example. Can your student write a story that imitates it? https://tpitip.com/?12eJ18889

Are you ready for Summer SOLE 2022? *Build self-esteem, confidence, and positive self-worth *Integrate content learning with hands-on, real-world, experiential learning *Seek to understand local history, appreciate the natural resources of our community, actively engage in problem-solving and environmental conservation *Partner with WVU’s Energy Express to build literacy skills through arts, drama, and vocabulary (Glade and Webster Springs sites only) *Recoup core learning and received targeted intervention specific to each child’s needs *Juniors and Seniors can recover credits from failed courses *Earn credits in Physical Education, Health, and Driver’s Ed (WCHS site only) *Explore college and career options in WV (WCHS site only) Students entering Pre-K-12th grade are encouraged to attend. All students will be served free breakfast and lunch. Kinder Camp is available for students entering PreK and K. Transportation along main routes will be provided to all school locations. Program dates are Tuesday, June 21st- Friday, July 29th. Summer SOLE teachers will be in contact closer to the start of the program with additional details. Register at the link below or snap the QR code to fill out an application. https://forms.office.com/r/fdG7vRQ5i6

Create a family motto that inspires persistence It isn't always easy for children to persevere in tough situations. One way to inspire your child to keep trying is by creating a family motto that expresses this idea. It could be something like, "In our family, we stick with it until it's done." Have family members make suggestions and decide together on a motto. Repeat the motto often. Over time, this saying will become personal for your child. https://tpitip.com/?12eI18889