Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
How can I best help my child prepare for tests?
Encourage your child to begin reviewing early! 20 - 30 minutes of studying each night for a week is much more beneficial than 2 hours the night before a test. Break the material up into small chunks. Review the questions at the end of a section to see if your child grasps the main idea. Make flash cards of vocabulary words that are new to your child.Back to Top
Encourage your child to begin reviewing early! 20 - 30 minutes of studying each night for a week is much more beneficial than 2 hours the night before a test. Break the material up into small chunks. Review the questions at the end of a section to see if your child grasps the main idea. Make flash cards of vocabulary words that are new to your child.
What can I do to help my child be successful in school?
The most important thing you can do to help your child succeed is to make schoolwork a priority at home. When planning activities for your child, build in time for homework FIRST, and then build in the extra-curricular activities that time allows. Time to read every day is also important; try having a family reading hour once or twice a week to model the importance of reading to your children. Be sure to plan family trips during scheduled school vacations. This demonstrates to your child that school is their first priority. The older your child gets, the more difficult it becomes to make up assignments missed during school. "Make-up work" does not replace the classroom experiences missed during your child's absence.Back to Top
The most important thing you can do to help your child succeed is to make schoolwork a priority at home. When planning activities for your child, build in time for homework FIRST, and then build in the extra-curricular activities that time allows. Time to read every day is also important; try having a family reading hour once or twice a week to model the importance of reading to your children. Be sure to plan family trips during scheduled school vacations. This demonstrates to your child that school is their first priority. The older your child gets, the more difficult it becomes to make up assignments missed during school. "Make-up work" does not replace the classroom experiences missed during your child's absence.
How can I help my child become a better writer?
In fourth grade, we are asking students to go beyond "basic" writing skills and learn to write organized pieces with descriptive details. One of the easiest ways to encourage your child to improve their writing is to increase their output! Keeping a journal is a great strategy, but fourth graders often need inspiration for their journals rather than repeatedly writing about "what I did today." There are a number of resources available which give kids ideas to think about and respond to. One such resource is "The Kids Book of Questions," available at many bookstores.Back to Top
In fourth grade, we are asking students to go beyond "basic" writing skills and learn to write organized pieces with descriptive details. One of the easiest ways to encourage your child to improve their writing is to increase their output! Keeping a journal is a great strategy, but fourth graders often need inspiration for their journals rather than repeatedly writing about "what I did today." There are a number of resources available which give kids ideas to think about and respond to. One such resource is "The Kids Book of Questions," available at many bookstores.