Helping at Home
You
are your child’s first and most important teacher. A working partnership
between home and school will result in the best possible education for your
child. There are many ways you as a family already support your child’s
education. Here are just a few sample home activities.
READING AND WRITING
Set
aside a time to read aloud to your child each day. Talk about the stories. Have
discussions that allow your child to compare the similarities and differences
between different stories and experiences. Make sure your child sees adults and
older siblings in the house reading and writing.
When
your child reads aloud to you, give him or her time to hear and correct his or
her own reading mistakes before jumping in with the correct word, or pointing
out an error. The goal is to make self-correcting readers.
Take
opportunities to have your child help write. Take dictation from your child
until (s)he is writing independently. Shopping lists, letters, travel journals,
a diary, are all important writing opportunities. Notes about activities for
the family photo album is another good idea.
Talk
about the television programs and movies your child watches. Television
programs often make good bridges to reading about an interesting topic.
MATHEMATICS
Have
your child practice measuring when cooking.
Have
your child count money and identify the denominations. A small allowance will
motivate your child to keep track of money and save for special items.
Figure
out household math problems with your child. If the cousins are coming for
dinner and there are five of them and four of us, how many chairs will we need
at the table? Let him or her in on your thinking. How did you figure out how
much cloth it would take to make curtains, or how much lumber it took to build
the planter box?
SCIENCE
Observe
and discuss the changes in the seasons and weather. Go to a favorite park at
various times of the year and notice how it is different and the same.
Watch
and discuss the animals around your home. Birds, pets, insects, and small
animals are all around us. Finding a caterpillar on a plant can lead to a great
discussion about life cycles.
Plant
a kitchen garden, either indoors or out. A sunny window can be a great spot for
a few simple plants used in cooking.
Read
books and watch television programs which explore interesting scientific
knowledge. Share your knowledge.
HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES
Make
a timeline of important family events.
When
out and about in the community, point out the police station, fire station, and
other community agencies.
Look
at a map or globe to find where grandma lives or where you will be driving.
Tell
your child the family stories of how people met, when (s)he was born, or what it was like when you were growing up.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Be
sure your child has an opportunity to play outside and be physically active.
Talk
with your child about the importance of daily routines, such as brushing teeth,
washing hands, and getting enough sleep.
Take
your child to a sporting event, such as a baseball game, or even a sibling’s soccer game.
Discuss the skills, rules and cooperation involved.