I  CAN'T  DO  MY  HOMEWORK !!!!

How many parents, truthfully, hear that contstantly from their child.  Sometimes it can be true BUT most of the times they are just using it as a crutch.  Why not???  They have Mom or Dad's full attention for a long length of time and that is a pretty high priority to a young child especially if there are siblings involved. Personally and professionally, I feel academically, it is much more beneficial for the child to open up their agenda and start doing their work all by themselves.  Nine times out of ten their teacher has already gone over the directions and might have already done some examples for them or they might have had a similar sheet they did earlier in the day in the classroom.  I always liked when they were all finished if they had any questions to ask me if they thought this was the correct answer or not or if they did such and such question correctly.  Then I always enjoyed going over the work with them but not doing it with them unless they needed me to show them how to do an example of a problem.  Studying for a test I was always open to helping them whenever they needed me.

DOES  YOUR  CHILD  

ENJOY   GOING  TO   SCHOOL ? ? ?

Schools can't be expected to do all the work engaging students.  The more parents get involved with their kids and their children's schools, the more likely their child will feel that their school is a place to belong.  That what they do matters not just for themselves, but for their parents and teachers.  A teacher that provides plenty of positive motivation in the classroom makes for a great feeling for their students.  It makes the students feel more engaged and that carries over to having your students wanting to go to school.  Which in turn should give your students a positive attitude when it comes to learning.  With a positive attitude the learning part is easier when you get them to say, "I can and will learn this."

O P E N H O U S E

This is just an example of an invitation you might have received to your child's OPEN HOUSE for this year.  So excited to get into your child's classroom to get a look at the textbooks, get to listen to what the curriculum is going to entail, find out some things that are to be followed exactly by the rules and then some.  Then the hardest thing for every parent there is wanting to talk just about their own child but unfortunately that is always "one" thing that is not permitted at OPEN HOUSE.  Then you get to go home and your child is "nervously" awaiting you to see what their Teacher said about them.  Needless do they know that does NOT happen and this time every child is on the good list!!!

HOMEWORK  TIME

Be consistent when your child does their HOMEWORK now that they have a nice supply of all the things at their disposal that they will need while doing their HOMEWORK.  They should do their HOMEWORK in a designated spot that has good lighting, a comfortable seat at the right height for the table they are using, there should be little or no distractions, and quiet if at all possible.  If you can make it as enjoyable for them as possible and get them to smile like the children in the above picture (at least some of the time) your HOMEWORK "fears" will disappear!!!

H O M E WO R K

Start the year off on the '"right" foot when it comes to HOMEWORK it is done at a certain time and place everyday that is the same.  Have all supplies that are needed at the HOMEWORK spot.  That way when your child goes to do their HOMEWORK everything is there ready for them to begin.  To make life easier, periodically, check the work station to see if anything might need replenished.  You are your child's HOMEWORK monitor, offer guidance when needed, DON'T EVER do their HOMEWORK for them.  

S C H O O L T I M E

All of those supplies bought, new uniforms and shoes, school haircuts, whoa--we did it!!!  Chose those new backpacks and lunch  boxes (please last all year).  They are all set out and ready to go bright and early in the morning.  Since, if you are heading out to Elementary School you are probably leaving no later then 7:45 AM (there will be plenty of traffic).  You did get lucky tonight early school bedtime started.  Though EARLY does it in the morning so you might have a grumpy one waking up.  Anyhow, best wishes for a GREAT SCHOOL YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR CHILD OR CHILDREN!!!!

S C H O O L   S U P P L I E S

Oh my goodness, the amount of choices and decisions you and your kiddos get to make BEWARE!!! Choosing from the mounds of school supplies that are awaiting you!!!  If you are lucky to have the child that says, "I don't care what I get,"--lucky you.  On the other hand if you have the child that goes into the store and flips out and says, "I have to have this one, no maybe this one, or then this could just be the best of all of them,"--BUT???? You might be making many trips to the stores.  Just remember the night before SCHOOL starts that everyone goes to bed early and the alarms are set for early in the morning so everyone can leave with their NEW SUPPLIES....

F R I E N D S

LOVE everything about this ALPHABET saying. So clever and full of such meaningful thoughts. Everyone should take it and make it their daily "MOTTO" of how to treat everyone no matter if it is a friend, family member, or someone new they are meeting for the first time. Cherish and think about everything it is portraying to you.