Elementary | The Whole Kitten Kaboodle

Helping Your Child Adjust to Junior High or Middle School

For most children moving from elementary school to middle school is exciting and frightening. This is a unique time in which children will experience changing classes, getting a school locker and new school activities. In addition, this is also the time in which most children will experience physical changes such as fluctuating hormones. This can be an awkward stage for many children and social popularity becomes quite important.

This is the time when parents must set ground rules and become actively involved with their child’s school programs. During Junior High or Middle School, many children fall behind in their studies and develop bad habits. Social popularity becomes more important and peer pressure is at its greatest influence. Parents must become adept in observing the signs that their child has shunned their schoolwork in favor of popularity.

Parents will have to exercise patience and understanding as their child adjusts to this new environment. It is important to discuss the importance of an education while juggling new school activities. Developing good communication with your child is essential. In Junior High or Middle school many children begin to pull away from their parents in favor of their friends.

It is important to develop a schedule for homework and studies while allowing your child to participate in school clubs and activities. As a parent, you will want to be apart of your child’s activities. You will also want to pay particular attention to your child’s behavior. Often, Junior High or Middle School can be quite painful especially if your child does not fit in. If your child attempts to get out of going to school quite often, this is a sign they are experiencing difficulties.

To ensure your child makes a successful transition, make sure you monitor your child’s academic progress and become involved as much as possible in their chosen school activities.

Filed Under: Education, Elementary, High School Tagged With: Middle School

Strategies to Help Your Child Develop Good Study Habits

Children do not know instinctively how to develop study habits. Study habits are taught in school and at home. To ensure your child develops proper study habits, you should start teaching your children as soon as their little feet cross the threshold of Kindergarten. The habits developed at this young age will continue through high school and beyond.

As a parent, you want to actively participate in you child’s education and reinforce the information he or she is learning in school. The first step is to meet with the child’s teacher. The teacher will provide you with information on the subjects that will be studied, study habits that will be taught and the type of homework assignments your child will bring home.

Having this information will help you to prepare a plan in the home. You should start with ground rules, such as no television while doing homework. Set aside time to sit with your child and review the homework. It is also beneficial to designate a specific area in the home as homework and study area. If your child is experiencing difficulty in a subject matter, encourage your child to practice the material beyond just completing the homework assignment. Keep in mind that young children only have the ability to focus for approximately 15 minutes at a time. You may want to break up study time in two sessions.

You may want to create fun games with homework assignments. For example, if you child has a list of spelling words, you can point the words out in the store or in the car ride home. Assign a point system to each correctly spelled word and designate a treat as the prize.

Children tend to be far more successful in school if their parents are involved. Simply make sure you set a specific amount of time each day aside to spend with your child go over schoolwork.

Filed Under: Education, Elementary Tagged With: Study Habits

The Importance of Establishing a Teacher and Parent Relationship

Establishing a relationship with your child’s teacher is crucial especially during elementary school. Many teachers will meet parents the first time during a parent/teacher conference. This is usually scheduled when a child has performance or behavioral issues in school. Meeting a teacher for the first time under these conditions can be stressful and frustrating.

You should introduce yourself to your child’s teacher prior to the beginning of class or after class one day of the first week of school. You will want to express to the teacher that you are committed to you child’s education. Many teachers welcome parents that wish to be involved.

It usually takes most teachers at least six weeks to become familiar with each child. By this time, many teachers can determine any shortcomings a child may have. This is a fantastic time to meet with your child’s teacher. He or she will be able to discuss any issues that may affect your child’s performance. If your child is doing well, then you know your efforts in the home are helping. However, if your child is having trouble, you will be able to prevent the situation from becoming worse with early intervention.

While a child’s academic performance is important, you also want to make sure your child is able to get along with other children. Your child may struggle socially and this may impact his or her academic performance. Often children need encouragement to participate in group activities. They are unsure of themselves and may need guidance to become more socially adept.

Elementary school is a challenging time for young children. There is much to learn and a wide variety of subjects to master. They must also develop social skills and learn to make new friends. Children will benefit from the guidance of a teacher, however, nothing replaces having a parent’s guidance as well.

Filed Under: Elementary, Higher Education, Parents Tagged With: Teacher and Parent Relationship

General Curriculum in Elementary School

Elementary school curriculum is a systematic progression of several subjects that will develop the foundation of higher learning. Children that develop a strong academic foundation in elementary school will be successful all the way through high school. This foundation should be reinforced in the home. If your child is having trouble with any subject matter, it is important to provide additional help such as a tutor or additional study materials. It is important to follow your child’s academic progress and to pay particular attention to subjects in which your child may encounter difficulties.

If your child is experiencing difficulty or you would like to enhance your child’s school education with additional materials, speak with your child’s teacher. He or she will provide you with a list of educational materials that will be helpful. You will also find numerous free Internet sites in which you can print materials and lessons. You can spend additional time with your child going over these lessons and practicing schoolwork. Many of the Internet sites are developed by educators and most sites are geared toward a particular subject.

In addition, these free Internet sites provide ideas for fun games to make learning interesting for your child. The added benefit is you will be able to spend quality time with your child and he or she will love spending this time with you. You will be well informed on your child’s academic progress and this added effort will ensure your child’s success in the future. If the subject matter is beyond your scope, you can enroll your child in one of the many learning centers in your community. While this is an investment, it will help your child achieve academic success.

Your child’s success in elementary school will be an indication of the success he or she will achieve in high school.

Filed Under: Education, Elementary, High School Tagged With: Elementary school

Helping Your Teen Through High School

High school has changed into a place where popularity rules and dangers lurk in every corner. Many teens are faced with the challenges of meeting the demands of their education and trying to find their way through the high school social circles. High school is a challenging time for parents as well. During high school, many teens will become established in social circles and will pull away from their parents. Peer pressure is high and the need to fit in becomes paramount to teens.

The best method of keeping your teen safe and focused on their education is to involve them in school activities. During high school, it is important for parents to monitor their teen’s academic standing. The first sign a teen may be in trouble is falling grades or a displayed lack of interest in schoolwork. Intervention is important as soon as a parent notices a remarkable difference in their teen’s behavior.

It is important to discuss the importance of a high school education with your teens. While many teens will require more privacy, it is still important for parents to establish ground rules during high school. Allowing your teen more freedom should only come after schoolwork is complete and grades are maintained. Participate and encourage school activities such as clubs and organizations. Teens that are involved in activities will less likely get in trouble.

Also, take the time to discuss your teen’s future plans such as college. This will help him or her to stay focused on their personal goals and achievements. High school is a challenging experience for teens as well as their parents. Your teenage is striving toward adulthood and learning to make decisions. You will become more of an advisor during this time as your teen may wish to solve his or her own problems. The best thing a parent can do, is to develop open communication with their teen.

Filed Under: Education, Elementary Tagged With: High school

Beyond High School

During high school, grades become cumulative. As your teen begins ninth grade, it is important to discuss goals after high school. It is crucial for your teen to understand that having exceptional grades and becoming involved in school activities will help with college admission applications. While your teen may not know exactly what they want to do in the ninth grade, he or she will have plenty of opportunity to discover new interests.

Many teens will excel in all subjects in high school; however, many will struggle with one or two subjects. Math and science classes are the classes that high school students experience the most difficulty. It is important to intervene as soon as any difficulty is detected. Your teen may require additional instruction or practice. It is important to encourage your teen to strive to master the subject that is presenting a challenge. Once he or she has conquered the subject matter, it will provide a boost in his or her self-esteem.

An intricate balance must be developed between schoolwork, school activities and social opportunities. This is challenging for most parents to manage. Talk with your teen often without coming across as nosy. Let your teen know you are always available to discuss any problems that may arise. If your teen has determined what he or she wants to do, your task is easier. For example, if your teen decides he or she wants to be a nurse, you can arrange a visit to a hospital. This will help your teen stay focused and encourage enthusiasm for school.

High school is a volatile time in a teen’s life. They may struggle to fit in or may struggle with studies. It is important as parents to stay alert to subtle changes in your teen’s behavior. Finding the delicate balance of communication is critical.

Filed Under: Education, Elementary Tagged With: High school

What Your Child Should Know Before Starting Kindergarten

Kindergarten can be an exciting time for you and your child. It can also be a confusing time. Many parents have questions about what their children should know before the first day of school arrives. Because school, including kindergarten, is much more about learning than playing, there are some things you may want to make sure your child is familiar with before his or her first day of kindergarten.

The Alphabet: One of the most important things your child should know before stepping foot in a classroom is the alphabet. Your child should, at the very least, be able to recognize and recite all of the letters. Being able to write the letters, as well as spell his or her own name is also helpful, too.

Math: In kindergarten, your child will learn basic shapes. In most classrooms, he or she will be counting these shapes. Your child should know numbers 1-10, and be able to recognize them, if possible. Addition and subtraction of small numbers is also recommended.

Colors & Days of the Week: Children should know about the world we live in. This includes basic colors (such as the colors in a rainbow), days of the week, the four seasons, and holidays. These things will be talked about a lot throughout the kindergarten school year, so the more familiar your child is with them, the better.

This may seem like a lot of information for your child to know, but it’s really just the basics. As such, you shouldn’t work yourself into a frenzy if he or she doesn’t know everything mentioned above. Teaching them is easy. Simply asking your child about colors and asking him or her to count is enough. Reading educational books is a good idea. Get creative. The more you make learning fun, the more receptive your child will be to learning, and you’ll be able to rest easy knowing he or she is ready for kindergarten.

Filed Under: Education, Elementary, Students Tagged With: Child, Kindergarten

Choosing a School: Public or Private?

All parents want to make sure their children get the best education possible. The decision of whether to send your children to public or private schools is an important decision, one that will have to be made eventually. As with any other educational decision, there are many things to consider when deciding if a public or private school is best for your children.

Factors to consider include the following:

- Location: How far will you have to drive to get your children to school? Will you have to adjust your morning routine to get them there on time? Is there busing to the school you’re interested in?
- Cost: How much will it cost to send your children to each school? Private schools always cost more. Are you willing to pay extra tuition costs?
-Religious Affiliation: Do you want your children to take religion classes? Are you looking for a specific religious school? Check the immediate area and see what’s available. You may have to drive a little farther to get your kids where you want them. Religious affiliation is only found in private schooling.
- Safety: Is the school safe? What about the surrounding community? Are there security cameras on the school grounds?
- Academic reputation: What is the overall school performance rate? How does the school rate in statewide test scores? In some cases, private schools tend to be better than public schools. In other states, public schools rank highly.

There’s no right or wrong choice here. Consider what is most important to you regarding the academic upbringing up your children. For some people, cost is the most important. For others, it is safety. Get the facts from the schools you are interested in. Take any questions you may have to the principal or the school board. Only you can decide what is best for your children.

Filed Under: Education, Elementary, High School Tagged With: Child, Faith school, Private school, State school

Is Summer School a Good Idea?

In the few days after school lets out every year, many parents begin to wonder if they should send their children to summer school. While any type of schooling is good for children, sometimes summer school can be less helpful than you’d like it to be. In some cases, summer school is based on circumstances that require it. The following list includes a few of the most important questions you should keep in mind when deciding whether to send your children to summer school or not.

1.) Will your child be skipping a grade the next year? If a child is lucky enough to be able to do this, sometimes summer schooling can keep his or her mind fresh, Summer classes are also the best way to keep a child challenged academically and make sure he or she is ready for the following school year. In cases such as this, tests are given. If a student shows lower marks in a certain subject, that subject is worked on over the rest of the summer.

2.) Does your child need summer schooling in order to pass on to the next grade? If a child fails a subject during the year, many schools ask that they make it up over the summer before passing them to the next grade. Every schools handles this differently, so ask if your child will be taking a test at the end of the summer or if completing missed work will suffice.

3.) Has your child showed learning gaps in a specific subject? Summer school is a great option if your child is having troubles in, say, math. Division may be hard to understand because your child may not fully understand multiplication. Sometimes a few weeks of schooling in the subject in a smaller classroom with fewer students will help your child learn better.

Filed Under: Education, Elementary Tagged With: Academic term, Child, Education, Summer school

Learning in Kindergarten

: Image via Wikipedia

When the time for kindergarten finally arrives, many parents go through a flood of emotions/happiness, sadness, anxiety, just to name a few. Kindergarten is an exciting time for the children, as well as their parents. As the parents begin to ready themselves, some have questions about sending their children to school. One of the biggest questions is “What will my child learn in kindergarten?”

The answer is much broader than many parents expect. Subjects that kindergarteners include reading, math, writing, art, social studies, and science. Children are also taught how to use computers. As the school year progresses, they are expected to move toward goals in each of these subjects.

Within each of these subjects, children are taught many different things in fun ways that will keep them interested in learning. Below are a few examples of what your children will learn in kindergarten.

In math, kindergarteners will learn the basics of the subject simple addition and subtraction. In most cases, this will be taught using objects, such as colored shapes, crayons, or blocks.

In reading, children will learn how letter sound and how basic words are formed when letters are put together. Through the introduction to letters and sounds, they will be taught to recognize and spell their names (if they don’t do this already).

Children will be taught to write their names as they learn that writing goes from the left side of a piece of paper to the right side. They will also be taught that writing goes from the top of a page to the bottom. Writing will also include tracing shapes, such as circles and squares.

In science class, kindergarteners will learn everything from the seasons and the weather typical of them to the five senses. Music class will teach them about sound, rhythm, and moving to the sound of music.

Filed Under: Elementary, Students Tagged With: Child, Education, Kindergarten, Parent