Tips
Past Strategy Tips
Strategy Tip for January: Last of four homework problems, remediated. Parents, concerned that your homework standards are tougher than the teacher? If your child is routinely under challenged, researchers suggest asking teachers for additional study material to add to your child’s learning experience. Also, find out the teacher’s goal before finding fault with the teacher (i.e., she/he may be promoting creative thinking instead of spelling). As researchers state, “Homework doesn’t have to be perfect.”
Strategy Tip for December: Third of four homework problems remediated: Don't know how to complain to the teacher-much less do it politely. Researcher's state phrasing a concern as a question is an excellent approach. Asks, "Can we work together to solve a problem?" Worried about too much work? Say, "(Brittany) is spending more than 90 minutes on math nightly." Know when to knock on the principal's door if more support is needed. Remember, homework doesn't have to be perfect!
Strategy Tip for November: Does your child procrastinate about doing homework? Researchers state that dilly dalliers might be over whelmed or lack focus. Three suggestions to help: create a consistent work area; check for realistic expectations and show interest in student’s work. Remember, "Homework doesn't have to be perfect."
Strategy Tip for October: One of four homework problems, remediated: How much assistance to give to your student? Researchers state discussing with your child’s teacher what are their expectations; ask your child leading questions and fess up (mom/dad) if an answer(s) were given, so the teacher knows the problem area. To state an educator, “Homework doesn’t have to be perfect.”
Strategy Tip for September: Organization is a strategy for success! Students benefit by using a binder with dividers or several binders and dividers for each subject. Label the tabs: homework, class notes, handouts, quizzes and test; allowing for easy access of class work. Organized students are successful students!
Strategy Tip for August: More Motivation Reading Secrets. For your reluctant reader try buying books on tape or read a book together and then rent the movie. Additionally, have your reluctant reader read fast-paced, humorous books with short chapters or comics. Parents continue reading aloud to your child even when they can read on their own; continuing to bring the family together. Again Happy Reading!
Strategy Tip for July: Reading Motivation Secrets: Have a family reading hour...regular trips to the library...playing word games in the car. Additionally, reading can include comic strips from the newspaper, a greeting card or a fortune cookie from lunch. Lastly, children do what they see their parents do-- parents model reading. So, in the evening grab a good book, more often than not, your child will do the same. Happy Reading!
Strategy Tip for June: Multiple choice tests can be misleading, however using the strategy “process of elimination” will help with choice selection. First, eliminate all choices that are obviously not the answer; then narrow down to selecting between two. Finally, select the best choice between the two. This strategy works every time!
Strategy Tip for May: One tip to help students develop automaticity (fluency) is to reread aloud a familiar book. Therefore, parents if your child asks to read you a book you have heard on more than one occasion, welcome the opportunity. This strategy develops fluency!
Strategy Tip for April: Do you need to memorize a list, a procedure or a sequence?
Create a memory device such as a mnemonics (new-monic). A mnemonic is taking a letter from the list, procedure or sequence and creating a word or phrase. Ex: Learning the steps of long division: Dad, Mom, Sister, Brother=divide,multiply, subtract and bring down.
Strategy Tip for March: Student feeling overwhelmed? Fold assignment in half to eliminate seeing an abundance of information or problems all at once.
