What to Know as Your Child Leaves Kindergarten

By: Frances Traughber, Kindergarten Teacher

Children grow and change so much during their kindergarten year. They have made new friends, worked with a partner, solved group problems, and shed a few tears (and probably some teeth too!). They have learned many new words to expand their vocabularies. They can add and subtract, count by ones, tens, and fives all the way to 100! They’ve learned more than could possibly be listed here.

What can you do to help your child retain all this knowledge and stay ready for first grade? Here are a few suggestions for ways to keep your child’s mind engaged without playing school.

Send your child to a camp this summer. We are offering many fun and educational camps that will provide your child with enriching activities plus social time with other children.
Communicate with your child. Language development has taken off this year and you can continue this growth by having conversations with your child. When cooking dinner, working in the yard, or taking a day trip explain to your child what you are doing and why.
Continue reading aloud. Even though your child is beginning to read themselves, they still need to hear a fluent reader. If they want to read, share by reading alternate pages or let them say the words they know.
Talk about whether the story is real, fiction, or fantasy. Discuss characters and the sequence of events in the story. Talk about ways the story could have ended differently.
Allow your child to be in the kitchen with you. Measuring, stirring, watching how a mixture changes as things are added. Count the chocolate chips, marshmallows, etc. being added to the mix. Cooking is fun, educational opportunity for your child.
Educational apps and videos make learning fun. Homer Reading App, Moose App, Draw and Tell, and Kids Academy are just a few. We love Jack Hartmann videos for review.

These are just a few ways to enjoy the time you have with your child and retain and build on what they have learned in kindergarten.

Going Back to School

By: Amy Burchett, Admissions Director & Christie Burger, Admissions

Whether you are new to your child’s school community or have been there for years, is it time for you to consider walking the halls again alongside your child? Research shows that increased parent participation at a child’s school directly effects student performance and emotional well – being. So, grab your backpack and your sack lunch and let’s explore the importance of becoming, or continuing to be, an active member in your child’s school community.

Getting involved within your child’s school community can be much easier than you think. From filling-in your name on a classroom sign-up sheet, to holding an office in your schools parent association, every effort makes a difference. Here are a few ideas about how you can get involved:

1. Attend a home or away sporting event.

2. Visit your child for lunch or even volunteer to be a lunchroom monitor.

3. Become a member of your school’s parent association.

4. Offer your expertise for school events and fundraisers.

5. Become a club or team sponsor.

6. Volunteer to be a guest speaker or reader in a classroom.

Over time, you will begin to see and feel the benefit of going back to school. Chances are, your child will too. Not only will you have the opportunity to build new relationships with other parents and school staff, you will be showing your child the importance of school, community, and service. On average, students will spend 1,000 hours in school each year. How can you make just one of those hours better?

Fine Arts-Why they are important

By: Debbie Hollis, Fine Arts Chair

The study of the Arts as part of a well rounded education dates back to ancient Greece. Theatre, music, visual arts and dance were seen as important aspects of Greek society and still today we recognize the importance of these disciplines. Children receive tremendous benefits from participating in art, theatre and music in school. There is documented proof that academic scores are higher among students who study the arts. There is also a connection between studying the arts and improved social and emotional development. We find even more evidence of how important integrating Fine Arts classes into the school day is to creating well rounded, well prepared learners and leaders.

Why are the Fine Arts are so important?

All areas of Fine Arts develop problem-solving skills.
Visual art instruction helps children with the development of motor skills, language skills, social skills, decision-making, and inventiveness.
Students who have early music training, will develop areas of the brain which help with language and reasoning.
Visual arts teach learners about color, layout, perspective and balance; all skills that are necessary in presentations of academic work and beyond.
Integrating the arts with other disciplines reaches students who might not otherwise be engaged in class.
Fine Arts experiences boost critical thinking skills.
A report by Americans for the Arts states that young people who participate regularly in the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, to participate in a math or science fair, or win an award for writing an essay or poem than children who do not participate.
Students who memorize music/lyrics/scripts have a better ability to memorize material for other subject areas.

So as you can see, it is important to have a well rounded Fine Arts program as part of your child’s education. Arts education helps students see what they look at, hear what they listen to and feel what they touch. It allows students to develop their own creativity, it shapes abilities and character and helps students develop poise and confidence. Engaging in the arts allows students to stretch their minds beyond the boundaries of printed text and when teachers foster their creativity, it gives students a zest for imagining and learning that will last a lifetime.

Homework–Do we need it?

By: Patrick Miller, Intermediate Math Teacher

Why is Homework Important? What does my child gain from doing work outside the classroom? These are questions parents often ask when it comes to assignments outside the classroom. Homework should be positive in the eyes of the children. It should be short and to the point. The goal is to practice on the concept that was just taught in class and to be a review of previous concepts. Also, if a student feels confident about the homework assignment, it will translate in the test scores on the particular concept. If a student struggles on the concept, it gives the student a wonderful opportunity to reach out and ask for help. Homework teaches children major life skills they will need for the rest of their life. Three major life skills are time management, problem solving, and self-discipline.

The time management piece is one of the most difficult for children. If a student learns about time management and how to prioritize all of their tasks, deadlines will be met on time. Learning to complete assignments on time and prioritizing assignments based on length of assignment and due date will help them in the future. Time management has a real-world connection, such as, paying bills as an adult.

The problem-solving piece is a wonderful way for students to overcome challenges at an early age. Having students think through a problem to reach a solution is valuable and beneficial in the childhood development. Every challenge is not going to be a one-step process. Challenges in life often require multi-step problem solving. Also, another valuable life lesson in problem solving is every challenge is not going to be solved the same way. For example, 2 x 1 = 2 and 4 x ½ = 2. One person might have said that the correct way to solve the problem was 2 x1 while another person may have said 4 x ½. If students get the correct answer and justify how they arrived at their answer that is most important. If there was a minor mistake, a student can learn from their mistake if work is shown.

The self-discipline is another challenge that students face each day. Do I want to go to the movie with my friends or stay at home and finish my homework? We all know what is probably the most fun choice. However, if we teach self-discipline at an early age it makes all the outside distractions easier to work though. This will be very beneficial for students later on in high school and college. Also, this self-discipline will equip everyone to being a life long learner.

Homework isn’t something teachers take lightly. The goal isn’t to punish the students or to give busy work. Homework serves a purpose in your child’s education and one that will help them throughout their life.