Start School Strong

TEACHING YOUR CHILD

Teaching your children at home, whether full or part time, allows you to be involved and influential in their learning. You have an opportunity to develop a biblical worldview through academics and discussion, to develop a deeper relationship with your children, and to use parent/child and sibling interactions to develop Godly character.  The following are some tips to help with home and school assignments.

 

SCHEDULE A FAMILY MEETING

1. Before the school year begins, have a family meeting to discuss expectations for the year. This meeting will help to establish your expectations, discover your children’s expectations, lay a foundation for family/school structure and procedures, and build an excitement for a great school year. Discuss:

• What would your children like to accomplish this year?
• How do they want to improve in an area of study?
• Is there an area of study or activity they would like to explore in more detail?
• What changes can they expect in the family routine and the daily schedule?
• What are your expectations for their behavior?
• Express your expectations for them to respect your new role as parent-teacher.
• Express your expectations for their work and time commitment to academic study.

2. Involve children in appropriate decisions related to the schedule:

• When will children start the day?
• What is expected before the school day begins? (e.g. make their bed, clean their room, get dressed, eat breakfast…)
• When will you end the day?
• When are the scheduled breaks?
• What is allowed during breaks?

3. Establish consequences for disobedience and laziness.
4. Make school work a priority in your schedule.
5. Pray for the teacher, the school, and new classmates.
6. Freeze some meals for the first week of school to limit stress and have more time in the evening to interact with your children about their school day.

 

DEVELOP GOOD STUDY HABITS 

1. Maintain a regular schedule. Schedule short breaks if schooling all day (every 20-30 minutes for Kindergarten students, 30-45 minutes for 1-4^th grade, 45 minutes-1 hour for 5^th grade and up).
2. Teach children to read directions carefully.
3. Encourage your children through the working process. Look for opportunities to make positive comments about their work and effort.
4. Create games to help with rote learning or use computer software and online games.
5. Share scripture to encourage diligence (Col. 3:23).
6. Help children find errors and make corrections; do not always point them out yourself.
7. Enrich their education with trips, appropriate educational programming, movies related to topics being learned, documentaries, great books and family discussion.
8. Enrich with life management education like cooking, yard work, car mechanics or babysitting.
9. Avoid use of the TV, video games, telephone, texting, computer games, and Internet unrelated to school work, during school hours at home.  Set up guidelines for using devices at other times (especially for older students late at night).

 

DEVELOP POSITIVE ATTITUDES

1. Ask the classroom teacher or another parent for help when you get discouraged.
2. Be patient (  Col. 3:12-13). Minimize use of negative phrases when working with your child.
3. Remember to encourage your child ( Phil. 4:13).
4. Instill confidence (Ps. 121:2). Remind children that God is with them and assure them of your support. 
5. Inspire a love for learning. Make it fun!
6. Be interested in what your child is learning.
7. For young children consider decorating the door of their room with the school verse, or some other display that illustrates the theme for the year.
8. Think of something that will mark this as a new beginning. For example, have a special breakfast and devotion the first morning or go out to dinner at the end of the first week.
9. Tell your child you love him/her often.

 

TEACH CHILDREN CLASSROOM TIPS FOR SUCCESS

1. Sit close to the front
2. Ask questions
3. Take notes
4. Be interested
5. Be on time for class
6. Be attentive
7. Be respectful
8. Be kind
9. Ask God for help

 

TYPES OF HOME ASSIGNMENTS 

Assess the type of home assignment given, to determine time commitment.

1. Preparation homework: To prepare the student for a new lesson or the coverage of new material.
2. Independent practice homework: To reinforce and establish skills, facts or concepts already covered.
3. Extension homework: To stretch student’s abilities and challenge students to identify new relationships and application of information already taught.
4. Creative homework: To research and teach new material, stimulate creativity, develop higher level thinking and problem solving skills, and make learning relevant.

 

TEACHING YOUR CHILD 

Tips for working with your child at the primary level K-4 and as needed 5^th-up.

1. Sit next to them (not across from them)
2. Give directions slowly and clearly.
3. For visual learners, write directions or give just one directive at a time.
4. In Math, work through one step at a time. Complete one math practice problem together and watch your child finish one independently before letting him complete the lesson on his own. 
5. Don’t skip problems unless directed by the teacher to do so.
6. Look at each other when you talk.

 

TEST TAKING TIPS

1. Help your child determine what the test will cover
2. Help your child organize the material to be studied over a number of days.
3. Assist your child with establishing a study schedule.
4. Help to develop study techniques: identify important information, study class notes, and review homework, review types of questions previously asked, review study guides and chapter summaries.