Cardinal Character
Showing our Cardinal PRIDE
P-Problem Solve
R-Respect Others
I- I am Responsible
D- Do Your Best
E- Everyone is kind
Cardinal Character units for the month of:
Kindergarten:
1st Grade:
2nd Grade:
3rd Grade:
Hello! My name is Audra Riddle and I am the PK-3 Professional School Counselor for the Clarinda Community School District!
Welcome!!
I am here to help!! Assisting students to be successful academically, socially, and personally is a big part of my job! Please let me know how I can help your student or your family!
Did you know:
-Chronic absence in kindergarten = lower academic achievement through 5th grade
- Missing 10% of school days, just 2 days each month, can put children at risk of academic failure
- By 6th grade chronic absence is a clear predictor that students may drop out.
Make regular school attendance a top goal for your child! His or her future depends on it!
10 Reasons Why School Attendance is Important!
1.) Children with good attendance are more likely to do well in school.
Research has found a direct link between regular school attendance and academic performance. Too many absences can cause your child to fall behind--as early as kindergarten!
2.) Children are more likely to develop important skills when they have good attendance.
These skills include: responsibility, self-discipline, persistence, good study and work habits. These skills can help them to be successful students. They are also skills that can help them throughout their lives.
3.) Children who have a lot of absences are less likely to fulfill their full potential as students.
When children miss school in the early grades, they may not develop the basic skills they need to help them learn.
4.) Children with good attendance are more likely to do well on standardized tests.
Studies have found a link between poor attendance and low scores on standardized tests, like the Iowa Assessments.
5.) If your child attends school regularly, he or she is less likely to drop out of high school.
Children with good attendance are more likely to feel connected to the school community. They may have good friends at school and they may be involved in extracurricular activities. As a result, they are far more likely to stay in school and graduate.
6.) Good attendance can lead to college and a good job.
Attending school regularly can help children do well academically. Getting good grades can help them get into a good college or other post-secondary training program, increasing the changes they'll get a good job that pays well and provides benefits.
7.) Children with good attendance are more likely to get along with others.
Children who attend school regularly tend to get better grades and feel more connected to school. As a result, they tend to develop better social and emotional skills and they feel better about themselves.
8.) Good attendance goes hand-in-hand with better behavior.
Studies show that when children experience the benefits of attending school regularly, they tend to have a more positive attitude which leads to good behavior--at school and at home!
9.) Children with fewer absences are less likely to use alcohol and other drugs.
Good attendance is related to children feeling connected to the school community. Research shows that children who feel connected are more likely to avoid risky behaviors.
10.) Good attendance gives children many opportunities!
An education means a brighter future and gives children the opportunity to:
-gain knowledge and skills for future success
-discover new interests
-develop positive relationships
-learn how to manage time
-learn how to set goals--and reach them
-prepare for college, work or the military
5 Keys to helping your kids be academically successful
Kimberly Greder is an associate professor and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach family life specialist. She said parental involvement, more than income or social status, is a predictor of student achievement.
Greder said parents need to set high, but reasonable, expectations for the children in school achievements and their future careers.
"Involvement means many things, including asking your children regularly about their school day and homework," Greder said. "Make sure your children have a regular place and time to study. Visit with teachers and school counselors to understand how your child is doing in school and what you can do at home to help them succeed."
Greder suggests parents take these five proactive steps to avoid problems in school or potential dropout:
1. Regularly talk with your child about his or her school day.
2. Encourage reading at home and be a role model to read regularly.
3. Talk to your child's teachers and school counselor for updates on grades and behavior, and identify resources available to help your child at school.
4. Watch who your child hangs out with and make sure they are doing healthy activities.
5. Get your child involved in activities or sports to develop leadership skills and positive communication and conflict resolution skills.
Greder also recommends a program such as 4-H that helps youth develop skills to help them at school and throughout life.
Elementary School Counselors help children...
Understand the self and develop a positive self-image
Show respect for the feelings of others
Understand the decision-making process
Maintain effective relationships with peers and adults
Gain an understanding of the world of work
Develop effective study skills
Be prepared to make the transition to middle school
What do elementary school counselors do?
Teach classroom guidance lessons
Facilitate short-term small group counseling
Provide immediate and short-term individual counseling
Work collaboratively with teachers and staff
Consult with parents
Provide information and/or referrals for community resources to families
Why do we need elementary school counselors?
A deliberate and comprehensive approach to teaching children social and emotional skills can raise their grades and test scores, increase enthusiasm for learning, reduce behavior problems, and enhance cognitive functioning.
Students who receive social skills instruction do better academically and socially but the reverse is not true (academic instruction does not increase social/emotional skills).
There is a strong connection between emotions and learning. Students who can recognize and manage strong emotions are better learners.
Students who attend schools with a comprehensive guidance program do significantly better on standardized tests such as Iowa Assessments than students who attend schools without a comprehensive guidance program. The longer the students are in schools with comprehensive guidance programs, the more they outperform their peers on standardized tests.
Pro-social behaviors exhibited by students in the classroom were found to be better predictors of academic achievement than were their standardized test scores.