Thank you to our Kindergarten Counselor, Mrs. Fran Camille, and our First Grade Counselor, Mrs. Jenni Coutrer, for sharing some tips and tricks to help master the Work Habits section of our Report Card.
If you would like more information on how to help your child at home, you can call the school and ask to speak with your grade level counselor, and they will be happy to help!
Information from Skillstreaming in Early Childhood by Ellen McGinnis
Respects others
Ways to practice at home:
Ask student to tell how they would practice showing respect in the following situations:
Someone falls down in the cafeteria...
The playground slide has a sign that says Keep out...
A friend makes fun of another classmate...
They disagree with someone on the playground...
Discuss what it looks like to show respect in different areas:
home, playground, cafeteria, and stores
Responds promptly and willingly to directions
Ways to practice at home:
Practice Listening Skills:
1. Look at the person speaking
2. Stay still
3. Think about what the person is saying
Play Simon Says
Have the student listen to follow directions to complete a drawing. For example, “Draw a square. Draw a triangle on top of the square. Draw a rectangle in the middle bottom of the square.” It should be a house.
Completes in class assignments
There aren't any real ways to practice this at home.
If you are seeing unfinished work coming home in your child's folder, discuss with your child why it was not completed during class time and help them complete the assignment at home.
Completes homework
Set up a homework area!
*Make it a habit of checking your child's yellow folder each afternoon upon entering your home.*
These ideas & more came from the link to the left!
How to set up a homework area:
Choose a quiet location.
Ask your child what they need.
Bust the clutter.
Set the routine.
Make it a pleasing environment.
*Use a timer if necessary!
Work cooperatively with others
Practice at home:
Board games like Connect Four, UNO, Go Fish, or any activity that involves working together to accomplish a task ( making cookies, picking up area with a sibling)
Stays on task
Practice at home:
Assign a writing activity (write letters A - Z or numbers 1-25) and set a timer for 5 to 10 minutes. Explain to the student, he/she will complete the writing activity independently and the timer will be set for 5 minutes. When the timer goes off, you will return to evaluate if the student was able to complete the activity.
Listens to & follow directions
Practice at home:
Practice the Skills to Following Directions:
1. Listen with your ears
2. Think about what the person said
3. Ask questions if you don’t understand
4. Do it (the direction)
Give two step directions and have the student complete the task. For example, “Walk to the bookshelf and get the white paper under the pen.”
Works independently
Practice at home:
Assign a writing activity (write letters A - Z or numbers 1-25) and set a timer for 5 to 10 minutes. Explain to the student, he/she will complete the writing activity independently and the timer will be set for 5 minutes. When the timer goes off, you will return to evaluate if the student was able to complete the activity.
Exhibits neatness in school work
Practice at home:
-Encourage the student to always use their best handwriting/hand in their best work
-Help students find a place for everything, and encourage them to put things back
-Organize on a regular basis with your student to help declutter
-Set a goal for neatness and monitor
-Model organization skills
-Encourage responsibility for personal belongings
-Print a blank calendar out, and look at what is coming up for the week Editable Free Calendar
-Create a to-do list either on paper or through an App
Practices self-control
Practice at home:
Model Belly Breathing to calm down. Remind students to use Belly Breathing before, during, and after classroom transitions, Model self-talk and other strategies to calm down( counting backwards, thinking of a favorite place, talking to someone)