Helping Your Child Succeed

Routines

• Your child should have a set routine for studying and working on their homework (after arriving home, after snack, etc.)

• Make sure your child's work area is neat and has the necessary supplies for completing homework.

• Provide a quiet place, free from distractions.

• Chores, sports, and other extracurricular activities are important. Please keep in mind, however, that your child's academic success is directly impacted by his/her ability to study and regularly complete homework.

Math

• Mastery of basic facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) is one factor in determining your child's success in math. Please quiz your child using flashcards in his/her area of need. Expectations - 100 basic facts in 5 minutes or less, with 90% or higher accuracy. These facts should be mastered before exiting 4th grade.

• Your child should be taking notes on math vocabulary and process strategies and reviewing them daily.

• Give your child sample problems to solve as a review.

• Play math games with your child.

Reading

• Your child should read daily for at least 20 minutes.

• To practice FLUENCY - have your child read several pages to you. He/she should be reading with expression and should only be hesitating at difficult or new vocabulary words.

• Talk to your child about what they are reading. Ask questions to get their opinion about what was read.

Writing

• Have your child read their writing out loud. ***Doing this will allow your child to self-correct sentences and clarify his/her ideas.

• Help your child be more descriptive by adding adjectives or adverbs.

• Help your child check for errors in capitalization, spelling, basic grammar, paragraphing, and organization. 

• Encourage your child to use a computer for their writing.

Science, Health and Social Studies

• Please expect your child to take notes to study for all these areas.

• Review with your child vocabulary words, basic facts, and important cause-effect relationships.

• Ask questions about what was learned in class.

• Help your child connect their learning to your daily activities and events in the media.

Before a Test

• Encourage your child to use the criteria and rubrics, if given, to make sure that all elements are included (e.g. follow instructions, show all work, include labels in their answers, give examples, and explain using details).

• Your child should NOT wait until the night before a test to study everything. Your child should study a little every night as lessons are introduced daily. The purpose of homework is to practice and review new information or skills.