Dear Parents,
At the beginning of a new school year, parents often ask for advice in helping their children get off to a good start in school. Surveys show that an overwhelming number of students feel that their teachers do a great job teaching and that school do a good job teaching subject matter. However, we all know that schools can’t do it all. Parents can play a vital role in helping youngsters develop strong study skills. The following ideas come from several articles that I believe provide some useful suggestions:
• Encourage children to complete homework tasks in some order of priority. (Sometimes, it is best to do the least favorite task first.)
• Help children use a planning calendar and notebook to keep track of weekly, monthly, or large projects.
• Encourage children to break down large, complex tasks into manageable pieces.
• Organization is extremely important, but do not be too concerned if your child’s notes look sloppy. The content is what is most important and active minds organize things in ways that work best for them. We have learned this from research dealing with learning styles.
• Encourage young readers to use all the clues available to them while reading, such as headlines, pictures, captions, charts, tables, and graphs.
• After reading a book or article, have a discussion with your child to help with comprehension. Ask your children to tell you what the story was about, why the story interested them, and perhaps how it might relate to their own lives.

Should you wish to have more in-depth information, always feel free to talk to your child’s teacher. He or she can provide a clearer picture of your child’s learning style, strengths, and weaknesses. Also, remember, if I can be of help in this or any other matter, please feel free to call me.

Mrs. Ritz