We hope you all have a wonderful Winter Break! 

Our teachers will be back in school on Tuesday, January 7, 

getting ready for our students' return on 

Wednesday, January 7, 2014! 

THE BEST GIFT TO GIVE

During this holiday season, the best gift you can give your children is your time.  School holidays offer an opportunity for the family to spend more time together and for the parents to improve positive communication and relationship with children. Many parents, thinking of the fact that they will have to plan activities and fun for their children, may consider the approaching school holidays stressful.

From children’s perspective, quality time includes direct and full attention of their parents. Sometimes it is difficult to find the ‘right’ time to spend with children. Apart from shared activities, quality time with children includes quality communication, too. Take time to talk with children. It is important in building an open and honest relationship, creating an atmosphere where children can feel free to take up any issues. While talking, remember to listen to what your child has to say. Encourage your child’s curiosity and interests by asking a lot of ‘Why?’ and ‘How?’ questions. This helps children to learn how to express their thoughts and feelings. Let the children talk about themselves, about what they like to do, about their worries. This will help in creating an atmosphere of trust and acceptance.

Holidays are often a time of joy and gift-giving. However, they are also an opportunity to spend more time with our children. Children acquire experience of emotional bonds, of belonging and of their own identity in the atmosphere and events in the family. Therefore, our time, attention and feelings should be given to our children, together with gifts. That way, we satisfy children’s emotional needs for love, acceptance and respect.

XMAS BASKETS - Christmas is the season to open our hearts and share with those around us that need it most. It has been a tradition at Discovery School for students to come together and contribute in assembling baskets of goods for our support personnel.  We are asking for your cooperation in sending the following: Nursery/PKinder and 6th grade students       1 5-lb bag of beans Kinder and 7th grade students                       1 5 lb bag of rice 1st grade and 8th grade students                   1 5-lb bag of sugar 2nd grade and 9th grade students                 1 bottle or 2 bags of oil, 2 boxes of margarine, OR                                                                                 3 lbs of lard 3rd grade and 10th grade students                1 4lb-bag of MASECA 4th grade and 11th grade students                3 lbs of spaghetti (six packages) OR 1 bag of coffee 5th grade and 12th grade students                4 packages of tomato paste Please feel free to send any additional goodies that you want to share with our devoted staff, such as canned goods, instant soups, cookies and crackers, or anything else that does not require refrigeration.  Please send these items no later than Monday, December 15th. Your cooperation will be deeply appreciated. NPH GIVING TREE - Nuestro Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) is an international organization that takes in abandoned and orphaned children, providing a home, education, and love.  Here in Honduras, the NPH organization provides for over 500 children in at large ranch near La Venta and home in Tegucigalpa for severely handicapped children.   While many children at the ranch have aunts, uncles, or grandparents that come to visit them and can provide some Christmas gifts, some children at a ranch have no family to visit.  It is these children, whom we would like to provide for this Christmas.   On the second floor of the secondary building, a NPH Giving Tree will be set up.   If you wish to participate, choose a paper tree that has a child’s information about his/her size for shoes or socks.  Purchase the new item and return it to Mrs. Agurcia’s Room (Rm. 7) by Friday, December 5th, with the tree tag taped to it.  As well, there are tree tags for basic food items that will be donated to the orphanage.  Cash donations will also be accepted to provide shoes and socks for children whose tags were not selected.  Thank you for giving this Christmas! If more information about NPH’s work in Honduras, please visit http://www.nph-honduras.org/   and watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYC2A5njQTk   .

Gratitude is one of the trickiest concepts to teach  -- but one of the most important. Although thankful children are more polite and pleasant to be around, there's more to it than that. By learning gratitude, children become sensitive to the feelings of others, develop empathy and other life skills along the way. Grateful children look outside their one-person universe and understand that their parents and other people do things for them -- prepare dinner, dole out hugs, teach, care for them, buy toys, etc. On the flip side, children who aren't taught to be grateful end up feeling entitled and perpetually disappointed.

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to teach children about being thankful. Here are some ideas to teach your children how to appreciate the blessings in their lives and how to express it. Try these ideas and see if they work for you. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results!

Set the Example. Parents have to model the behavior they hope their children adopt as their own. A simple, sincere expression of gratitude when your child does something they were asked to do is always appropriate. Taking an extra moment to thank a sales clerk at the store or to tip your help at home when bringing something to you lets them know that gratitude is acceptable and encouraged. Children model their parents in every way, so make sure you use "please" and "thank you" when you talk to them. ("Thanks for that hug -- it made me feel great!"). 

  

Work gratitude into your daily conversation.  When you reinforce an idea frequently, it's more likely to stick. Two old-fashioned, true ideas: Make saying what good things happened today part of the dinnertime conversation, or make bedtime prayers part of your nightly routine if this is an important part of your personal belief.

Make a List. From time to time, take some time as a family to list the things you are grateful for. Children might say things like a favorite toy or food, but sometimes they will express thanks for a family where they feel safe or for a dad's income that let's them have a few luxuries. 

Don't Demand Thanks.  Avoid demanding thanks from your children. They will internalize example much more than they will threats or humiliation. If you offer it sincerely to them, they will learn the skills of gratitude.

Teach Through Role Playing. If you notice a lack of the gratitude attitude, consider a little role playing. Have children act out a scenario where someone went out of their way for someone else, and have the receiver express gratitude. You might even consider a negative example and see how the giver feels when his or her giving is ignored.

Establish Family Traditions. Give a "speech" before every holiday dinner, talk about the blessings you have in your family (even if it's not Thanksgiving). By having family rituals that center on gratitude, children learn to express thanks.

Have kids help. It happens to everyone: You give your child a chore, but it's too agonizing watching him a) take forever to do it or b) make a huge mess. The temptation is always to step in and do it yourself. But the more you do for them, the less they appreciate your efforts. By participating in simple household chores like feeding the dog or stacking dirty dishes on the counter, kids realize that all these things take effort.

Find a goodwill project. That doesn't mean you need to drag your toddler off to a soup kitchen or shelter every week. Instead, figure out some way he/she can actively participate in helping someone else, even if it's as simple as making cupcakes for a sick neighbor. As you're stirring the batter or adding sprinkles, talk about how you're making them for a special person, and how happy the recipient will be.

Encourage generosity. Donate toys and clothes to less fortunate kids! Giving to others inspires children to go through their own closets and give something special to those in need, as well.

Insist on thank-you notes. Parents sometimes make their children write thank-you-s or make phone calls to thank for gifts or kind gestures. This teaches children not to take things for granted.  .

Practice saying no. Of course kids ask for toys, video games, and candy -- sometimes on an hourly basis. It's difficult, if not impossible, to feel grateful when your every whim is granted. Saying “no” sometimes makes hearing “yes”  much sweeter.

Be patient. You can't expect gratitude to develop overnight -- it requires weeks, months, even years of reinforcement. But in time, you will be rewarded.

MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING, AND MAY GRATITUDE CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON!

Ten Ways to Help Your Child Become a Reading Success

Encouraging children to read helps transform reading from a basic skill to a learned behavior and an intellectual habit. The more children read, the more they'll enjoy it, and the better readers they're likely to become. Here are some tips on ways to grow your child's interest in the wonderful world of reading,

v     Read with your child. You can't start too early. You can't read too much. Reading to young children nurtures an interest in language, words and communication. For older children, reading together can be fun and interesting. Consider reading one book together every month aloud. Take turns reading pages, chapters or major sections of the book. As this activity becomes a routine, it will not only help develop your child's reading skills, but will also create a basis for ongoing dialogue and discussion.

v     Read together regularly. It is recommended that parents spend an average of an hour a week—or 10 to 15 minutes a day—reading with young readers. It establishes reading as a regular, daily habit.

v     Encourage your child to build his or her own library. From stamps to comic books to autographs to baseball cards and stuffed animals, children have always been natural collectors. By encouraging book collecting and the creation of a personal library, you introduce your child to a world of resources. Help your child start his or her own library by including a visit to a local bookstore in your weekly or monthly shopping outings.

v     Search for reading activities on the Internet. There are an abundance of great websites that provide reading lists for children. Visit Book Adventure, a free, interactive, motivational reading program. Students choose their own books from more than 7,000 titles, take short comprehension quizzes and redeem their accumulated points for small prizes. Book Adventure also offers teacher and parent resources and tips to help children develop a lifelong love of reading. Other great resources are Tumblebooks, Myon, and the MAP reading skills websites provided by our teachers at Discovery School.

v     Get a riddle book! Children enjoy riddles and jokes that rely on wordplay. Laughing together at clever jokes and riddles can make a Saturday trip to soccer or hockey practice more enjoyable and memorable.

v     Create a vocabulary game. Compile a word list, or ask your children's teacher for a word list, and make a daily or weekly vocabulary game on index cards. Whether your child is just learning how to read or is preparing for high school exams, seeing, saying and learning new words is important. There are many electronic grames that children can enjoy that will build their vocabulary. And the good old fashion Scrabble and Boggle are great fun games you can enjoy as a family.

v     Make a book. Encourage your children to write original stories and illustrate them with their own drawings. It's a great way to increase comfort and familiarity with words.

v     Learn new words on the road. Use every new experience to introduce new words to your child. Every journey, trip or vacation, regardless of the distance, introduces new ideas and objectives to your child and can increase his or her vocabulary.

Adapted from http://tutoring.sylvanlearning.com/reading_success_tips.cfm

SCIENCE FAIR IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The elementary students have been working hard for the past few weeks on their Science Fair projects, and the Elementary Science Fair. The big event will take place on Friday, December 5.  Students in the Upper Elementary (grades three through six) have received their Science Fair Booklet, and have been meeting weekly deadlines towards the final product. They will continue to work at home, and submit different documents to their homeroom teachers periodically. Students in the Lower Elementary and Early Childhood will be working on a class project with their homeroom teachers.

What is the best way to help your child? When is help too little or too much?

That is a questions that all parents face, and that teachers need parents to understand. Here are some things to consider:

• It is important for the students to do the project themselves. A parent should not try to manage it for them.
• Students may need guidance and direction when it comes to setting time aside to work on the project, and to obtain the necessary material to do it.
• A parent can contribute by reminding his or her child about deadlines that need to be met, and making sure the child does the work.
• It is very easy to take control of a student’s project, especially if you think it should be done differently. This should not happen.
• Remember that this project is a learning experience for your child, and he or she will not benefit from a project performed by you.
• If your child is performing all the necessary tasks to an acceptable standard and is not requesting assistance, your job is to supervise. If your child asks for help, appears to be struggling, or is performing below acceptable standards or with disregard for safety measures, then you may wish to offer assistance

The booklet that was given out to students is very user friendly. Talk to your child’s teacher if you have any questions. We all want to make this experience a successful and pleasant one for our students.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE UNITED NATIONS AT DISCOVERY SCHOOL

“...that it is necessary to assist children in developing the skills of reasoning, empathizing, valuing and the creative resolution of conflict; that it should encourage curiosity, open-mindedness, persistence, respect for the opinions of others and cooperation; that it should develop in children the ability to think abstractly, critically, and creatively;...” 

Quoted from an original document that was provided by the founders of Discovery School 1994

One of the most important traits of Discovery School it the international nature of its population. That is something we not only take pride of, but use as one of our most valuable teaching resources. Values such as tolerance, respect and acceptance are clear expectations that are taught and enforced in our school community. Thus, it is no wonder why the celebration of the anniversary of the United Nations is such an important date in our school calendar. 

When examining closely the aims of the United Nations we find among them that as an organization it seeks “to keep peace throughout the world” , and among its principles it encourages countries to “settle their differences by peaceful means”. In a microcosmos, teachers, parents and students at Discovery School are constantly striving to use effective means of conflict resolution to overcome problems and differences, all the while respecting other’s individual and cultural differences.

The Discovery School Community comes together to celebrate these differences, giving the opportunity to all our different cultural communities to showcase the richness of their traditions and ways of life in an event filled with enthusiasm, activities and delicious food for students, parents and teachers. Throughout this week, the children will be learning about the United Nations, and will be participating in activities that will lead to this wonderful event.

What do YOU know of the organization? This is an ideal time to sit with your child and talk about the United Nations, and learn more about this amazing organization. Take the time to discuss traits such as tolerance, respect, cooperation, and peace with your child(ren). Think about ways we can demonstrate these at school, at home, and with family and friends. Use the following links to refresh your knowledge! We hope to see you all at school this Wednesday, October 29 for an amazing school celebration!

PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT LED CONFERENCES

Children do better in school when parents are involved in their academic lives. Attending parent-teacher conferences is a way to be involved and help your child succeed. Teachers and students will be preparing the student led conferences this week to deliver report cards this Friday, October 24.

A parent-teacher conference is a great opportunity to:

ü  start or continue ongoing conversations with your child's teacher

ü  learn how to help your child do their best in school

ü  let your child know that what goes on in school will be shared at home

Parent-teacher conferences are brief meetings, only lasting about 10-30 minutes. Teachers have aside specific times for these conferences for Friday, but if they conflict with your schedule, please try to find a mutually convenient time. Conferences for the first quarter are mandatory for all students.

Conferences focus on learning, although your child's behavioral and social development is also discussed. You will probably hear feedback about your child's progress and areas of need. It is important to have an open and honest communication that will allows the school and home to work together for he best interest of the child.

We hope to see you all this Friday! 

HOMEWORK TIPS

Here are tips to make homework time easier for you and your child:

·         Have a regular place for your child to do homework. Use a desk or table in a quiet room. Be sure there's plenty of light.

·         Find a regular time for homework. You may want to make a rule: "No television until homework is finished."

·         During homework time, turn off the TV and radio.

·         Help your children plan how they will use their time.

·         Set a good example. While your child is doing homework, spend some time reading or working yourself. Then when homework is done, you can both talk about how much you've accomplished.

Nitty gritty homework tips:

·         Do the most difficult homework first. Save "easy" subjects for when your child is tired.

·         Do the most important assignments first. If time runs short, the priorities will be finished. Do what's required first.

·         Finish the optional assignments later, even if they're more fun.

** Look over your child's homework every day. Start at an early age and keep it up as long as you can.

** Praise good work. Your interest will encourage good work.

** Try having your child “teach” you the homework. The teacher always learns more than the student.

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS

Getting your children to finish assignments is a difficult task for some parents. Teaching your children study habits and organizational skills at an early age can help cut back frustration and poor schoolwork. Even though their academic achievement will benefit from this, these are life-long skills that will be helpful in many areas in your child’s life. Here are a few simple tips.

1. Talk to your child about school. Find out if there are any subjects that he finds intimidating or any that he looks forward to, and see how he feels about his teacher and his classmates.

2. Give your child a three-ring binder to hold his/ her calendar and organize his/ her assignments and notes. Encourage your child to write down her assignments in the calendar. For long-term assignments, help him/her decide how to break the project into chunks with specific goals set for specific dates.

3. Give your child a place to do schoolwork. Children do not mind unique or small spaces, so a corner with a pillow and a sheet draped over it or a space under a table may suffice if you have a small living space. 

4. Limit distractions. This may include television, phones, computers and siblings or any other stimuli that can sabotage schoolwork. Turning off all electronics and limiting socializing allows your child to focus on the task at hand and reinforces the importance of schoolwork.

5. Ensure that your child gets breaks when needed. If you are a firm believer in all homework being finished in one sitting, let your child know that it is okay to switch between subjects if he needs a break. If your child has focusing problems, set a

timer in short increments, then gradually increase the amount of time that he is working on a task. 

6. Reinforce the use of the homework folder our elementary teachers use. Most school folders are labeled one side "Keep at Home" and the other side "Return to School." Make sure your child puts assignments, permission slips, calendars and other important papers in the folder. Go through the folder as often as you can with your child and then periodically check it after she has become accustomed to the routine.

7. Set an example. If you are in school, work on your schoolwork at the same time your child works on his. If you simply have household chores to do, designate a specific chore time, even if you realistically do chores at other times, and make that time schoolwork time as well.

8. Make it fun. Put an incentive chart in your house. Try to stay away from using the chart to earn intrinsic or extrinsic rewards; many children simply enjoy the stickers on the chart. If you also are in school, track your assignments with your child. If you are not, track your chores instead.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD NEEDS HELP IN SCHOOL?

The key to knowing if your child has a problem in school is to be an involved parent. Let your child know you are there for him and that you will do anything you can to help. If you suspect a problem and the answer isn't forthcoming from your child, don't hesitate to contact his teacher. Ask questions until you get answers.

 

Be an involved parent

How do you know if your child is having trouble in school? Look for changes in her behavior and attitude. If her grades suddenly drop or if he/she seems to be struggling with a subject or subjects, talk to him/her and contact his/her teacher. If you suspect a problem, don't wait for a report card to come home.

Monitor homework and graded work that comes home.

Talk to your child about the good and troubling things you see. Offer praise for good grades or improved work, but let him/her know you notice a slide in work quality or if he/she seems to be struggling with a subject. This is also a good time to talk to the teacher and find out when tests are coming up and when they will be returned. Do this either by calling or maintaining e-mail contact with your child's teacher. 

Unfinished work also may be a sign your child is struggling. Children having a tough time with the assigned work may just give up out of frustration. If you notice this, make sure you are there to help with homework or perhaps find a tutor who can help. Do not do the work for your child, just offer enough help so that he/she understands the

subject matter and the assignment.

MAP test scores can also give you an indication of whether or not your child has a problem in school. Look at your child's results. If you see a problem talk to the teacher about what needs to be done to make improvements.

Partner with the teacher

Don't hesitate to talk to your child and to his teacher. Teachers appreciate involved parents, but don't go into discussions with the teacher in attack mode. Focus on helping your child with his/her struggles and coming up with a plan. Avoid going to the principal before talking to his/her teacher. Following the correct channels of communication is a great way to foster an effective relationship.

The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)

At Discovery School we recognize that each student is unique. One Size DOES NOT Fit All. Each child learns differently. That is why  more than 5 years ago we adopted an assessment tool that would enable us to measure the progress that each student makes in his or her grade’s curriculum.

MAP tests are computerized adaptive assessments that test differently, allowing teachers to see their students as individuals – each with their own base of knowledge.MAP assessments provide detailed, actionable data about where each child is on their unique learning path. Because student engagement is essential to any testing experience, these tests offer the students test items that interest children and help to capture detail about what they know and what they’re ready to learn. It’s information teachers can use in the classroom to help every child, every day.

This Wednesday, September 17 we begin our first testing session for the 2014-2015 school year. Our students in grades K-10 will be taking the assessments in Math, Reading and Language Usage. We ask that parents stress to their child(ren) the importance of taking these tests and giving their best effort.  Teachers need accurate measures of each student so that they can plan the activities and resources to meet each student’s needs.

If you would like more information, please visit http://www.nwea.org/  or ask your child’s teacher how this wonderful tool allows them to help your child in class.

MIDTERM PROGRESS REPORTS

The Discovery School teachers sent their Midterm Progress Reports this week. These reports serve an important role in allowing teachers, students and parents to track how well the student is doing in school during a 4 week period, before report cards are issued at the end of each quarter. They give students a chance to correct study habits, modify their behaviors and make other changes to keep themselves on a positive academic course.

Purpose - By creating and sending home progress reports, teachers show parents where their child stands with their academic achievements and in-class behaviors. Parents may appreciate this information so that they can reward their children for doing well or make changes to the at-home schedule by implementing more study time to help kids get back on track academically.

Student Awareness – Midterm reports give students an academic advantage. They get to see how well they are in class. This helps eliminate some of the shock that comes when they get their end of the quarter or year report cards. With Midterm Progress Reports, students have the chance to identify their improvement needs and make changes to bring their grades up before the final report cards are released.

Teacher Tracking - Teachers can track how well their students are doing in class and learning the material through school progress cards. By issuing these Midterm Progress Reports, teachers are forced to review student strengths and weaknesses on a regular basis. The teacher can then determine whether the lesson needs to be readdressed with the class. Since teachers have classroom standards to reach, Midterm Progress Reports can help them see whether the class is meeting those academic expectations.

Communication Link – Our Midterm Progress Reports are just another communication link between teachers, students and parents. Through them, everyone involved has the same information and understanding of the student's progress in school. This helps keep information consistent between all parties and opens the door for communication between teachers and students, students and parents and teachers and parents to the benefit of the student's education.

What to do next? – If you have not done so, please sign and return the Midterm Progress Reports to your child’s teacher. If you would like to discuss the Midterm Progress Reports in a conference, and one has not been requested by a teacher, please call the school as soon as possible to set up an appointment. Our students’ educational achievement and success are our goal, and your involvement is crucial in achieving this. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF 

Homework is important because it is an intersection between home and school. It serves as a window through which a parent can observe their child’s education. It provides parents an opportunity to express positive attitudes towards your child and his/her education.

As children grow older, it is only natural for the amount of homework to increase. For teachers, homework in an important way to provide additional instructional practice of the content that has been covered in school. When handled effectively, this independent practice can assist a teacher to modify and differentiate instruction whenever needed.

At Discovery School we believe that homework should be assigned at a reasonable amount, depending on the grade level of your child. We believe that homework reinforces learning either by repetition of the information that has been presented in class, or by extending understanding of the concepts being learned at school. The more a child is exposed to a skill or content, the more retention is likely to happen. It also helps the child understand that learning can take place with or without the teacher present. By allowing children to complete assignments and solve their own problems at home, we are communicating that we believe them to be capable, thus contributing to a child’s self confidence.

Homework teaches a child to work independently, which is what everyone has to do later in life in the work force. Homework provides a beginning step in school towards responsibility. It shows students that they can apply themselves to a task. Just the fact that they complete their homework proves that they are responsible. This in turn proves to be a life learning skill that will be crucial for success in later schooling.

Parents should provide constant support and encouragement when it comes to homework. It is important to demonstrate to children how important homework is by taking an interest and guiding them. Helping children with homework means supporting them, not doing the homework for them. Students will not gain confidence in their own abilities unless they complete the work themselves. You may help your child by discussing the assignment with them, making sure that it is at an appropriate level of difficulty and challenge for him/her.

How can parents help their child with their homework responsibilities?

Ø Schedule a regular time for homework to be completed. Allow for a relaxation break after school, but do not let children leave homework until just before bedtime when they are likely to be tired, grouchy, and unable to concentrate.

Ø Help elementary school students set a schedule. Older students can set their own schedules, but make sure these are workable. Younger students need consistency in a schedule that works with each household needs.

Ø Sports, music, art or other activities are important, and time should be allow for these extracurricular activities, but cut back if more homework time is needed.

Ø Provide a homework area that has good lighting, is comfortable, and is fairly quiet. If possible, supply a desk or worktable. Each child is different, so be attentive to what works for your child.

Ø Eliminate distractions by making the telephone, television, video games, and music off limits until the homework assignments have been successfully completed.

Ø Provide homework supplies and hold students responsible for keeping them organized.

Ø Communicate with your child’s teacher regularly about the homework routines, and how your child is handling work at home. Teachers need to know this in order to make adjustments when necessary.

Please help us to stress the importance of homework to your child, and help him/her understand its value and the need for doing one’s personal best in this area, as well as in school! Your positive attitudes in these areas will be reflected in how your child thinks of and does in school.

MORNING ROUTINES ARE IMPORTANT!

As parents and teachers, it is our job to train our children to grow to be successful adults. Productive routines are at the core of independence and responsibility. Children crave routines and thrive and benefit from them. Mornings are no exception, and mornings works best when there is a routine in place. Most children do fine as long as everything goes as planned in the mornings.

As an adult you can probably get out of the house in 10 minutes flat. In 10 minutes you can brush your teeth, shower, get dressed, and grab a quick breakfast. Add children in to the mix and there is no way you can get out of the house in 10 minutes. Your child may be one who constantly needs to go back to his/her bedroom to get one last thing, leading to a delay. Another child may need constant reminders to brush hair, teeth, and get ready. On the other hand, some children are early risers. The earlier he/she gets up the more compliant he/she can be. The important thing is to develop a routine that works for you at your home, and allows for a smooth beginning to the school dayl. Here are some things you may want to consider:

1.       Wake Up Time - If you've got more than one kid in the house, and especially if you have a large family, consider staggering wakeup times for greater efficiency. Start with kids who need assistance first, or the ones who are real sleepyheads who move slowly in the morning. Does a parent really have to wake kids up anyway? Except for youngsters, kids can learn to awaken by an alarm clock and get themselves up without mom or dad hovering and yelling, "Are you up yet?" Let them decide what is the best time for the alarm to go off and get ready on time. If this means he/she doesn't get her hair braided or one doesn't get second helpings on cereal, encourage them to set their alarm 15 minutes earlier tomorrow. Cause and effect...it's a good lesson to learn!

2.       Getting Dressed - Clothing, down to clean socks, underwear and shoes, and even matching hair accessories should be laid out each night before bed. Youngsters can play a role in choosing the outfit, but no changes are allowed once their head hits the pillow. And, then stick with it! The only exceptions should be an unknown tear or stain, or surprise change in the weather. This avoids missing socks, unmatched shirt and shoes, and keeps getting dressed a simple step in beginning the day vs. a looming battle.

3.       Breakfast - Breakfast is important--some experts argue that it is the most important meal of the day, so your kids need a nutritious start each morning. However, that start shouldn't put parents in a work bind or make kids late for school. Whether you have a weekly menu, or adhere to cereal and fruit, it is important to have a plan for what breakfast will be. Find something that works for your household and that your child(ren) likes.

4.       Making Lunch - The night before, unpack the lunch boxes, clean out wrappers, and refreeze ice packs. If you have more than one lunchbox to pack, pack the same lunch. You know your child the best, so you know what your child likes to eat. Pack snacks and lunches that are acceptable. Lunch works best if all items that I need are in a convenient location. Ask your child what he/she likes to eat at school.

5.       Backpacks, Shoes, Coats, Lunchboxes - Have the children pack their backpacks the night before to make sure homework is in the folder with notes to the teacher and permission slips. Place lunchboxes, musical instruments, coats and any other object that needs to go to school the next day next to the backpacks.

6.       Leaving on Time - When considering when to leave your house to be ready for the school bus or to drive to school, consider the following:

Ø  time it takes to buckle child in car seat (if you have an infant or a toddler factor in the time it will take to get all your children in your car or van)

Ø  time it takes to get coat, shoes, gloves on for all children

Ø  time it takes to find the child’s school bag, lunch box, coat, shoes, spare supplies

Ø  time it takes to drive to school/walk to bus stop

Ø   extra time you may need if traffic is an issue in your area

Basically, leave yourself plenty of time. Children do not know the words “hurry up” or “let’s go.” Even if you are not the most organized person, you do realize that children need to live in an organized home. Stressed out parents = stressed out kids. “Plan” and “organize” are a happy parent’s favorite words.

Remember, it is never too late to establish routines. Look at what has worked so far, what is not working, and what will work in the future. Develop a plan with your children and then realize that you are responsible for training them step by step. If you use patience and understanding, your children will gladly participate in finding what works. Nobody likes a chaotic, hurried experience. After thirty days of intense training, your kids will relax into the pattern and the set routine. This will help them have a great day at school.

20 Tips For Success In School

Here are 20 ways that will ensure that your child and YOU have a great school year.

1. A child should eat a good breakfast every morning, Don't let them skip breakfast.

2. Wake them up early enough to get up on time so they are not tardy! Even if that means waking them up 15 or 30 minutes earlier than they used to wake up.

3. Be sure your child gets a good night's sleep. Turn in early.

4. Have them prepare all of their things the night before, including clothes, socks, shoes, book bags, homework assignments in book bags,etc. down to the finest details, even hair accessories.

5. Children should keep their book bags, desks and rooms organized so they can find what they need easily and nothing gets lost.

6. Praise your children, encourage them, use positive reinforcement, work closely with them. Let them know that you are available to help if needed.

7. Create a study routine for your child. A good rule of thumb is to have them do their homework right when they get home.

8. Go over homework together.

9. Check their backpacks and folders for notes, missed assignments, library books, etc. 

10. Promote healthy habits like healthy snacks, low in sugar, fresh fruits and vegetables.

11. Children should ask questions. Let them ask questions. That is how we learn.

12. A stress free child is a happy child. A happy child will do better in school.

13. Children should start reviewing notes at least three days before a test. Don't wait until the night before or worse, the day of the test to study for it.

14. Children should write down their assignments carefully. Have your children check their class blogs. Have the number of a few classmates and your child’s teacher in case they have doubts.

15. Parents should be a role model to their children. Your children learn from you. Be positive and supportive of the school system and teachers.

16. Have your child read to you often and regularly.

17. Have them put all of their things in their room right when they get home. This will alleviate the chances of losing or misplacing something. More time is wasted looking for a lost shoe or where they put their backpack.

18. Children should take notes when the teacher repeats something, tells them to write it down or that is very important or will be on a test, or if she writes it on the board. Encourage this habit in your child.

19. Remind your child to avoid cheating and being lazy. Encourage them to do their projects and assignments like reports, ahead of time. Teach them to study and learn, which will make them proud of themselves.

20-Remind your child to read all of the directions, follow directions, read the questions carefully during tests, and to double check their answers after they are done.