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.