It's Cold and Flu Season...

Ask any teacher, "What is your least favorite season of the year?" and most of them will enthusiastically respond, "WINTER!"

Although being a school teacher during the holidays is a lot of fun, the "gifts" children bring to school (i.e. cold and flu bugs) can wreak havoc on the immune systems of teachers and students alike.

Most teachers have a hard time staying healthy and keeping their classrooms healthy during cold and flu season. Imagine trying to keep up with a classroom of 30 runny little noses! Teachers appreciate the healthy habits of conscientious parents and students during this time of year.

Here are a few simple things you can do to help protect your child (and your child's teacher) this cold and flu season:

1. Teach your child proper hand washing techniques. Encourage your child to wash their hands after using the restroom, after recess, before eating, and periodically throughout the day.

2. Teach your child healthy habits. Make sure they get plenty of rest, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, and drink water and healthy juices to stay hydrated. Have them take an age-appropriate multivitamin daily. Encourage them to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Doing so will strengthen their immune system.

3. Pack hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes in the backpacks of older children. Encourage your older students to use these at appropriate times as needed.

4. Discourage children from sharing drinks with friends or siblings. Remind younger children to keep their mouths and noses off toys, pencils, pens and other foreign objects.

5. Do not smoke around your child! Second hand smoke increases the likelihood of your child getting sick! If you smoke, do not smoke in the house or in the car!

6. Make sure your children get their flu shots and vaccinations.

7. If your child is sick, please keep them home! Resting comfortably at home will not only expedite the recovery of your student, but will keep other students from catching the same bug!

I hope these tips will help you and your students stay healthy and happy this cold and flu season!

Love and Logic

When I first began teaching, I was a behaviorist. I believed my job was to provide students with positive and negative consequences for their positive and negative behaviors. I tried to provide these consequences in my classroom.

After teaching second grade, I noticed positive and negative reinforcements only worked with some students. In my sixth grade classroom, it was difficult to find positive and negative consequences to motivate my students.

When my son was born, my brilliant mother (an educator and mother of 5) gave me the book Love and Logic for Parents. The Love and Logic books and philosophy have changed my life, both as a parent and a teacher.

The tips and techniques in Love and Logic for Parents and Love and Logic for Teachers make parenting and teaching fun! By utilizing natural rewards and consequences, children learn responsibility. (And parents and teachers don't have to follow their children around with positive and negative consequences!)

I recommend these books to all parents and educators.

Read more about Love and Logic at www.loveandlogic.com.

Here's Another Great Spelling Strategy

As a teacher and a parent, I love alphabet refrigerator magnets! I encourage students of all ages to utilize alphabet magnets as part of their spelling practice. These can be purchased for as little as $1 a pack. Three to four packages are usually sufficient for practicing even the most complex spelling words. Challenge your student to a refrigerator spelling bee while you are preparing dinner. Or practice at breakfast the morning of your child's spelling test.

Good luck and happy spelling!

Beyond the Parent Teacher Conference: How to Get Involved in Your Child's Education

Research shows that children do better in school when parents talk often with teachers and become involved in the school. There are number of ways that parents and teachers can communicate with each other, rather than relying on the scheduled parent-teacher conferences. Close communications between parents and teachers can help the student.

Parents who participate in school activities and events will have added opportunities to communicate with teachers. Becoming involved with parent-teacher organizations (PTO, PTA, and Booster Clubs) gives the teacher and parent the possibility to interact outside the classroom. In addition, the parent also will have input into decisions that may affect their child's education.

Teachers usually welcome meeting their students' parents early in the school year. Making an effort to do this will help the teacher better understand you, your child, and how you will support the education of your child. Teachers appreciate knowing that parents are concerned and interested in their child's progress. And, this helps open the lines of communication.

Another good investment in your child's education is to volunteer. Depending upon parent's availability, interests, and the needs of the school, the opportunities are endless. Some suggestions include: lunchroom monitor, tutoring, library aid, classroom speaker on a specific topic of interest, and concession worker at school events. Parents should take stock of their skills and interests to volunteer. School personnel may not know what parents want to do as a volunteer.

Phone calls and visits to the classroom are also good ways to cooperate with teachers and keep informed about your child's progress. Discuss appropriate times and means of contact with the teacher.

Parent-teacher conferences are often scheduled at the time of the first report card for the school year. For parents and teachers, this is a chance to talk one-on-one about the student. The parent-teacher conference is a good opportunity to launch a partnership between parent and teacher that will function during the school year.

From www.UIEU.edu


Image courtesy www.state.me.us/education

Multiplication Tips and Tricks

Math is a very difficult subject for many children. Multiplication seems to be an especially problematic subject for most young children.

If your child is having difficulty memorizing or understanding their multiplication facts, I reccommend utilizing www.multiplication.com. This wonderful site has downloadable flashcards, charts, games, and multiplication strategies which I have found to be very helpful.

More multiplication tricks can be found at www.mathforum.org

I Love Schoolhouse Rock!

Schoolhouse Rock songs are a great way to reinforce principles in all areas of your child's curriculum. Here is one of my favorite Schoolhouse Rock songs, Ready or Not, Here I Come.



If you are having trouble viewing this video, watch it on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSnZFykq5n8

Songs like these are great to play in the car while running errands with your child, or on a long road trip. Purchase Schoolhouse Rock products at www.school-house-rock.com

Teach Your Child To Spell

English spelling rules are notoriously complex and can be very confusing. According to say-it-in-english.com, the English language has 1,100 different ways to spell 44 separate sounds! It's no wonder children (and adults) often struggle while learning to spell. In my experience I have found that the best way to learn to spell is through practice, practice, practice.

Here are some simple ways to practice spelling with your child:

1. Make spelling words relevant. For example, use your child's spelling list to write a letter to a grandparent or friend. Use at least three words from the list in the letter.

2. Put a relevant spelling word on a card. Have your child rehearse it, then turn the card over and practice saying it without looking. Put the word on the refrigerator or somewhere where it will be seen often.

3. Trace over a spelling word with your finger or a pencil. This reinforces the visual memory task involved in spelling.

4. Write a spelling word in large letters on a card or piece of paper. Cover part of the word and have your child spell the covered part. For example, when learning how to spell the months, cover the J-a-n in January so it looks like this: ---uary.

5. Break spelling words into syllables. Long words tend to be threatening.

6. Play crossword puzzles and scrabble games.

7. Pay attention to the type of spelling errors your learner is making.

8. Keep a "spelling notebook". Have your child keep a list of words they commonly misspell or have trouble with.

9. Keep a list of commonly misspelled English words, or words that may be spelled correctly, but misused. (e.g. who's and whose) This list can be referenced by your child when they are not sure how to spell a word.

10. Keep a list of rules for spelling. This is great for older children.

11. READ WITH YOUR CHILD!

12. Remember, learning to spell is a lifelong journey. Remind your child that even adults make spelling errors! It's okay to make mistakes!

(From www.say-it-in-english and www.studygs.net)