Thoughts to consider at Parent Teacher Interview Time

It’s just as important for parents to tell teachers about issues at home that may affect school performance as it is for teachers to report how children are doing in the classroom.

Students do best when parents and teachers work together as partners. The start of a new school year is a great time to open a dialogue with your child’s teacher. If you haven't already, then sharing this information with a teacher will help her better understand your child’s needs and lay the groundwork for a cooperative relationship throughout the rest of the school year.

1. Health conditions: If your child is diabetic, uses an inhaler, is allergic to peanuts, or has a serious health condition, or been diagnosed with a condition which may affect behaviour and concentration her teacher should know.
   

2. Family issues: Advise the teacher if your family is going through a major change that could affect your child, such as a divorce, a death in the family, or a move. Even if your child seems to have adjusted well, alert teachers so they can watch for behavioral changes.

3. Personality traits or behaviour issues: It’s best to make teachers aware of any worrying issues e.g., painful shyness or throwing tantrums, before they become a problem at school.
   

4. Strengths and weaknesses: If you tell teachers these things up front, they’ll have more time to help your children improve in the areas they need it most.

5. Learning style: You’ve spent years teaching your kids, from potty training to tying shoelaces, so you have a good idea of their learning styles. If your child learns better through hands-on activities than through listening to explanations, mention that to his teacher.
   

6. Study habits: Tell teachers about your childs' study habits and any issues they face in completing the work. Teachers often can offer suggestions to make homework time go more smoothly.

7. Special interests: Let the teacher know about your child’s hobbies or interests as it can help the teacher forge connections in the classroom.
   

Adapted from: Sharing key information about your child can help teachers make a connection. by Emily Graham

Keep on reading!
Kids' who read, succeed!!!

Are you looking for maths links to suit your children?

Here's a few to get you started:

If your child likes art try:Patty Paints-Multiplication game (Stages 1-3)
You can choose which tables to play.
After each section you get to spray paint a vehicle.
The amount of time you get depends on how well you do!

Multiplication game- go to Multiplication Tables then scroll down to Moon Maths


KidsKnowIt Network

ICT Numeracy Games

Learning Planet Maths Games

Looking for help with Maths homework?

If you need some help or support try this website : Math: Master the Basics

Videos and tutorials explain basic operations and help with the mastery of math skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division--essential building blocks for success in mathematics.

Further resources are found at the bottom of the page including the Harcourt Maths Glossary.

Take care with Wikipedia as anyone can edit it.

PARENTS WARNED OF WIKIPORN RISK
Parents have been warned not to let children use the website Wikipedia unsupervised after an entry on a popular children's book was edited to contain pornographic material.
Sexual and violent acts between characters were added last week to the online plot summary for Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH, which is recommended for students in years 5 to 9.
The edited page for the book, on the list for the Premier's Reading Challenge, was visible for about an hour before it was changed to the original text.
NSW Parents Council executive officer of communications, Michelle FitzGerald, said "all parents" should be concerned.
"It is a concern to the council that the internet, if used inappropriately or not supervised, can lead children into areas where they really should not be," she said. "It really comes back to parental supervision on the internet."
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/05/23/1242498976065.html

Kids' who read, succeed!!!
Cheers
:-)

Improve your online security.

How long is it since you changed your passwords?

National Change Your Password Day, 5 June

Australians are being encouraged to take some simple steps to improve their online security as part of National E-security Awareness Week, June 5 - 12 2009.

Kids' who read, succeed!!!
Cheers
:-)

Literacy Lava launched

Literacy Lava is a free digital magazine (in pdf format) for you to read, download and use, share with others, or print and keep. The combined work of a brilliance of bloggers, Literacy Lava is erupting with great tips for parents, and suggestions for literacy activities to share with kids.

"Literacy Lava doesn’t promote expensive pastimes or passive
entertainment. Those things have a place in many kids’ lives. Our focus is
on low-cost activities parents can do with kids to promote literacy.
Our hope is that with Literacy Lava, you and your kids will have fun, while
building the skills they need to read, write and communicate successfully."

Kids' who read, succeed!!!
Cheers
:-)

Director-General's Message for National Reconciliation Week 2009

The theme for National Reconciliation Week (NRW) this year is ‘See the person, not the stereotype’
Reconciliation Australia

Take a look and have a listen to NSW Director General:
:-)