The Passport

Children who understand their feelings—and know how to talk about them—are less likely to act out and more likely to express themselves in productive ways. To get a conversation going about feelings:

1. Make a list of different feelings: happy, sad, angry, disappointed, frustrated, scared, mad, etc. Have your child draw a picture of each emotion.

2. Ask your child how she is feeling every day. Then talk about the things that make her feel that way. Listen carefully and be understanding. Don’t ever tell your child that she shouldn’t feel the way she feels.

3. Point out your child’s feelings. Say, “You look happy to be outside,” or “You seem frustrated that you haven’t figured out the answer to that homework question yet.”

4. Talk about healthy ways to cope with feelings. If your child is angry, she can take a deep breath and count to ten. If she is sad, she can hug a stuffed toy. If she is discouraged, she can try a different strategy.

Researchers have looked at the difference in children’s brain activity when reading a book

versus consuming screen-based media. The researchers found that brain activity increased while children were reading and decreased while they were viewing screen-based media. Their findings highlight the importance of limiting recreational screen time for healthy brain development.

The first step is to help your child become aware of how much time she actually spends staring at a screen for fun. Have her track the time she spends watching TV, playing digital games, texting friends and surfing online. She may be surprised how quickly those minutes add up.

If your child is spending less than two hours a day in front of a screen on non-school activities, she is on the right track. More? It’s time to set limits.

Studies show that when parents set any media rules, kids’ screen time drops by an average of more than three hours a day.

3/9- Science Check In ( 5th grade)

3/10- Math Check In 3-5

3/11- Early Release Day ( 11:15 am dismissal time)

3/11- End of 3rd quarter

3/14- Parent Teacher Conference Day

3/15- Teacher Workday

3/18- Math 24 Competition

3/24-3/25- Career Day

Ask questions to strengthen reading comprehension

Much of your child’s school success will depend on reading comprehension. Comprehension is much more than being able to read the words. It also means understanding the meaning of those words.

To boost reading comprehension, encourage your child to:

· Summarize. Talk with him about the material. Ask him to recall facts (such as characters, setting and plot), but also ask questions that require deeper thinking: What problems did the characters face? How does the story progress from beginning to end? Why did things turn out the way they did?

· Make connections. Ask your child what he has already learned or experienced that relates to the story. Is the story like or unlike others he’s read?

· Solve problems. Ask your child how the characters were affected by one another’s actions. Can he imagine things from different viewpoints? If your child took a character’s place, would he make the same decision the character made? How might his choices have changed the story?

· Apply knowledge. Ask your child to explain the message or moral of the story. Did the author have a clear opinion? If so, what was it? Does your child agree? How can your child apply what he’s read to his everyday life?