As weather turns to fall, we are all settling into school nicely.  Last week we sent out first quarter progress reports, both with the district's new program through the mail and with detailed printed reports that went home with the students.  One of the questions we are often asked by parents is how they can best help their student learn the skills necessary for success.  At this age, student's skills and maturity vary widely. Some are already successful independent learners able to handle most work on their own.  Most, however, are in need of some level of parental oversight, no matter how much they resist it.  We put together a few recommendations of how parents can help their student learn the important skills for success at home. 

• Check nightly to see if assignments are written down in assignment notebook.
• Check to see that your child's homework is completed.
• Ask to see the returned papers.
• Establish a consistent study time.  This demonstrates to students that you value their homework and their time spent studying for tests and quizzes. Discourage doing homework at the last minute or too late at night.
• Have an appropriate place for them to do homework away from the distractions of siblings, TV, telephone and computer.  Homework takes longer with distractions.

• Encourage students to study for tests and quizzes a little each day. Too often students do not see studying for tests as homework.  You can help your student study effectively by having them explain what they are learning to you and by quizzing them to help you both see if they are prepared, and to help them assess how productive their study time is.
• Help students monitor the number of activities they choose to take part in so they are not over-scheduled. Understandably, they often want to do everything.
• Organize their time so they can fit in their activities and still complete their homework at a reasonable hour so they can get a good night's sleep.
• Help them with organization of their materials.  Work with them to develop the habit of checking their binders to be sure they have the supplies needed for success.
• Help them develop the habit of packing their backpack the night before, with completed homework in the correct folders, so they are organized at the start of the day.
• Try to be sure appointments that can be are scheduled after school, in the evenings, and on Saturdays, showing them that you value their time in school.
• When students are absent, be sure to remind them that they need to follow the system set up by their teachers to get their make-up work, notes on what was taught in their absence from a study buddy, and to turn in work on time.  Then check to be sure they have caught up.

Although students will most likely resist your efforts, they really need your help to develop good habits and skills that will help them to become the independent and successful learners we all want them to be.

Science - Currently, in science, we are working on learning about the makeup and properties of matter as we prepare to delve more deeply into atomic structure.  Students need to continue to practice their vocabulary as understanding the language will assist them with their understanding of concepts.

English - Currently we are reviewing the 8 parts of speech.  We have been learning to format a typed paper.  A resource for this can be found on Mrs. Wallin's Resource page :  The Basics of an MLA Paper

Math- We are working on writing and equation solving in math right now. Students would benefit by going to Study Island and working on fraction skills.