Use the Language!

To help continue your child's learning, try to use "school words" at home.

• sort
• alike / same
• different
• stamina
• read to self
• work on writing
• working the whole time
• smart spot
• writing and touching the top line
• writing and touching the middle line
• writing and touching the bottom line
• vowels (a, e, i, o, u and sometimes y)
• consonants
• long vowel (coded with a macron: a straight line over the vowel to show that the vowel said it's own name)
• Short Vowel (coded with a breve: a curved line over the vowel to show that the vowel said /o/ like octopus, /u/ like umbrella, /e/ like in elephant, /i/ like in igloo, /a/ like apple?
• counting
• days of the week
• months of the year
• seasons
• weather words

By using this type of language with your child, you will be supporting their education at school, and showing that school is important. If they see that you value school, they will start to value school and will strive to do better.

And also, just the opposite is true. If you model that homework and reading is not important, and do not practice these things on a regular basis, your child will follow your lead. They will not work as hard for excellence. Motivation for school work will be based on how involved the parent chooses to be.