Show your child that
learning is important. Provide a quiet place in your home
for reading, writing, study. Make sure that place is always
available to your child.
Help your child continue to
develop as a reader and a writer. Provide a variety of
books, magazines and writingmaterials, for your child
to use. Your child should read or do some homework five nights per
week.
Read to your child and
have him/her read to you. Ask questions about what
was read. "Tell me what happened in the story." Discuss the
material. "Why do whales live in groups?" "Do you think whales
should be kept in captivity?" "Why or why not?" "What part of the
story did you like best?" "What could Charlie have done
differently?" "If you could write the ending to the book, how
would you change it?" In the intermediate grades, critical
thinking is a focus throughout the curriculum. You can help
your child strengthen these skills by asking questions, similar to
those above, listening to your child’s responses and
discussing their viewpoints.
Read and discuss
non-fiction materials as well as fiction. Reading
non-fiction teaches children that books are a source of
information and will help them become skilled technicalreaders.
Have your child read to
locate information. Have yourchild follow the
directions in the TV or VCR operating manual. Let your child read
you the recipe while you cook, etc. This is technical
reading.
Let your child catch YOU
reading regularly! Research tells us that children read more
and read a variety of materials when they see their parents and
older siblings reading. Make sure you read for information and
pleasure!
Continue to use family
outings as learning opportunities. Trips to the grocery store,
mall, parks, vacations, excursions on buses, planes, trains, all
provide material for discussion. Continue to ask your child
questions about what they see, feel, hear, etc. What did they
enjoy most about their experiences, and what did they find less
enjoyable? Listen to their responses and let them know their
opinions are important. Knowing you value their thoughts keeps
them thinking and wondering about the world around them.
Discussing their thoughts with you lets your child practice
oral communication skills.
Encourage hobbies such
as crafts and model-building. These require following directions -
another technical reading skill.
Help with math skills
by: playing games which involve counting, adding, subtracting,
multiplying and dividing: Uno, Yahtzee, etc. Cooking is a great
way to teach measurement, proportions, fractions, more/less, and
many other math concepts we all use in our daily
lives.
Continue to give your child
choices of activities, chores, ways to spend time, or
foods. "Would you rather have spaghetti or tacos for dinner?"
"Would you like to read to me or do flash cards right now?" "Would
you rather set the table or fold the clothes?" These are decisions
9-10 year olds can and should make. In these situations, the adult
is clearly in charge, yet the child is able to have some control.
The chores described give children feelings of independence
and teach them responsibility.
Provide opportunities for
your child to play with others, to share, and cooperate. Remind
him/her to treat others with respect, understanding and
acceptance.
Volunteer at
school!
Limit and monitor TV
watching!
Remember that YOU are
your child’s first teacher. The impact of your words
and actions are the most important!