MESSAGE FROM MR. FRED J. PONTI

PRINCIPAL OF HUBER ST. SCHOOL 

Quick Click: Integrating Reading into Everyday Life for Reluctant Readers

Making reading and language activities a part of everyday life is especially important in motivating reluctant readers, who often see reading as a chore. Try these tips to build language skills in ways that hardly seem like reading.

Read Funny Favorites
Share comics, articles, jokes, and stories that make you laugh with your child. Read them aloud during breakfast or make it an after-school ritual. Ask him to tell you his funny anecdotes. Write them down or start a scrapbook of humor that he will smile to read.

Based on the Book... or the Movie
It is great to give your child the book of a movie she liked, but also encourage reading by giving her books based on TV and movies that she already watches. From the Powerpuff Girls to Yu-Gi-Oh!, many shows have activity books and comics she will enjoy.

Books a Plenty
Make sure that there are books available to your child in every room of the house and everywhere he goes, from having magazines in the car to bringing a comic book for him to read while waiting on line. He might not read them, but if he's bored, he just might thumb through a book if it's readily available.

Open the Closed Captions
Why not put words on the screen when the tube is on? It may help your child connect written words with spoken words. You can also make a game of catching errors in the captions, which happens more often than you might think.

Read in Public
Let your child see that you like to read for fun. It's important to show that you enjoy reading and make time for it if you expect her to believe that reading is a fun fundamental.

Talk About TV and Movies
Encourage your child to tell you about the shows he watched. Have him retell the plot and describe the characters to build his sense of narrative, story, and general comprehension skills. You can also write a review or summary of the programs together.

Interactive Is Interesting
Use the Internet with your child to explore a subject she enjoys. Try to find sites that include fun graphics or games and aren't too text-heavy. Just reading the directions for games and learning how to navigate will build her ability to follow directions and show her a practical and engaging use for developing reading skills.

Get a Subscription
Kids enjoy getting mail, and a subscription to kids' magazine will give him something to look forward to every month that is his. The idea that the magazine is just for him makes it more appealing to read.

Go to Story Hours, Readings, and Plays
Show her that a lot of kids and adults enjoy books by going to readings and story hours at your local library or bookstore. Plays are especially great, since they are a form of literature designed not to be read, but to be seen.

Quick Click: 5 Ways to Connect with Your Advanced Reader

Try these simple and rewarding options for building a relationship around books.

1. Start a Parent-Child Book Club. What better way to connect than to be reading the same book at the same time? Set up a time for your discussion and try to find guides and activities to do together.

2. Read as a Family. Set aside a "reading time" for your family where everyone turns off the TV and reads. It's also a great idea to let your child read to you. Have him read his favorite parts of a book to you and explain what he loves about the passage or chapter.

3. Play With Words. Let your child show off her vocabulary with a game of Scrabble or Boggle. Or do word searches and crossword puzzles together.

4. Select Books Together. Go to the library, bookstore, or online retailer with your child and pick out books. Challenge him to find a book you will like, and pick out an unusual book for him!

Turn 'Setbacks' Into Learning Experiences

When children's mistakes are handled right, they can be the first steps toward future successes.

Successful people don't see their mistakes as failures.  Successful people know valuable lessons can be learned when something doesn't work out quite right.

When a child doesn't reach his goal right away, he may see himself as "dumb," "stupid", or "a failure".  When your child makes a mistake or runs into a problem, don't let him see himself as a failure.  Instead, help him learn from the problem so he can do better next time.

Ask your child, "What might you do differently next time?  "What  did you learn that can help you in the future?"

Six Ways to Help Children Handle Conflicts

People have choices in dealing with conflict.  Sometimes, one way is better than another.  Before conflicts arise, talk with your child about when it is appropriate to use each of the following ways of handling conflict:

1. Avoidance.  Don't address the problem right away.  This gives you time to cool down before expressing your opinions in angry and hostile situations.

2. Accommodation.  Give in to the other person's point of view, and don't assert your own when the issue isn't important to you.

3. Competition.  Stand your ground when the issue to important to you.

4. Collaboration.  Work together to come up with a solution so that everyone reaches their goals.

5. Compromising.  Look for middle ground that partially satisfies both parties when collaboration fails for minor disagreements.

6. Confrontation.  Address the issue face-to-face and right away when the issue is urgent or very important to you.

'I Can' is More Important Than 'IQ'

Success in school and in life depends more on effort than on ability or intelligence.  When children don't feel smart, they may give up. They may even feel like failures.

Teachers understand that ability is just one factor leading to success. They know that success is earned through hard work, persistence, paying attention, attendance, working well with others, and attitude.  Being smart may help, but is not the only trait that makes one successful.

You, as parents, can help your child have an "I Can" attitude.  Remind your child that, "It's not how smart you are, but what you do with what you have that counts."

Remember, encourage your child to work hard to reach a goal.

Protect Your Child Against Bullies

Bullying is another name for harassment.  It can be physical, but often, bullying is verbal and includes threats and teasing.

Bullies pick on other people because they want to feel popular or tough.

Here are some ways you can protect your child from bullies:

• Help your child find safe routes to school - Find places along the way to go for help.

• Make sure your child understands that they he/she have a right to say "no" to unfair requests.

• Watch for signs of bullying in your child - These might include withdrawal, loss of appetite, lower grades, bruises, torn clothing, needing extra lunch money or school supplies, or not wanting to go to school.

• Tell the school as soon as you see a problem

Teach Your Child the Secret of Active Listening

Active listening is a way of listening to that true understanding is achieved. The following are a few pointers that will help your child learn active listening skills and increase his learning in school:

• Take turns talking - only one person gets to talk at a time.  The first person shares his ideas, and the second person listens carefully.

• Focus on the speaker - Make eye contact, look at the speaker.  Show that you are listening and understanding by nodding occasionally.  Make sure you concentrate on that is being said.

• Summarize the speaker's ideas - summarize his main points or ask questions to make sure you understand.

• It's your turn! - Now you talk and your partner listens carefully.

Active listening is not just limited to two people! Try it with the whole family, especially when there is a disagreement or a misunderstanding - it's a great way to resolve conflicts.

Make Sure You are Helping, Not Hindering, Your Child's Success

Most parents want their children to succeed.  But sometimes, we, as parents, unintentionally prevent our child's success. I would like to share with you some "don'ts" to remember:

• Don't belittle your child's feelings - What may not seem important to you could be a big deal to him.

• Don't assume your child isn't trying - Get out of the habit of always telling your child to try harder.

• Don't have unrealistic expectations - Children (as well as adults) get discouraged when they try to work beyond their own abilities.

• Don't take over - Solving a problem for your child tells him that he's not capable of doing it himself.  Try discussing the problem with your child, you may be pleasantly surprised at his response.

• Don't allow your child to blame others - If your child doesn't take responsibility for his mistakes, he can't learn from them.

• Don't make praise cheap - Too much praise to a child becomes meaningless. Praise about three times as much as you criticize.

I hope this information has proven to be  beneficial to you, as a parent. I recommend you visit www.parent-institute.com.   I found this website to be very informative, both as a school administrator and a parent.