Counselor’s Corner
Kudos to our Eisenhower teachers, students, and parents! We completed our Oklahoma State tests, and 100% of students in grades Third through Fifth were tested. I am so proud of the students for doing their best and having such good attendance during testing week.

In Lieu of Teacher Appreciation Week, May 7-11, here are the top ten ways for parents to help teachers give you’re child the best education possible!

10. Fill your home with books. Read with your child, and provide a place for children to read independently. For comprehension, remember to ask questions such as: Who is the book about? What was the problem, and how was it solved? What happened in the beginning, middle, and end? Include both reading aloud and silent sustained reading time.

9. Remember, it is your child’s homework-not yours! Allow them to take responsibility for doing homework assignments AND returning them. Also, allow them to experience uncomfortable consequences, for this is how they learn responsibility and appropriate school behavior.

8. Be informed about what is going on at school. If there is something special that day, support your child by making sure they are prepared for the activity. Children feel secure, self-confident and connected to the school when they know what to expect each day.

7. Make it a point to never criticize your child’s teacher in front of your child, no matter how much you disagree with them. If there is a problem, please talk to the teacher directly and privately before making a judgment, and usually a compromise can take place.

6. Please do not believe everything your child tells you happens at school. Teachers do not believe everything they tell us happens at home. A child’s perception of an event can be very egocentric!

5 Please have breakfast and be at school on time. When a child is tardy, they have trouble getting back on track all day, and it is disruptive to the morning routine.

4. Try to enrich your child’s vocabulary with new words and experiences. This helps with reading comprehension and a love of learning. Use language that challenges them to ask, “What does that mean?”

3. Include calm, peaceful times in the evening when the T.V. is turned off. Take a few minutes each day to find out the highs and lows of the day. Be mindful of too many evening activities.

2. Have an early and consistent bedtime. Sleepy kids are not motivated kids.