Al-Ihsan Academy

TIP OF THE DAY Help your child put travel time to good use Time management is a valuable study skill. One way to help your child make use of spare minutes is to make the most of time in the car. For example, you might tape cards with spelling words to the backs of the front seats. If your child practices them each time she's in the car all week, by Friday she will be ready for the spelling test!... https://tpitip.com/?11jM10490

TIP OF THE DAY Address mistakes respectfully and privately Elementary school students are learning the social skills that help make a classroom comfortable and productive, such as how to treat people with respect. When your child makes mistakes, don't point them out in front of others. That will only make him ashamed, not teach him to be considerate. Ask yourself what he needs to learn, then teach him those skills one-on-one.... https://tpitip.com/?11jL10490

Fight Flu at Home and School

TIP OF THE DAY Daily conversations show your child that schoolwork matters Talking with your child about school shows her you care about her life and her education. Make it a regular habit to have your child show you at least one example of her schoolwork each day. Comment on progress she's making, praise her effort and encourage her to do her best work. You'll learn more about what your child is learning, and your child will learn that schoolwork is important.... https://tpitip.com/?11jK10490

TIP OF THE DAY Sports can help kids become confident learners After-school sports teach children that practice and effort lead to improvement. That's a lesson they can apply in school, too. Let your child's interest, not yours, motivate which sport he chooses. Then praise what he does well and ignore his mistakes. He'll probably get enough knocks on the field. Give him hugs at home.... https://tpitip.com/?11jJ10490

TIP OF THE DAY Make time for what matters as life gets busier Fitting in lots of time with your child may be more challenging as schedules get busier. But it's worth it! Children who spend more time with their parents tend to do better in school. Try taking a daily walk with your child. You both need exercise, and you'll have time to talk. Eat at least one meal together each day. And look for activities the whole family can enjoy, such as having a picnic in the park.... https://tpitip.com/?11jI10490

TIP OF THE DAY Anger often masks other emotions Disrespectful, angry children may be perfectionistsand very good students. Or they may show their anger and disrespect by doing poorly in school. Anger and disrespect are often a cover for other emotions, such as fear or frustration. If your child has recently begun behaving defiantly, think about what's changed in her life. Ask what's bothering her and say you want to help. Then discuss ways to change her behavior.... https://tpitip.com/?11jH10490

TIP OF THE DAY Teach listening by example There isn't a class at school called "Listening." That's because listening is important in ALL school classes. One of the best ways to teach your child to listen is to set an example. Each day, set aside some time to talk about school. Ask questions to get the ball rolling. Then stop what you're doing and pay attention to what your child is saying. Make eye contact as you listen, and give your child time to put thoughts into words.... https://tpitip.com/?11jG10490

TIP OF THE DAY A 'checkbook' can help your child account for money Giving a child an allowance is one way to teach financial responsibility. But you may not always have the right cash on hand. Give your child a "checkbook." Make up some checks that look like the real thing. On the first day of the month, "deposit" your child's allowance in the checkbook. When he needs to make a purchase, he can write you a check, and you can pay for the item. He'll get practice writing and le...arn math skills in the bargain. https://tpitip.com/?11jF10490

TIP OF THE DAY For success with flash cards, divide and conquer Studying with flash cards is a great way for students to memorize a large number of math facts, definitions, dates or vocabulary words. When working with flash cards, divide them into small groups. Shuffling the cards each time they're used will help your child learn the facts in any order. Frequent, short study sessions are best. Spend the most time on the cards your child has yet to master.... https://tpitip.com/?11jE10490

TIP OF THE DAY Rev up your read-aloud routine Want to strengthen your child's vocabulary, improve her reading scores and have funall in 20 minutes a day? Read aloud! Try these hints for effective read-alouds: Pick a regular reading time and stick to it. Look for books you'll both like. If you preview them yourself first, you can read them aloud with style for your child. Finally, stop each reading session while your child is still eager to hear what will happen next.... https://tpitip.com/?11jD10490

TIP OF THE DAY Before you meet with the teacher, talk to your child Getting your child's perspective is an important way to prepare for a parent-teacher conference. Ask your child questions about how school is going, such as: "What do you like about your class this year?" "What are some of the most successful things you've done?" "What was the most difficult project for you so far?" He will know that his opinions count, and that you and the teacher are working together to hel...p him learn. https://tpitip.com/?11jC10490

TIP OF THE DAY Expand descriptive writing with an adjective game Descriptive words add interest to writing. Play this game with your child: Write a short sentence, then take turns adding one adjective at a time. For example: The cat sat by the window. The orange cat sat by the window. The orange cat sat by the sunny window.... https://tpitip.com/?11jB10490

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TIP OF THE DAY How to help when your child is frustrated Statements like, "I hate school!" or "I'm dumb!" are often signs that a child is frustrated with schoolwork. To help your child in this situation, share a story of how you struggled with something when you were young. Explain how you worked through it. Ask guiding questions to help him come up with strategies he could use. Then encourage him to try again. If frustration persists, let the teacher know.... http://niswc.com/16jZC101721

TIP OF THE DAY When grades are great, focus on what's working If your child's grades are suffering, you know what to do: Emphasize study skills and ask the teacher how to help. But when she gets all A's? Don't make the common mistake of looking for something that still needs improvement. Your child may feel that nothing she does is good enough. Instead, discuss what she is doing that's working. Compliment her effort and look for ways to build on the subjects that interest her.... http://niswc.com/16jYC101721

TIP OF THE DAY Your assignment is to let your child teach you It's been a long time since many parents had to do schoolwork. To show your child you understand what he's going through, let him give you an assignment from time to time. Even if it's easy for you, don't show it. Instead, ask your child to help you. This will reinforce his skills and make him feel important and a little smarter.... http://niswc.com/16jXC101721

TIP OF THE DAY Go online to show your child the world The next time your child has to write a report about a state or a country, help her make a virtual visit online. Have her type the name of the place into a search engine and follow the links. Explain that newspaper or local government websites may have more up-to-date information than older books. Have your child look for some maps online, too. Print out some blank ones, so she can practice labeling the features.... http://niswc.com/16jWC101721

TIP OF THE DAY Make a place for 'works in progress' You don't want your child's unfinished projects spread all over the house for weeks. But it's important not to make the preparation and cleanup so time-consuming that he puts off doing the project until the last minute. Find a space (the top of a bookcase, a box in the closet) where your child can store his unfinished project and supplies. Make it easy for him to pull the project out and work on it often.... http://niswc.com/16jVC101721

TIP OF THE DAY Add a little excitement to math practice Math skills improve with repetition. One way to make math practice fun for your child is to glue a picture onto each of 10 large index cards. Then cut the cards in half, mix them up and put them in a container. Set a timer for five minutes and give your child math problems one by one. Each time she answers correctly, let her draw a card. How many complete pictures can she make before the timer runs out?... http://niswc.com/16jUC101721

TIP OF THE DAY Make bedtime reading a relaxing ritual When your child was younger, you may have read aloud to him before bed every night. But now that he can read on his own, should you keep up the habit? You bet. Research shows that, in addition to building literacy skills, the sound of reading aloud can help soothe kids. Make daily bedtime reading with your child a relaxing time together. You'll be building cozy memories and reading skills for a lifetime.... http://niswc.com/16jTC101721

TIP OF THE DAY Answer a teacher call with an open mind It’s hard not to imagine the worst possible scenario when the teacher contacts you about a problem with your child. But getting upset with the teacher or your child won't help. Instead, ask for more information and listen with an open mind. You'll probably find that the situation is not as bad as you assumed. When you know the specifics, it’s easier to work with the teacher to solve the problem.... http://niswc.com/16jSC101721

TIP OF THE DAY Create a study routine that helps your child focus Some children have more trouble concentrating than others. That can make schoolwork sessions challenging. Establishing study routines makes it easier for your child to get down to work. Set a regular time and minimize distractions. Help your child to make daily to-do lists and put them in an order that works for him, such as hardest task first. Then let him take a five-minute break after every 20 minutes of wor...king. http://niswc.com/16jRC101721

TIP OF THE DAY Show your child how you learn from mistakes Mistakes can be great teachers. To help your child learn from her mistakes, set an example. If you lose your temper, or forget to do something you should have done, be honest and say, "I messed up." Then talk about what you could have done differently. Make amends if you can. Your child will learn that you take responsibility for your mistakes, and that will make it easier for her to do the same thing.... http://niswc.com/16jQC101721

TIP OF THE DAY Support your child with love, limits and respect Children value themselves as they are valued. To build the sense of self-worth that supports school success, let your child know you love and accept him. But also make rules and limits clear. Boundaries can expand as your child grows, and he will find security in knowing they are there. Demonstrate respect for your child by allowing him to have a say in making decisions that affect the entire family.... http://niswc.com/16jPC101721

TIP OF THE DAY Challenge your child to an observation game Scientists are skilled observers. Play a game with your child to develop her observation skills. Have her describe the front of a building she knows well without looking at it. Ask her to be as detailed as she can, and write down what she says. Then take a trip to look at the building and compare her memory to the reality. Play often with different buildings, and your child will learn to notice and remember details.... http://niswc.com/16jOC101721

TIP OF THE DAY Flash cards are versatile study tools Many kids use flash cards to study math facts. But flash cards are also a great tool for learning new reading or science vocabulary words, as well as names, events and dates in social studies. Studying the cards and saying the words or facts on them out loud helps your child memorize the material. Then, when you use the cards to quiz him, recalling the information helps reinforce it in his mind.... http://niswc.com/16jNC101721