C
March 2020
Vol. 31, No. 7
®

Clovis Unified School District

Spark your child’s interest in reading by being a role model

hildren who see their parents	think he might find interesting, reading are often more motivated	read a small part of it to him. He
to read themselves. To demonstrate	may be motivated to finish reading

Four ways to strengthen your child’s character

Teachers help their students learn impor-tant skills and facts. But when it comes
to teaching values, parents are the best teachers.
And, like any teacher, you need a lesson plan. Here are four strategies for building your child’s character:
1. Think about the values that are important to you and your family. Talk about them openly with your child.
2. Teach by example. A parent’s example is the most powerful teacher of all. Ask yourself,
“If my child could watch my

behavior all day, what lessons

that reading is important to you:	it himself.	would she learn?”

• Let your child see you reading every day. Pick up a newspaper, book or magazine. Make it clear
to your child that you think reading is worth your time.
• Tell your child why you are reading. Are you reading for information, to double-check something you think you know, or for enjoyment?
• Look up a word in the dictionary when you come across one you are unsure of. Ask your child if he knows the meaning of the word.
• Read aloud to your child. When

you come across something you

• Use your library card. When you take your child to the library, find something to check out for yourself.
• Join your child. When you see your child reading, pick up something to read yourself. Make a healthy snack to share.
• Give books as gifts. Show your child that books are special by giving them as gifts. Encourage him to give books to his friends, too.
• Ask relatives to support your child’s reading habits. Could they record themselves reading a book
to him?

3. Set high standards. Expect your child to act responsibly, to be kind to others and to tell the truth. Some families make it a point of family pride. “In the Smith family, we tell the truth.”
4. Teach the Golden Rule. Teaching your child to treat others as she would like to be treated will help her make good choices. She should ask herself, “Would I want some-
one to talk to me that way?”

Copyright © 2020, The Parent Institute®	www.parent-institute.com       Practical ideas for parents to help their children

have to live.”
Copyright © 2020, The Parent Institute®

Research shows nutrition is linked to academic performance

Have you heard of the	tired—which makes it difficult to expression “food for	concentrate.
thought”? Well, it turns	Children are typically hungry when out to be, quite literally,              they get home from school, so be sure the truth.                                      to keep a variety of healthy snacks on
Good nutrition really does feed	hand—fruits, veggies, cheese, yogurt the brain. And it starts with breakfast.	and whole grain crackers.
Research shows that eating breakfast	Remember: When you’re grocery helps students stay on task and recall           shopping, buy only the food you want information. Eating breakfast regularly        your child to eat. Your child can’t
is even linked to improved overall	eat unhealthy food if it is not in the school performance.	house.
whole grain cereals and fruit on hand.
What can you do? Keep low-sugar,	Source: C. St John, M.P.H., R.D.N., “Proof Positive: Breakfast Improves Kids’ Grades, Mood and Weight,” Healthy Eating.

And be prepared for a rushed morning	Org, niswc.com/elem_healthyeating.

with a healthy breakfast that your child can eat on the way out the door.
Whether you’re packing lunch	“Take care of your body.
or your child is eating a school lunch,	It’s the only place you encourage him to avoid high-calorie

and high-fat foods. When children
eat a meal that is high in fat and sugar,	—Jim Rohn

their bodies tend to become very

Women’s History Month is a great time to read a biography

www.parent-institute.com

Are you helping your child deal with frustration?

Today’s students don’t always have the skills to cope with life’s minor hassles. Are you helping your child learn to deal
with frustration? Respond yes or no to each statement:
____1. I understand that it isn’t my job to protect my child from all of life’s ups and downs.
____2. I encourage my child to keep trying when she gets stuck on a home-work problem. I ask questions to help her find solutions.
____3. I help my child link her effort to success. Sometimes I say, “It isn’t supposed to be easy. But you’ll get it if you stick with it.”
____4. I point out real-life stories of successful people who have overcome challenges.
_____5. I put my child’s feelings into words. “You’re frustrated that learning this science concept is taking longer than you hoped. You’ll get there.”
How well are you doing?

If most of your responses are yes, you

are giving your child opportunities to

March is Women’s History Month—the perfect time for your child to read a biography of a famous woman. Help her select
a biography she will enjoy by talking

with her about her interests.

• Science, she may be interested in learning about Marie Curie, the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different sciences— chemistry and physics.
• Helping others, she might like to

learn more about Mother Teresa,

work through her frustration. For each no, try that idea in the quiz.

®

If your child likes:

• Sports, she might like to read about Wilma Rudolph, a three-time Olympic gold medal winner.
• Politics, she might like to read about Victoria Woodhull, who in 1870 became the first woman to run for president.
• Fashion, she might like to

read about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who was considered a cul-
tural and fashion icon in the 1960s.

who dedicated her life to serving the poor and disadvantaged.
Whatever your child’s interests, there is sure to be a biography she might enjoy reading. Ask the librarian for help if you don’t see a book that catches her interest right away.
Read the book with your child or let her read it on her own, but don’t stop there. Encourage her to do some additional research on the person and
share what she finds out.

Practical Ideas for Parents to Help Their Children. ISSN: 1523-1275

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P.O. Box 7474, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-7474. Fax: 1-800-216-3667.
Or visit: www.parent-institute.com.

Published monthly September through May. Copyright © 2020, The Parent Institute, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc., an independent, private agency. Equal opportunity employer.

Publisher: Doris McLaughlin. Publisher Emeritus: John H. Wherry, Ed.D.
Editor: Rebecca Hasty Miyares.

2 • Elementary • Parentsmake the difference! • March 2020	X02594459

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March weather activities can teach your child science skills

Copyright © 2020, The Parent Institute®

Q: The principal called to tell me that my fifth grader shoved
a child to the ground at school

According to the old saying, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Is this true where you live?
In many parts of the country, the month of March brings changeable weather—which makes it a great
time to enjoy science and other

• Make wind chimes. You’ll need four clean, empty cans, some string and a coat hanger. Make sure the edges of the cans are smooth. Help your child punch a hole in the bottom
of each can. Tie a knot in one end of the string and thread the string through a can. Then tie the other
end to your hanger. Repeat with

today. As a result, my child is going to be suspended for one day. I know this is the school’s policy; however, my son says the other boy said mean things to him first. Should I go to the
school to complain?

weather-related activities:

• Keep a temperature graph. Have your child record and graph the temperature each day for a month. Or, use the online weather report for your area. Record whether the day was sunny, cloudy or rainy.
• Measure the rain. You’ll need a plastic jar with straight sides and a flat bottom, a ruler and a marker. On the outside of the jar, use the ruler and marker to mark off each quarter inch. Have your child keep track of
the amount of rainfall.

each can. Each time the wind blows, the cans will make music!
You and your child can also go online to learn more about weather. Check out these fun, age-appropriate websites:
• Weather Wiz Kids, www.weather wizkids.com.
• The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids, www.almanac4kids.com/ weather.
• NASA’s Climate Kids, climatekids. nasa.gov/menu/weather-and-
climate.

A: Children don’t always make the right choices. What’s impor-tant is the lesson they learn after they’ve made a bad choice. Arguing with the school on your son’s behalf can teach him the wrong lesson. Instead:
• Talk with your child about the incident. Does he admit that he pushed the other child? It’s important for him to learn to tell the truth about what he’s done. Let your child know
that pushing people is never

A peaceful home environment promotes a sense of well-being

acceptable—even if they call him names.
• Help your child think of other ways he might have reacted.
He could have ignored the

It’s nearly impossible to lead a stress-free life these days, but you can work to make home a haven away from the daily grind.
To help your entire family feel mentally and emotionally well:
• Encourage laughter. Laughter should be a part of each day. Have everyone share favorite funny shows, movies, jokes and stories.
• Share stress-relief strategies. Teach your child to take deep breaths, go for a walk or turn on some relaxing music whenever she feels stressed.
• Remember the big three: good nutrition, adequate sleep and exer-
cise. These are the keys to wellness.

• Share good things. Every day, have each family member report at least one good thing (no matter how small) that happened. Try to do this during a family meal. You could even write down the responses in
a family gratitude journal.

• Stay organized. An organized, clutter-free home creates a more peaceful environment for everyone. It also teaches your child how to take care of her belongings.
• Pitch in. Chores go so much more quickly when everyone works together. Have a family chore time and then reward yourselves by doing something fun as a family.

Source: A. Marks, M.D. and B. Rothbart, M.S.W., Healthy Teens, Body and Soul: A Parent’s Complete Guide, Fireside.

child, for example.

• Encourage your child to tell the teacher if the name-calling continues. If he had reported the incident, the other child might be the one in trouble.
• Discuss the reasons schools need rules. What if your child had been the one who was shoved? Would he want the child who shoved him to face a consequence?
• Let your child experience the consequence of his action. On the day of his suspension, don’t let him watch TV or play video games. Instead, have him spend the same time studying that he
would have spent in class.

March 2020 • Elementary • Parentsmake the difference! • 3

Y
notes about which answers she
She should take time to correct
her wrong answers.
made. Mistakes generally come
child’s test score
Reduce your child’s test anxiety
Your child has a big
test tomorrow, and
he wants to do his
best. Encourage
him to follow these
should make sure he understan
the teacher.
child struggled to memorize
something, he should write down
what he recalls as soon as the test
starts, so he can refer to it later.
• Read through all the questions
quickly before starting. Your child
should think about how much
time he has and decide how
Then he can come back to the
others.

Copyright © 2020, The Parent Institute®	www.parent-institute.com

It Matters: Test Success
Test-taking tips	Help your child review graded can boost your	tests and make adjustments

our child is used to learning material before a test. But what
about after the test? Unless she gets a perfect score on every test, every
time, there is still learning to be done! After a test, your child should:
test-taking strategies:	• Review the graded test and make • Focus on directions. Your childds              got right and which she got wrong.
the instructions before he begins.
If he has questions, he should ask	• Identify the types of errors she
• Write down information. If your	in two forms: Carelessness—your child may have rushed through the
question. Lack of preparation—	For mistakes based on lack of your child didn’t study enough.                   preparation, the solution is more
• Make adjustments. Brainstorm	studying. Your child should start to together about how she can reduce	review several days before the test. careless errors. For example, she	The last day should be spent going could read each question twice and	over everything a final time, not
much time he can spend on	check her work before turning it in.	learning new material. each question.
• Skip a question if unsure of the answer. Your child should answer
all the questions he knows first.	with four proven strategies

• Remember the true/false rule:	It’s normal to get a little	2. Discourage cramming, which can If any part of an answer is false,	nervous before a big test,              increase anxiety and interfere with the whole answer is false.	but many children suf-                 clear thinking. The most important
• Use multiple-choice strategies.	fer from excessive test	things your child can do the day He should try to answer the ques-	anxiety. They worry so	before a test are to review and then tion before looking at the choices.           much about taking the test that their	get a good night’s sleep.
Or, eliminate the wrong answers	performance suffers.	3. Encourage a positive outlook. and choose between what’s left.                   To help your child relieve those                   Build your child’s confidence by
• Outline essays. Encourage your	pre-test jitters:	reminding him of his strengths. child to make a plan and stick to	1. Focus on preparation. Make sure	Have him envision himself doing main points and key details. Even               he spreads studying out over	well on the test.
a brief outline is better than no	time. True learning requires	4. Maintain perspective. Remind answer.	time to review and think about                    him that test scores aren’t every-
• Allow time to go back and check	the content. And knowing the	thing. Make sure your child knows answers. Do they make sense?	material is the best way to reduce	that, while you want him to do his Are sentences complete?	anxiety and stress.	best, he doesn’t have to be the best.

4 • Elementary • Parentsmake the difference! • March 2020