Whether you have a preschooler or 4^th grader, you can easily integrate comprehension techniques at home.

1. Ask your child questions as they read the book or you read a book aloud to them.  Simple questions for the younger group:  What do you think Fancy Nancy is going to do next?  More challenging questions as they get older: Why did Chase sell the cows?

2. Bridge the gap between the print word and your child by asking them to tell you about how they feel about what happened or what would they do if they were in the situation.

3. Look at the cover of the book, the title, read the flap or back of the book…predict what is going to happen and why they think that will happen.

4. If they are independent readers, make sure they are reading at their level.

5.  Reading takes practice.  You must practice to get better.  Set aside at least 15-20 minutes to read every day.

6. Make sure you have high interest reading material for your child to keep their interest level high and motivation going strong.

7.  Make sure your child understands the words he is reading.  Stop and ask him what a “new” word means.

8.  Children need to see their parents reading for pleasure.  Talk about something interesting that you read.

I know from first-hand experience how important reading comprehension is for children.  My oldest son has been struggling with it for a few years.  He recently started working with one of our reading specialists and we have already seen a tremendous gain in his confidence and skills.  Little Scholars offers private and small group reading instruction to address reading issues like comprehension. For more information contact Little Scholars at sjefferson@littlescholarsllc.com

1. My all-time favorite gift is a summer camp gift certificate.  Over the past few years my mother in law has given my children a week of summer camp for their Christmas gift.
2. SLAP watch- No need for your child to figure out how to put the watch on and it is has a face (not digital) http://www.slapwatch.com/slap-watch-collection.html#original
3. Brain Food-silly putty that is all grown up!  SUPER cool and great stocking stuffer! http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/brain_food.cfm
4. Digital Book Mark-It keeps track of how long your child has read.  Both of my boys are getting this for Christmas.  http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/mark_my_time/mark_my_time_digital_bookmark.cfm
5. No more gathering all the pillows and blankets in the house, Crazy Forts is here!  http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/everest/crazy_forts_69_pieces.cfm
6. Every child wants to be famous, now here is their chance by having their very own book.  http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/creations_by_you/illustory.cfm
7. REALLY BIG WORDS!  Magnetic words for kids.  http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/magnetic_poetry/really_big_words_for_kids.cfm
8. My very small elephant squeezed into a teeny tiny airplane…Rory’s Story Cubes.  HILIRAROUS! http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/gamewrightceaco/rorys_story_cubes.cfm
9. An oldie but goodie!  I am so glad they brought back the original version. http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/winning_moves/the_game_of_life_classic_edition.cfm
10. A great book!  http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2011/childrens-picture#book/book-1

To see what we recommended in the past, click here http://littlescholarsllc.com/Resources/twas-the-night-before-christmas.html.

We wish you and your family a very happy holiday season!

1. Do you feel my child is working to the best of his abilities?  This question allows the teacher to share what she sees in the classroom.  You may observe something completely different at home.  My middle son was described by his teacher to a tee…a little impulsive (okay, maybe a lot) and quick to want to finish his work, but she also noted he tends to be the one to push himself especially in math.  Who knew?!?
2. What is an acceptable amount of time for homework?  We all have heard the guidelines and to be honest it is taking more than two hours for your 3^rd grader to finish his homework.  PLEASE tell the teacher.  Ask her if there are acceptable modifications such as can he do the odd problems once we hit a certain time or can he type the spelling sentences on the computer?
3. What type of learner do you see my child being?  This is a very helpful and important question.  If you have a visual learner and you are always trying to explain something to him with no visual cues it can cause major conflict and confusion at home.   One student I work with is a very verbal learner and when teaching him concepts I relate it to a story because he remembers stories and it helps him when he needs to recall information.
4. You mentioned he is struggling with addition facts.  How can I help him at home?  Teachers have LOTS of great tricks up their sleeves.  We love to share these with parents.  By the way, math war is my all-time favorite game for reviewing math facts.
5. How are you preparing my child to study? Take a test?  This is important because you want to follow through with study skills.  Study skills are historically a difficult concept for children…teen agers…college students…you get my point.  They need to be practiced and reinforced at home.
6. Do you provide differential lessons and instruction for the variety of learners in the class?  Not every child learns the same.  You want to make sure your child’s learning style is being catered to during the school day.  For example does she follow verbal directions with visual cues, does she use manipulatives to demonstrate mathematic concepts.
7. What supports do you recommend to challenge or help with remediation? Teachers are an excellent source of ways you can enhance your child’s education whether it is with a specific program, tutor, app or computer program.  They are also good at helping guide you with what will work best for your child.
8. What is the most effective way for me to communicate with you?  All my children’s teachers are big emailers (whew!).  I like the written documentation of email, but some teachers prefer a phone call.
9. Who are my child’s friends?  The social part of school is a huge part of your child’s day.  The social circles in schools can play a key role in your child’s daily happiness.

Asking these questions at your parent teacher conference will give you better insight into your child’s education.

Every child learns in a different way. Some take a little more time to pick up the information being taught at school while others need a challenge. Whatever the reason, tutors are vital to the educational process because they go beyond the attention given to a student in a regular classroom setting. A good tutor provides a sense of competency to their students, encourages higher level thinking, re-teaches material as needed in a non-threatening environment, teaches to one’s learning style, is knowledgeable about the content material, provides empathy to the student, is an excellent resource to the parents, and coordinates with the child’s classroom teacher.

When looking for a person to work with your child you should look for the following characteristics:

• Enjoys working with children
and can establish good rapport with the child.

• A person who is patient, kind, understanding and fair.

• Can teach alternative methods to solving a problem and making necessary accommodations.

• Has the ability to see what needs to be done to help the child and can initiate a plan of action.

• Enthusiasm!

• A good communicator who easily talks to the parent and classroom teacher.

• Reliability as a worker: Punctual, dependable, steady.

For questions about how Little Scholars can design a program especially for your child, please contact us at
804-241-6006 or sjefferson@littlescholarsllc.com

1. Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework.  This should be a “homework only” spot such as a desk in your child’s room.
   Avoid having your child do homework with the television on or in places with other distractions, such as people coming and going.
2. Make sure all the materials your child needs, such as paper, pencils, eraser and crayons are available.
   Ask your child if special materials will be needed for some projects and get them in advance.
3. Help your child with time management.
   Establish a set time each day for doing homework.  Each child is different:  some like to knock it out when they get home and other
   children prefer some down time before hitting the books…see what works best for your child.
4. Be positive about homework.
   Your attitude towards homework will be the attitude your child acquires.
5. When your child asks for help provide guidance, but not the answers.
   Use strategies such as reading the question aloud or use manipulatives to help solve math problems.  These are great ways to help without giving your child the answers.
6. Get up and move breaks are okay and sometime necessary.                                                                                                                   Most children can sit and attend to an activity for 20-30 minutes without a break, but if you notice your child is struggling ask them if they need to get up and get some water or stretch their legs.
7. Help your child figure out what is hard homework and what is easy homework.
   Have your child do the hard work first so he will be most alert when facing the biggest challenges. Easy material can go fast when he gets tired.
8. Tell your child’s teacher if the work is too difficult.                                                                                                                                    This will give her a chance to be able to go back and review the material.
9. Check your child’s homework.                                                                                                                                                                              Not so you can correct the answers, but so you can be aware of what they are working on, where they may be struggling and what their
   strengths are.
10. Ultimately, homework is your child’s responsibility.                                                                                                                               Resist the temptation of always sitting next to your child and helping with each problem.  Leave the room and let them attempt to do it on their own even if they make a mistake.  They are also responsible for putting the homework back in his/her backpack.

If homework continues to be a battle consider a getting a tutor or having your child join a homework club.   This fall Little Scholars will be offering a Homework Club to help you and your child navigate the sometimes difficult world of homework. Our experienced teachers will take the opportunity to practice and reinforce skills taught in the classroom, teach extension, study skills, test taking techniques, involve parents through weekly feedback, and build confidence toward school and learning. Our fall classes are held either WEDNESDAYS or THURSDAYS FROM 3-4PM
(1st-2nd grade) and 4-5PM (3rd-5th grade) beginning September 14th through November 2nd.  For more information on our Homework Club, please email us at sjefferson@littlescholarsllc.com.

9. Take your kids with you for back to school supplies shopping allowing them to pick out a few of their own supplies to reflect their
personality and interests.  Plus, who doesn’t like school supplies?!?!

8.  Let your child have a friend or two over from school that he/she does not see during the summer.  This will help to ease social anxiety which is so prevalent at the beginning of the school year.

7.  Turn off the TV and have your child doing some writing, crossword puzzles, flash cards, vocabulary games to kick-start their brain.

6.  Help your child get their homework spot cleared from all of the beads, baseballs, gum wrappers and golf balls that have taken over what used to be a desk.

5. Get back on schedule at least a week before school starts!!!  Parents sometime forget how important a consistent routine is for a child’s well-being.

4.  Don’t miss out on “Meet Your Teacher” day!  If you cannot attend, call your child’s teacher to reschedule.  There is nothing more terrifying for some children than walking into a classroom and not being able to find your desk or know where to hang your backpack.

3.  PLEASE do not hide anything from your child’s teacher in hopes they will figure it out for themselves.  Let your child’s teacher know about any specific behavior, learning or health issues. You don’t want a child to have a bad experience because there may be an underlying issue the
teacher was not aware of.

2.  READ…every day for at least 20 minutes!!!

1.  Set the alarm, clothes laid out and have the lunches ready because you don’t want them to miss a minute of the first day of your sanity returning…I mean school starting!!!

HAPPY 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR to all the Little Scholars!

1.  Practice math DAILY!  Ever heard the saying, “Math is all around us?” Well, it is true!  Look for opportunities to involve your child in everyday tasks such as making dinner (measurement, counting, estimating), walking to the park (calculating distance & time), putting away laundry (counting, sorting), or going shopping (money, calculation). There is always a way to incorporate math concepts with your children.  You don’t even have to set aside time to practice.  Let it happen naturally!

2.  Math is FUN!  Seriously, there are a dozen ways to have fun without knowing you are actually doing math.  Math concepts are naturally designed to be made into a game!  Sometimes you need to be creative and not rely on traditional board games. Try playing blackjack to work on adding, designing an obstacle course to build time skills, playing war to practice multiplication facts, playing computer games, creating guessing games, and even using Ipad apps. The possibilities are endless!

3. Review, Review, Review!  Summertime is a great time to go back and work on the skills that have posed a problem in the past.  If your child has never really mastered addition (yes, this is where they are still using their fingers to count), take the opportunity to take a few steps back and work on this skill.  It is the perfect time because their classmates are not around to compare what one another is doing OR not doing!

 4. Get a head start!  We have all been there before…staring at a math problem that we have no idea how to solve.  I remember mine, it was the nine’s times tables.  Even the best and brightest child is going to come up against a problem that is new and challenging. Suddenly, math doesn’t seem to make sense. These can be crushing moments that end your child’s interest in math.  Look ahead into the upcoming year, make sure your child has the prerequisite skills necessary to be tackling the problems so they are not faced with such a large hurdle when the school year begins.

 5.  Ensure your child is not missing crucial concepts!  Sometimes kids miss concepts that are essential building blocks for understanding later concepts. If your child misses critical math milestones chances are your child is going to fall behind with related concepts.  This is a major blow to anyone’s confidence.  Start with the simple math activities and work slowly through math connections. This will lead to confidence, strength and a positive outlook about math.

 Children learn best with consistent opportunities and exposure to math concepts.  These opportunities will develop a deep comprehension of the concepts and strategic problem solving skills. It is important to assist children by providing them with the necessary background knowledge to find the correct solutions. Little Scholars has math coaches to bring these skills to your child.  If you would like to learn more about how our math coaches can help your child, please contact us at 804-241-6006 or sjefferson@littlescholarsllc.com.

©2011 Little Scholars, LLC  All Rights Reserved

TJ has been struggling for a while with comprehension although his teachers have said this was not an issue.  My theory was confirmed during ERB testing this year.  He will begin next week working with a reading specialist from Little Scholars to remedy this problem.  It is always amazing to me what one hour of undivided adult attention can do for a child’s academic performance. 

WJ is a speed demon!  He just flies through a book (I think he reads about every 5th word).  Lucky for me I know some of the best educators and educational enrichment programs in Richmond.   Wade is going to be participating in the Little Scholars Boys Only summer reading group in August to work on fluency.  He thrives in a small group where he has peer role models and instruction can be tailored to him.

AP is going to be starting her last year of preschool in the fall.  She has already begun working with one of Little Scholars’ best teachers on number sense and pencil grip once a week.  AP loves school though and she is doing LOTS of Little Scholars preschool summer enrichment programs.  She will get to be one of the many children who are alumni of our cornerstone program, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. 

It is not too late to get the ball rolling with your gang either. Little Scholars individualized approach to educating children will help you map out a plan that is specific to your child. To hear more about what we can do for you, call 804-241-6006, email me at sjefferson@littlescholarsllc.com, or visit us at www.littlescholarsllc.com.

Here are FIVE strategies to inspire your child to read and create a love of learning:

1. Is your child a sports freak like my boys?  Are dinosaurs running wild in his imagination?  Does she love wizards and fairies?  Find out what interests your child has and watch them get hooked on reading!  Read the stats on baseball cards, find your child’s favorite comic…reading comes in all shapes and sizes and doesn’t have to be a book.  It can be a newspaper, cereal box, a postcard from grandma, or a magazine.  Studies consistently tell us the more a child reads the better he will become at reading.
2. Geronimo Stilton, Ricky Ricotta, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter, Magic Tree House…children love book series.  They tend to latch onto the characters or an author.  Encourage your child to pick a series where he can fluently read 90% of the words and understand 75% of the material.  If the book is too difficult, try it as a read aloud to your child. 
3. Children are creatures of habit.  Pull out the picture books from their younger years and listen to them read .  These books are wonderful way to boost their fluency, comprehension skills and confidence. 
4. Grab a non-fiction book for your child at the library! Boys especially love non-fiction literature because it provides a direct links to their interests.  Non-fiction books provide solid support for struggling readers, such as bold headings, pictures with text, summaries, and illustrations.  
5. Be a good reading role model! Surround yourself with reading material, discuss what you are reading, take a trip to the library or book store. Read for pleasure and discuss the importance of reading to your child. 

HAPPY READING!!!

I have to admit, I USED to be one of those moms who had my kids summer camps planned the first week in February.  I waited and waited for the mailman to deliver the summer camp catalogs.   I circled and highlighted in a different color per child the program that I thought they were interested in.  I honestly think I can say we have been to every summer camp in Richmond for children under the age of eight.  Who knew a child’s interest could change from animals to soccer in two weeks?  Every year we have our favorites…this year will be no different.  However, this year I am letting the kids pick their camps mostly.  Here are the rules:

1.  It has to be in Richmond.

2.  You get to pick three camps.

3.  You must have a good reason for choosing the camp.  A good reason would be “I want to learn how to draw cartoon characters” or “I want to learn how to kick the soccer ball with more force.”  A not so good reason is “all my friends are going.”  

The boys have been reading and circle much like I have done in the past.  Tough choices!  I can’t wait to see what they choose this summer!

If you or your children are looking for summer programs with an educational flair, visit www.littlescholarsllc.com for a full list of our summer offerings. 

We will also be at Peak Experiences for the Richmond Family Summer Camp Expo on March 27^th!  Hope to see you there!