1. How do I help my child with homework?
Each night sit down with your child for about 10 minutes and listen to him/her read the assignment. Spend another 10 minutes drilling on vocabulary words using the flashcards that are sent home. Spend another 10 minutes going over spelling words.
2. My child brings home 5 spelling words to study, but has 10-20 words on the spelling test. How do I help my child prepare for the test?
Two of the spelling words are sight words which must be memorized. Constant drill on these words is necessary. Three of the words are pattern words. That means that they have a pattern that can be applied to other words. For example: the word cat can be used to spell hat, mat, sat, that, flat, bat, etc. because of the -at pattern. When studying these words, the child should not only be able to spell the word cat, but also all the other words that can be made from the -at pattern. Each night have the child spell the spelling words and several of the words that use the spelling pattern in the spelling word.
3. My child does not want to do the homework. what do I do?
Usually a note to me will help solve the problem. If your child will not do the homework at home, then he/she will do it during recess. This is one of the reasons communication between parents and teachers is so important.
4. My child's birthday is coming up. Can I have a party for him/her at school?
Birthday parties must be arranged with the district cafeteria supervisor, Cyndee Holland. I need a weeks notice if you plan to have a party for your child. Presents may not be given at birthday parties. Children with birthdays in June and July may have their parties in May.
5. What kind of parties does my child's class have?
Besides birthday parties, we have a Fall Party, Christmas Party, Valentine's Day Party, and Easter Party. Notes will be sent home prior to the party outlining the details. We do have a special kind of gift exchange at Christmas. It will be detailed to you later.
6. How can I help with the parties?
Parents will be asked to provide refreshments for the parties. It is also helpful if a few parents can attend to help serve the children. Parents who come must be approved volunteers and should expect to help while there.
7. What do you mean be approved volunteers? How do I get approved?
Each adult (mom, dad, aunt, uncle, grandparent, etc.) must fill out a criminal history form and submit it to the office. This is for the protection of the children. Only adults who have no criminal history may work with the children. It takes several weeks to get the form processed so you need to get it in as soon as possible.
8. What type of field trips does my child's class take and can I go along as a chaperone?
We take several trips during the year. Some of them you will be able to attend and some you won't. It depends on the guidelines of the places we go. In the past we have gone to the HEB Children's Museum and parents are welcome. We have also attended plays at the Majestic theater and parents have not been allowed.
9. Any other trips?
We go to the high school football field in the spring for our annual field day and we go to the City Park on the last day of school. Parents are welcomed at both events. We may also take some walking field trips to the public library, post office, etc. Parents may accompany us on these, too.
