May Principal's Message

Greetings!

 

I can’t believe this is the last newsletter for the school year.  Time is going so fast and furious!  There is still some school time left and I would like to share a few ideas and activities that you can take advantage of with your children now, and in the summer.

 

Make the most of the final weeks of school.

 

Review your child's progress. Many teachers spend the last weeks of school reviewing for the core tests and recapping the year's work.  You can help your children review by asking them to show you what they've learned, or working through homework problems together.

 

Schedule a final discussion with your child’s teacher. Talk about the year as a whole and identify successes, but also challenges your child may face when he or she returns in the fall.

 

Help your children stay motivated about school so they gain the full benefit of their final days in the classroom. Have a conversation every day about school. 5

 

Ask the teacher for a reading list for the summer. Teachers often have lists for the appropriate grade level, or in some cases you might be able to get specific recommendations for two kinds of books, those your child may enjoy reading, and those you may enjoy reading to your child.

 

Tips for Summer

  

·         Plan family activities that are fun, interactive and educational.

 

·         Attend summer activities with your family.  There are many enrichment activities in our valley available for children when school is out-of-session.

 

·         Ask not only about subjects, but changes in focus. For example, 4th grade students usually begin to “read to learn” rather than “learn to read.” If your 3rd grade student is struggling with his/her reading, this summer would be a good time to focus on improving reading skills.

 

·         If you know your child will be studying history next year, visit local historical sites or borrow historical books and novels from Garland and Tremonton Libraries.

 

·         Summer vacation is a great tradition. It's important to enjoy the time off. But children can also learn while they have fun. In fact, the best learning occurs when children don't realize they're learning. You can plan summer vacation activities that are both fun and educational.  The trick is to take advantage of teaching opportunities when they are right in front of you.

 

·         Develop writing skills by writing to family members or friends.

 

·         Continue reading throughout summer. Visit the local library where they can help you select books appropriate for your child's age and interest.  Show them by example and share some fun information from your reading.