Are you tired of asking your child questions about school and getting little response?

Then try this strategy.

Instead of asking your child lots of questions when he gets home from school, tell him five things about your day first. For example:

1. I’ve had such a busy day.
2. I went to the library this morning to get some books.
3. Then I met Grandma for lunch.
4. We went to buy Rachel a present.
5. It was good to get home.

After you’ve finished, say “Tell me a little bit about your day.” Avoid asking questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. Instead, say things like, “What was the best part of your day?” or “Tell me about what you learned today.”

You can also use this strategy to start discussions about schoolwork. If your child brings home a picture from school, look at it and make five observations about what you see. Comment on the colors. Say what you like about it. Tell what it reminds you of, etc. Then ask your child, “What does it mean to you?”

Reprinted with permission from the January 2017 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2017 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.

Reading opens the doors to a world of information and enjoyment. That’s why it’s essential to help your child understand the value of reading and how it connects to so many things in his life and in the word.

Reading is essential for:

• Obtaining information. People learn about rules, directions, facts and more. Have your child read a recipe to you as you cook. Read a manual aloud that explains how to put something together. Challenge your child to read to find answers to questions, such as “How can I get this grass stain out of your shirt?”
• Communication. Talk with your child about the ways reading helps you communicate with others—through mail, email, texts and notes. Then suggest that your child exchange letters with a long-distance friend. Or perhaps he could write an email to a local politician about an issue that’s important to him.
• Pleasure. Help your child plan a relaxing end-of-the-day reading routine. And be sure to help him find books that will give him a good laugh or take him on an exciting adventure.

Reprinted with permission from the January 2017 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2017 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.

It usually starts with a simple question: “How do you spell Illinois?” And before you realize it, you’ve spent the next 20 minutes answering all your child’s homework questions.

Your child will often be asked to find and learn facts for homework. It’s important for you to encourage him to do this on his own. Here’s how:

First, tell your child that he has to try to answer all homework questions by himself. He should start with the questions he knows the answers to, skipping over any that give him problems. Then have him go back and think about the questions he couldn’t answer the first time around.

Then, and only then, should your child ask you for help. And when he does, keep your goal in mind: You don’t just want your child to get the right answer. You want him to learn how to get the right answer—by himself.

Suppose your child asks you to spell Illinois. Instead of rattling off the spelling, you might ask, “Where could you find that?” Then get out the dictionary or a map and have your child find Illinois. This way, your child learns about the silent s at the end of the word, and he also learns how to use a dictionary and a map.

Showing your child how to find information by himself is the most effective way to help him learn facts now and be prepared to learn more in the future.

Reprinted with permission from the January 2017 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2017 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.

January is a time for taking stock and setting goals. Most people make some type of New Year’s resolutions. Then two weeks later, many realize that they haven’t followed through. Kids are no different.

Why not make this the year that your child learns how to achieve the goals she sets for herself? When your child sets a goal, encourage her to choose one she can reach in a short time frame.

Then, help her follow these four steps for achieving the goal:

1. State the goal. “My goal is to learn my multiplication facts.” She should write it down and post it where she will see it.
2. Plan how to meet the goal. “I will make flash cards and study them for 15 minutes every night. I will ask Dad to quiz me on Fridays.”
3. Talk about the goal with others. This builds commitment to the goal. Your child should tell her teacher what she plans to do.
4. Do each step in the plan, one at a time. If problems come up, talk about possible solutions. Perhaps she is too tired after doing her homework each night to review her flash cards. Maybe she could study them in the mornings while she eats breakfast instead.

Don’t forget to praise your child for her effort each step of the way. “I am proud of you for studying your multiplication facts this morning.” And when she achieves her goal, celebrate the way her hard work paid off!

Reprinted with permission from the January 2017 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2017 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.

Look at a picture of a butterfly. Fold it in half. The two sides match up. That means the butterfly, like many other things in nature, is symmetrical.

Showing your child how to look for lines of symmetry is a great way to help him recognize patterns. It is also a fun family activity that can give your child a new way of looking at nature.

Here’s how to get started:

• Look for natural objects that are symmetrical. Flowers, leaves, shells and butterflies may all have these lines.
• Have your child predict where the line of symmetry will be. Then, if possible, fold along that line to see if the two sides match up exactly.
• Look for lines of symmetry in other places. You can have your child look through the pages of a magazine or book. Remember that lines of symmetry can be vertical (as in the letter A) or horizontal (as in the letter B). They can even be diagonal. Sometimes, a figure may have more than one line of symmetry.

Reprinted with permission from the January 2017 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2017 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.

Some children seem to be born leaders. They have the self-confidence, helpfulness and friendliness that make other people want to work with them.

But all children, whether they are born leaders or not, have the ability to become leaders. Here are some ways you can help your child develop leadership skills:

• Look at leaders in the news. Whether you’re watching a story about a winning football team or a community effort to build a park, help your child see that someone was the leader of that group. Talk about what makes people good leaders.
• Be a leader yourself. Elementary school children want to be like their parents. When you take a leadership role—whether it’s at school, in business or in your community—tell your child about what you’re doing and why. “I volunteered to help your school raise money because I want all of the classes to have more computers.”
• Teach your child to see things from other people’s points of view. Good leaders aren’t bossy. They make people want to work together.
• Find leadership opportunities. Children can learn leadership skills in houses of worship, clubs, Scouts, athletic teams and many other organizations. Family meetings are another good way to develop “home-grown” leadership. Let children take turns chairing the meetings and managing family projects.
• Don’t push. Pressuring a child beyond her abilities will destroy self-esteem, not build it. If your child seems stressed or unhappy, it’s time to lighten up.

Reprinted with permission from the January 2017 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2017 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: L. Balter, Child Psychology: A Handbook of Contemporary Issues, Psychology Press.

Some parents want to wrap their kids in a protective bubble so they never have to experience failure. Others know that overcoming disappointments can teach valuable lessons.

Are you helping your child learn from failure? Answer yes or no to the questions below:

___1. Do you give your child a chance to solve problems on her own rather than jumping in to help right away?

___2. Do you encourage your child to think about what she could do differently the next time?

___3. Are you a good role model? When you fail at something, do you talk about it and about how to fix it?

___4. Do you help your child keep disappointments in perspective? “You didn’t ace your test, but you earned a higher grade than last time!”

___5. Do you show your child how to be a gracious winner and a good loser?

How well are you doing?

If most of your answers are yes, you are helping your child learn to bounce back from disappointment. For each no, try that idea in the quiz.

Reprinted with permission from the January 2017 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2017 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.

The Holland 5th graders had another successful Bazaar on Friday, December 9th. The Bazaar teaches students about the business world and reinforces math skills learned. The students are asked to make homemade items and sell them for $0.25 to $2.00.

This year, the 5th grade teachers reported something that has never happened before. An anonymous person donated $10 to each of the 48 5th grade students. The donor wanted to invest in the students' businesses.

The 5th grade would like to say thank you to their Secret Santa! The donation to each of the Bazaar students was so generous and unexpected! You truly surprised and touched each student's heart in an unbelievable way this Christmas season. We can't thank you enough for your support and generosity! Just to show you a little of our gratitude, this is what some students had to say:

• We felt so appreciated, excited, and surprised!
• This will allow me to buy better Christmas gifts for others!
• Now I will be able to add to my savings!
• This feels like the true spirit of Christmas!
• We won the lottery!
• Of course we are thankful!
• And last, but not least...Outstanding, because we worked for our 1st paycheck AND got a bonus!!
  

Q: My son gets average grades, but I know he could do better. Some parents pay their children for good grades. Is this something I should consider?

A: Parents want their children to do their best in school—and they are constantly looking for effective ways to motivate their kids to achieve. But most experts agree that paying kids for getting good grades is a bad idea. Here are three reasons why. Paying for grades:

1. Doesn’t allow your child to enjoy the satisfaction of learning. Kids don’t need bribes to want to learn. Children naturally love to learn. As they master new skills or memorize new facts, they gain self-steem and self-confidence. However, when you pay your child for grades, you actually run the risk of decreasing your child’s self-confidence.
2. Doesn’t recognize effort. Your child should focus on doing his best. If he’s tried his hardest, neither he nor you should worry too much about whether he earns an A or a B. What matters is that he’s learning.
3. Decreases motivation. Kids who get paid for doing some things expect to get paid for doing everything. Pretty soon, your child will have his hand out every time you want him to do something, from mowing the grass to taking out the trash to feeding the dog.

So what can you do to get your child’s grades up? Help him focus on what he is learning. Help him keep track of his new skills. And praise him for working hard and doing his best!

Reprinted with permission from the January 2017 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2017 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.

A NOTE FROM THE NURSE:

Parents,

Flu season is upon us! If you or your children have not been vaccinated, it is not too late. At this time, our Holland Health clinic does not have vaccines available. Please call your family physician or check with neighboring pharmacies and clinics. To help prevent the spread of flu, please encourage everyone to frequently wash their hands, cover coughs with the crook of elbows, refrain from sharing food or drinks, & keep students at home if they are running fever. Your student may return to school when he or she is free of fever for 24 hours without the aid of a fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

Holland ISD Health Center

Phone: 254-657-2839

Fax: 254-657-2636

JANUARY 2017

Doctor Schedule

*Monday, January 9 *Monday, January 16

*Monday, January 23 *Monday, January 30

8:00 AM-12:00 Noon

Doctor Visit $10.00

Quick Strep Screen $10.00

Sports Physicals $20.00

(Self-pay only. No insurance or Medicaid will be billed.

Payment due at time of service.)