Port Barre Elementary School

Reduce resistance by acknowledging feelings Successful students take responsibility for doing what's expected of them. Along the way, however, they often argue about it. One way to stop arguments is to acknowledge your child's feelings. If your child says, "I don't want to do my reading," you might respond with "Wouldn't it be nice if we never had to do things we don't want to?" Then, get back to reality. "But we do. I have to make dinner, and you have to finish that chapter." https://tpitip.com/?15fI17376

Your child has leadership potential Some children are born leaders. But all children have the ability to become leaders. You can help develop your child's leadership skills by pointing out leaders in the news. Talk about what makes people effective leaders, such as being able to see other people's points of view and make people want to work together. Let your child practice by leading a family meeting or carrying out a family project. https://tpitip.com/?15fH17376

Inspire your child's inner drive to strive Does your elementary schooler practice free throws for hours, but whine after five minutes of math problems? Tap into the internal motivation that drives your child on the court to motivate efforts with schoolwork. You can do it by praising your child's effort, progress and persistence. Instead of rescuing your student when problems crop up, ask, "What ways can you think of to figure out a solution?" https://tpitip.com/?15fG17376

Curiosity and science go hand in hand To encourage an interest in science, make the most of your child's natural curiosity. Take a nature walk and stop to notice and ask questions about what you see. Then, see if you can find the answers together. Or, try simple experiments. For example, you could fill the sink with water and give your child some items from around the house. Ask which your child thinks will float and which will sink. Then, test to see! https://tpitip.com/?15fF17376

Help your child use digital media wisely Some of the time children spend using digital media is worthwhile, such as time spent researching or doing schoolwork. But too much passive recreational screen time can lead to problems. Students need lots of time offline to read, think and interact with family and friends. Set limits, and talk with your child about which screen activities are appropriate and which aren't. Review ways to stay safe online, then supervise and participate when your child uses screens. https://tpitip.com/?15fE17376

Make telling the truth easier than lying All children lie from time to time. But honesty is part of good character, and it is important in school. If your child has told you a lie, talk together about the consequences of dishonesty. "When you tell me you've done your schoolwork and I find out you haven't, it makes me wonder whether I can trust you." Also make sure you aren't providing chances to lie: If you know your child spilled the milk, ask, "How did it spill?" not, "Did you spill the milk?" https://tpitip.com/?15fD17376

Ask your child to write about art projects Does your child enjoy making art? Use it to encourage writing, too. After your child draws a picture, for example, ask what is happening in it. Have your child write down a response. Depending on age, your child could write a sentence or a whole story, complete with more illustrations. Read the response aloud with enthusiasm and pride! https://tpitip.com/?15fC17376

📣 Port Barre Elementary is looking to add to our amazing Lil Red Hot staff! We currently have openings for: 🍎 Kindergarten Teacher ✏️ ESS (Exceptional Student Services) Teacher If you have a passion for education and want to make a difference in the lives of students, we would love to hear from you! Come be a part of something special at Port Barre Elementary! 🔥

Use a five-step process to help your child accomplish goals Setting goals and reaching them makes kids feel successful. When setting a goal, have your child follow these steps: 1. State the goal. It should be specific. 2. Plan steps to meet the goal. 3. Talk about the goal with others. 4. Carry out each step in the plan. 5. Celebrate when the goal is reached! To keep your child focused and motivated during the process, praise effort and progress each step of the way. https://tpitip.com/?15fB17376

Add reading to your child's summer in a variety of ways The best way to help your child improve reading skills is to encourage lots of reading! Have your child read to you, to friends and to younger children. Sign your student up for a library summer reading program. You can also challenge your child to find letter sounds or words on boxes, cans of food and household supplies in your home ("Find three words that start with "ch"). https://tpitip.com/?15fA17376

Week 1 of Summer Learning: A Fantastic Start! 🌞📚 Time flies when learning is fun! Week 1 of our Summer Learning program was a huge success. Students have been sharpening their reading and math skills through engaging activities, including problem-solving challenges and sound-based letter sorting. They have also unleashed their creativity by designing race cars and constructing LEGO robotic models. To celebrate their hard work and commitment, students were rewarded for reaching personal goals. We also proudly recognized our Star Students for their outstanding attendance and achievements throughout the week. We are off to an exciting start — bring on Week 2!

Offer your child a fun summer in a jar To keep your child active and engaged this summer, create an "I'm bored" jar. Have your child make a list of fun activities. They should be things your child can do alone without your help. Ideas include painting a picture, writing a poem or going for a bike ride. Write each activity on a slip of paper and put it in a jar. When summer boredom strikes, have your child pull out a slip and do the activity. Not knowing which activity will come out may add a little zip to the day! https://tpitip.com/?15ee17376

📚 Now Enrolling for the 2025-2026 School Year! 🎒 We're excited to announce that registration is now open for new students and incoming Kindergarteners for the 2025-2026 school year! 📍 Stop by the school office to pick up a registration packet. 📅 Don’t wait - get your registration packet now!

Offer support when frustration strikes Statements like, "I hate school!" or "I'm dumb!" are often signs that a child is frustrated with schoolwork. To help your child in this situation, share a story of how you struggled with something when you were young. Explain how you worked through it. Ask guiding questions to help your child come up with strategies to try. Then, encourage your student to try again. If frustration persists, let the teacher know. https://tpitip.com/?15ed17376

Make this a summer of learning for your child Experts say that kids who don't use their school skills over the summer risk losing some of them. To help prevent this loss, have your child "do the math" when you shop or follow a recipe together. Set a regular daily reading time and visit the library often for new things to read. You can also plan activities around topics your child will cover next year. If it's state history, for example, perhaps your family could tour a local historic site. https://tpitip.com/?15ec17376

PBE is happy to welcome students to Summer Learning & 21st Century summer programs. Students were excited to see familiar faces and make new friends too. 🙂📚🛝❤️

When teaching respectful behavior, these rules apply Does your child think that rules are for somebody else? To encourage the respectful behavior that supports learning, let your child see that you follow rules, too. Then, look for other teachable moments: Talk about how characters behave in the books your child is reading or the shows you watch together. To help your child remember what's important, put more emphasis on good sportsmanship and improvement than on winning. https://tpitip.com/?15eb17376

Use the news for daily reading practice Reading the news daily, in print or online, is a great way for kids to build reading skills. To encourage a news-reading habit, explore the sections of a newspaper together to find articles that interest your child. Have your student read an article to you each evening as you prepare dinner. Or, play a game: Have your child turn a headline into a question, then read the article to see if the question is answered. https://tpitip.com/?15ea17376

For effective discipline, be curious, not furious Is it hard for your elementary schooler to sit still and stay focused? Is your child impulsive and difficult to direct? When your student acts out, instead of getting angry, try to find out why. Then you can respond thoughtfully and address the causes. Before you give your child instructions, turn off distractions like TV and computer games. Then, break tasks down into steps and have your child repeat them back to you. https://tpitip.com/?15eZ17376

Offer encouragement that motivates Is your child working to master a new skill, but still not getting it? You can motivate your student to stick with it by saying things like, "You haven't quite mastered this yet, but you can do it." These words make it clear your child can get the answer with a bit more work. Studies show that students will keep trying if they believe they can figure out the answer…even if they aren't there yet. https://tpitip.com/?15eY17376