Port Barre Elementary School

Use positive phrases to motivate The language you use affects your child's motivation to try, experiment, learn and succeed. Make a list of the negative phrases your family uses. Try to think of positive replacements. Instead of "That won't work," consider saying, "Let's try it." Replace "You can't do that by yourself" with "I can help you." If a family member slips and uses a negative phrase, offer a positive alternative. https://tpitip.com/?14hF17376

Encourage activities that let your child practice paying attention As children go through elementary school, their brains continue to develop. That means that with practice, your child's attention span can grow. One way you can help is by reading aloud together every day. It also helps to have your child play games or work on projects that require sitting still and listening carefully. You can also have your child describe an event, such as a trip to the park, in as much detail as possible. https://tpitip.com/?14hE17376

Play a game to improve math memory Here's a fun math game to try with your child. Write a different math problem (such as 4 x 2) on each of five or more cards. Write the answers on other cards. Shuffle and place the cards face down in rows. Take turns turning over two at a time. If they match (problem and correct answer), keep the cards. If they don't, return them face down. The player with the most matching pairs wins. https://tpitip.com/?14hD17376

Help your child plan ahead with a calendar To help your child learn to use time wisely, get or make a large calendar with plenty of room to write on each day. Have your child make note of upcoming activities, such as the start of school and a visit to the dentist. When school begins, have your elementary schooler add test days and due dates, especially for long-term projects. Encourage your child to check the calendar each day. This helps students see how much time is available to get things done. https://tpitip.com/?14hC17376

PBES: Tommorrow is the last day to place your order for spirit shirts. Place your order using the link. https://stores.inksoft.com/port_barre_elementary_24-25/shop/home

Active listening helps your child make better choices When your child has to make a big decision, it may be tempting to just take over and make it. But there are a few things you should do first: Listen as your child describes the dilemma. Rephrase what you hear to confirm your understanding. Next, ask thought-provoking questions: "If you don't go to practice, how would your teammates feel?" Then, be patient. Your child may come to the right conclusion independently and will gain useful problem-solving skills. https://tpitip.com/?14hB17376

If you would like to pay fees online, you may do so at https://osp.osmsinc.com/SLPSB/. Please include the child's name and grade in the comment section. Registration fee is $25.00. This includes the technology fee. Jean Day for every Friday during the school year is $20.00 now through 9/30. After that date, it is $1.00 every Friday.

Messages will be sent out today stating who your child's homeroom teacher is. Staggered entry begins Thursday, Aug 8 - Last name beginning with A-I, Friday, Aug. 9 - Last name beginning with J-Z. Students will only need their book sack. We will ask for supplies at a later date. Parents with PreK or Kindergarten students may get down with their child for the first day..

Make new beginnings a family tradition Children love traditions. In fact, some experts believe that traditions are one thing that holds a family together. One fun tradition you might begin at your house is to celebrate new beginnings on the first day of each new month. Get your child involved in planning a special dinner that you serve only on this day. (Make it fun: Wear party hats and serve cake!) https://tpitip.com/?14hA17376

Please be reminded of our student clear bag guidelines for the 2024-2025 school year. Have a great school year! Be inspired. Be determined. Be unstoppable!

Include writing in your regular summer routine It takes practice to write well. Consider establishing a writing "ritual" for your family. Pick a special time period, such as the duration of summer vacation. Get everyone a notebook (a thin one won't overwhelm your child). Choose a regular time of day you'll all write, and stick with it. To get started, let your child pick a family photo or other picture to write a story about. https://tpitip.com/?14ge17376

Show your child that the dictionary is interesting reading One way to support vocabulary growth is by encouraging your child to browse in the dictionary. Get a children's dictionary with lots of pictures. Leaf through it together and look for new and interesting words. Read the definitions. Talk about the pictures. Ask what your child thinks a new word might mean. Does your student know any similar words? https://tpitip.com/?14gd17376

At this time, Meet and Greet has not been scheduled due to the construction and drainage projects that are ongoing on campus. If one is scheduled, it will be a last minute decision based on completion of projects. More information will be forthcoming toward the latter part of this week.

The Spirit Store has reopened until Sunday, August 4th at midnight. These orders WILL NOT be included with the first round of orders that will be delivered prior to school. Please click the link to order. https://stores.inksoft.com/port_barre_elementary_24-25

Point out the useful ways you read Children learn by watching the adults around them. And when you talk about what you are doing, you make it easier for your child to learn from you. If you are cooking, for example, you might say, "I'm looking for a cake recipe. I don't have time to read all the recipes in this cookbook, so I'm going to turn to the index in the back. Here under the letter C is a recipe for chocolate cake." Now your child understands more about how an index works. https://tpitip.com/?14gc17376

Balance negativity by pointing out the positive Is your child a "glass half-empty" kind of kid? Some people are more pessimistic than others by nature. But that doesn't mean you can't help your child recognize the sunnier side of life. Remind your elementary schooler of past good times and successes. And if you hear "I'll never understand this!" sit down and offer support as your child figures it out. Show that your child can solve "impossible" problems by continuing to try. https://tpitip.com/?14gb17376

Commercials are prime time for conversation Don't let screen media shut down family conversations. Instead, use it to start them. "Half-hour" TV shows are typically 22 minutes of program and eight minutes of commercials. Use those eight minutes to ask your child to think critically about the program. Does your child think the characters and settings are realistic, or not? Does the plot make sense? What other choices could the characters have made? https://tpitip.com/?14ga17376

Promote a healthy body image Some self-criticism is normal, but kids who obsess about their weight or their looks may be on the road to trouble that can affect their health and their schoolwork. To set a healthy example, avoid criticizing your body or anyone else's. Teach your child to make nutritious food choices, but don't allow dieting without a doctor's approval. Then, promote wellness by making fitness into fun for the whole family. Hike, ride bikes or play sports together. https://tpitip.com/?14gZ17376

Go hunting for treasures at a museum Are you planning a family museum visit? To keep your child interested and sharpen observation skills, describe a detail of an artifact or painting and ask your child to find it. Or, ask your elementary schooler to find a work of art with favorite colors, shapes or objects in it. You might also ask your child to find things that are very old, new, strong, shiny or rough. Your child will enjoy the search and take a closer look at the collection. https://tpitip.com/?14gY17376

Steer your child clear of problem-solving pitfalls Learning how to solve problems is as important in life as it is in the classroom. But learning how NOT to solve them is also critical. Teach your child not to deny or ignore problems (they often get worse!). Getting mad won't help either, and the sooner your child gets over being angry about a problem, the more time there is to solve it. Tell your child not to worry too much about making a mistake, either. Success is often built on them. https://tpitip.com/?14gX17376