'Twas the week before Winter Break and all through the school, the teachers kept teaching while the students stayed cool. At Cumming ES, we pack each day full of love and learning. This week will bring many days of celebration - reading goals have been met, friendships have grown, and, as of this Friday, 90 days of learning are officially under our belts.
So, parents, how do you feel to have your children back at home for a full two weeks? Happy? Excited? Stressed? Overwhelmed? There are so many opportunities to give your child while they enjoy their break. Home is a GREAT place to foster learning. You are your children's #1 role model - they look to you for advice, motivation, and support. So, during the last few weeks of 2014, read a little more, engage in conversation with your children, and keep a positive attitude (because... these are just as contagious as the common cold).
Need ideas of what to do over the break to keep your children busy, happy, and learning?
So, parents, how do you feel to have your children back at home for a full two weeks? Happy? Excited? Stressed? Overwhelmed? There are so many opportunities to give your child while they enjoy their break. Home is a GREAT place to foster learning. You are your children's #1 role model - they look to you for advice, motivation, and support. So, during the last few weeks of 2014, read a little more, engage in conversation with your children, and keep a positive attitude (because... these are just as contagious as the common cold).
Need ideas of what to do over the break to keep your children busy, happy, and learning?
- Stop by the Parent Resource Center at CES before December 19 to check out some materials (books, Frog Games, math manipulatives). They're due back the first week of January!
- Read!! Read to your kids, read around your kids, listen to your kids read, encourage them to read to a pet, sibling, friend.. or even a stuffed animal!
- Play "I Spy" or "The Alphabet Game" in the car (find 10 Best Car Games for Kids here!)- this can increase your child's vocabulary and help them be more alert to their surroundings.
- Let them help you shop for groceries. Can they keep a running total of your purchases? Can they help you count out exact change?
- Make a meal or bake some cookies together - fractions make up a big part of our curriculum, and they're fun to practice in the kitchen.
- Tell your children stories - even if they're just made up.
- Pull out the crayons and paper and have arts and crafts time.
- Speaking of arts and crafts time, here is a cool YouTube video that Mrs. Meador shared - make some snowflakes to bring INSIDE your home:
- Spend quality time with your children - this is prime time for children to create memories. Make their days extra special so they can tell own their children about that time when....
- Encourage outside time! It will be cold, so bundle up! - but the brisk air and Vitamin D will be so good for their bodies!
- Have them practice their sight words or math facts
- Get them ready to have the best year ever in 2015!!
As your Parent Involvement Coordinator, I am always looking for ways to help you help your children! What would you like to see in 2015 in regards to parent engagement? Specific Lunchtime Learning topics? More opportunities for parents to be leaders? Professional development for teachers on how to best work with parents? More materials in the PRC? Leave a comment below and help me start planning for the new year!
My wish for you is that your winter break is full of happiness, joy, and memories with all the ones you love.
Sincerely,
Katy Gunter
Parent Involvement Coordinator
My wish for you is that your winter break is full of happiness, joy, and memories with all the ones you love.
Sincerely,
Katy Gunter
Parent Involvement Coordinator