Elementary School TipsReading
- Set aside a time every day for reading a book together and talking about it afterwards.
- Encourage your child to read what she/he writes out loud
- Ask your child to help you read a recipe before cooking, read a map while you drive, or read instructions for putting something together
- Make up questions with numbers that come up in daily life (e.g., how much will 2 boxes of cereal cost? How much change should I get? Help me double a recipe)
- Encourage your child to draw pictures and diagrams to help solve word problems
- Make sure your child learns addition and subtraction facts by the end of grade 2 and multiplication and division facts by the end of grade 4
- Use a telescope, microscope, or magnifying glass with your child and ask her/him to tell you what she/he sees
- Point out changes in the natural world (e.g., a kitten growing, a rainbow appearing) and encourage your child to find out why they happen
- Talk to your child about how your state's location affects the weather (e.g., Southern Florida has tropical weather)
- Be an example of good citizenship by volunteering in community service activities, voting, and talking about issues affecting your local community and state
- Talk to your child about famous historical figures in the U.S. and around the world
- Visit historical places in your area
- Always monitor and limit what your child watches on TV or the Internet
- Discuss social values and appropriate behavior with other people
- Make sure your child knows about safety, gets enough sleep, and has a healthy diet