Pack Your Bag For SuccessPack Your Bag For Success

Helping Elementary Students Succeed at SchoolPresented by:

Betty White, MEd., LPCTSCA Past-President

746 CR 221Stephenville, TX 76401

kidtools@academicplanet.com

School SuccessSchool SuccessWhat do kids need?What do kids need?

Parental SupportParental Support(GETTING BEHIND THEM)(GETTING BEHIND THEM)

Good Social SkillsGood Social Skills(GETTING ALONG)(GETTING ALONG)

Good CharacterGood Character(GETTING BETTER)(GETTING BETTER)

Good Study SkillsGood Study Skills(GETTING AHEAD)(GETTING AHEAD)

Goals for the futureGoals for the future(GETTING OUT!)(GETTING OUT!)

Parental SupportParental Support

Positive School-Wide ActivitiesPositive School-Wide ActivitiesAt the beginning of the year, sponsor an evening “Meet the Staff” event-which is informal, like a watermelon feed or a picnic. Keep everyone outside. Consider having parent-child games, door prizes, etc.Activities in the early morning allow working parents to attend on the way to work. Consider AM events such as “Muffins for Moms” or “Donuts for Dads”Family game nights are a way to help families to view school as a gathering place for the community. Have an evening where parents and children bring a game to school to play-provide refreshments and child care for younger sibs.

Positive School-Wide ActivitiesPositive School-Wide ActivitiesAt the beginning of the year, send out a card to parents that lists things they could do for the school. Things such as designing class web pages, landscaping, building, painting murals, and so on are all ways parents can take ownership in the school. Utilize parents around the school in any creative way you can think of, from “locker helpers” to “reader/rockers” for young kids. An active parent volunteer program that allows parents to do something more than run off papers is essential.Consider making a home visit to each and every entering student. Kindergarteners can be visited throughout the summer before they enroll. New students can be visited during the period immediately they enroll. Take along a “Welcome to Our School” packet with a treat for the child and information for the parent. Keep the meeting short and informal, but ask the parent if there are any special concerns (BEFORE there are any!)

Positive School-Wide ActivitiesPositive School-Wide ActivitiesMaintain an “Open Door Policy” for parents within your campus security guidelines.Consider asking parents to teach enrichment activities such as Kite Flying, Rocketry, Scrap-booking, Painting, and so on. These can be offered after school, during specials time, or on Saturdays.Sponsor a “Career Day” for your students, and wither use parent volunteers or ask parents to coordinate the event and line up speakers. For older students, a Job Application and Interview process is useful and fun.“Adopt-a-School” partnerships are useful, but consider an “Adopt-a-Class” or “Adopt-a-Program” as well

Positive School-Wide ActivitiesPositive School-Wide ActivitiesThere are lots of creative parents who are just waiting for you to ask them to utilize their special talents in a variety of ways. A parent “hobby” inventory is a good way to surface these talents.Have a Family History program in which students and parents are encouraged to bring family pictures that can be scanned into the computer and utilized in a multi-media programParent-Child Talent Shows can be fun and a way either to raise money for a program of simply have a few laughs

Positive School-Wide ActivitiesPositive School-Wide ActivitiesParents are intimidated by such things as TAAS tests, Math assignments, and Science. Sponsor a “Math” night which you “guarantee” will remove all stress from helping your child with math homework. Another good bet is a night explaining the TAAS test and giving parents ways to help their children prepare for the test. Especially target SSI years.Have an awards night for children in Special Programs. These children are seldom recognized for more traditional awards, and a special night devoted to them can win lots of support.A Parent University is a good way to get parents to come to parenting classes, since it is limited to one day. Send out a needs assessment, them plan a day of break-out sessions related to these topics. Pre-register parents, and provide child-care and lunch or snacks.

Social SkillsSocial Skills

Social SkillsSocial SkillsSocial Skills are “caught” by many students, but for difficult students, they must be “taught”Teaching Social Skills is the job of everyone in the school-not just the counselorSocial Skills should be broken down into steps, rehearsed, and rewarded. Many opportunities to practice in a variety of settings are needed. First 2 weeks of school should be devoted to teaching the social skills needed to follow the rules and expectations in all areas-classroom, lunchroom, halls, restrooms, playground, gym, etc. System should be in place to reward appropriate use of skills-”caught you being good!”

Social SkillsSocial SkillsClassroom Guidance lessons can be used to teach skills-but are effective only if others reinforce between visiteIntroduce using “Skill Steps” lesson“TEAM Work” lesson is also good for general social skills“Don’t Leave Me Out” & “Stacking Up Skills”Have kids model “Good” and “Bad” social skills through skits, videos, etc.

Character EducationCharacter Education

Character EducationCharacter EducationMandated by state-many good programsLike Social Skills, Character must be an integral part of all school activities and expectations10 minute lessons can introduce concepts, leave teacher with reinforcers and extensions to continue after you leave. These lessons also give teachers good ideas for lessons of their own

Character Education Lessons Character Education Lessons

R-e-s-p-e-c-tYou Can Count On MeKindness KommandosDon’t Leave Me OutSignaling FriendshipStand By MeWho Do You Trust?To Tell The Truth

Study SkillsStudy Skills

Study SkillsStudy SkillsLike Character and Social Skills, Study Skills are “caught” by some students but must be “taught” to mostHelping students understand their learning styles can help them study more effectivelyUse Learning Style Inventory or Observation (depending upon student age) and suggestions for effective methods of learningTeach mnemonics, a “peg” system, and mapping to all students, campus wide, to help in organization and learning

Peg SystemPeg System

A peg system is useful when children have to remember lists of thingsStudents from 2nd grade up can remember a peg systemA peg system uses a picture matched to a number that remains the sameStudents link to a peg system by imagining the things to be remembered associated with the peg images

Peg System “Pegs”Peg System “Pegs”1. Sun2. Shoe3. Tree4. Door5. Hive6. Sticks7. 7-Up (Heaven)8. Gate9. Line10.Hen

Using the PegsUsing the PegsSuppose the list to be remembered is:Suppose the list to be remembered is:1. Orange Juice2. Milk3. Apples4. Bread5. Peanut Butter6. Honey7. Cereal8. Dog Food9. Tuna10.Waffles

Using the PegsUsing the Pegs1. Picture a sun pouring out orange juice

2. Picture a shoe filled with milk

3. Picture a tree covered in apples

4. A door opening and a giant loaf of bread coming through

5. A beehive spread with peanut butter

6. Sticks sticking into a honeycomb with honey dripping out

7. A bowl of cereal with 7-Up poured over it

8. Dog food pouring through a gate

9. Cans of tuna in a line

10. A hen with wings made of waffles

MnemonicsMnemonicsMnemonics are memory aids to remember information-help students learn these and develop their own:F-A-C-E Every good boy does fine.My very excellent mother just served us nine pizzas.H-O-M-E-SROY G BIVOthers???

Organizational FrameOrganizational Frame

Consider teaching a “frame” or scaffolding technique school wide to help students organize informationThis format can be an outline, a mind map or a webThe advantage of teaching a school wide system is much like teaching a peg system-students can use the system throughout their school career and transfer from one situation to another

Study Skills ActivitiesStudy Skills Activities

What Kind of a Student are You?Getting it TogetherThe Tail on Your KiteTesting Your StrengthLearning Styles Student InventoryLearning Styles Teacher Observation

Goal SettingGoal Setting

Goal SettingGoal SettingResearch shows that students who have goals are less likely to make poor grades, drop out of school, become pregnant, get involved with drugs, or get involved with illegal activitiesSome students naturally set goals or are taught by their parents, but most need help learning to set goalsGoals setting should begin with short term goals and progress to longer term goalsAll teachers should participate in goal setting for themselves and for students

Goal SettingGoal Setting

Use “Goal Goop” to introduce goal Use “Goal Goop” to introduce goal setting-this is a good “hook” to spark setting-this is a good “hook” to spark student intereststudent interest

Follow up with the “Do You Know Follow up with the “Do You Know Your ABC’s” to develop decision Your ABC’s” to develop decision making skillsmaking skills

Finish with “Climbing to Success”-Finish with “Climbing to Success”-have a plan for teacher follow uphave a plan for teacher follow up