Howling Good News!
Smith School –January 2010
From the Heart - Making and Keeping Resolutions
If we stop for a moment and think, each of us can probably think of at least one person in our lives – a student, a colleague, a neighbor, a friend, or a soldier deployed away from home – whom we suspect might have been lonely over the holidays. It’s such a simple act to pick up the phone or send a card or email, or to just stretch out a hand. Kindness can be the timeliest of gifts, and words of encouragement can bring some much needed New Year’s cheer. Let someone know how much they are appreciated – time passes too quickly to not take the time now!
Can you believe that just a short time ago, we took the old calendar down and replaced it with a new one for 2010? This is the traditional time of year for setting our “New Year’s Resolutions”, those goals we set for ourselves for the coming year. Most of us have a goal we would like to reach or a dream we would like to have come true. To reach those goals and dreams, we often make resolutions or promises to ourselves.
An ancient Chinese teacher named Confucius once wrote that, “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
If you make a promise to yourself to make better grades, have perfect attendance, to be a better friend, or let people know how much you appreciate them, put your whole heart into it. In other words, try as hard as you can to keep that promise and make it happen! When you do try, you will get the best results.
Did You Know? Some children only have one answer when asked what they did in school. “Nothing.” Sound familiar? Instead, try asking them, “What good questions did you ask in school today?” You will learn about your child’s school day and teach them that asking questions is important.
Coming up in January and February
Wednesday, January 20 - Coffee Talk in the Cafeteria (8:30 a.m.)
Thursday, January 21 – Family Game Night in the Cafeteria (5:00 – 6:00 p.m.)
Friday, January 29 – Early Release (11:45 a.m. dismissal)
Monday, February, 1 – Thursday, February 4 – Benchmark Testing (BE ON TIME TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY!)
Friday, February 5 – Early Release (11:45 a.m. dismissal)
Friday, February 12 (NO SCHOOL)
Monday, February 15 (NO SCHOOL) – Presidents’ Day
Wednesday, February 17 – Coffee Talk in the Cafeteria (8:30 a.m.)
Thursday, February 18 – Family Game Night in the Cafeteria (5:00 – 6:00 p.m.)
Getting Prepared for Benchmark Testing –
Week of February 1 – 4
A good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast are very important for your child to be physically prepared for school. Both will give your child the energy they need to stay focused on their school work.
Getting enough sleep and eating a nutritious will also help your child get through the rigor of testing weeks at Smith School. Please review the test-taking tips with your child. Ask your child to tell you what these mean in their own words.
· Assignments and tests are a chance to show off what you know and can do. Be mentally prepared and do your best.
· Listen to the directions as the teacher reads them. Ask questions if you don’t understand. After the teacher reads them, read the directions carefully and silently. Think about what the directions want you to do.
· Take your time and use all the time you are given – speed on a test does not always mean it’s correct. Your goal should be speed AND accuracy. THERE ARE NO EXTRA POINTS FOR BEING THE FIRST TO FINISH!
· Use only a #2 lead pencil – no pen or mechanical pencils are allowed on tests.
Test Taking Tips - Reading the Questions
Ask yourself ~
· What is this question really asking?
· Are there any key words?
· How would I ask this question in my own words?
· How would I answer this question in my own words?
Test Taking Tips – Multiple Choice Questions
· Read the question. What is the question asking you to do? Answer it in your mind before looking at the answer choices.
Read the choices. Is there an answer similar to the one I thought of? Is this the best answer of the choices given?
· You might complete the easier questions first and then go back and work on the harder ones. Try to narrow the answers
by eliminating the ones that you know are WRONG. Then decide which one makes the most sense.
· If you still don’t know the answer, choose the most reasonable answer. Don’t change an answer unless you know for sure that by changing the answer it will be right.
Test Taking Tips – True/False Questions
· Read the question. If any part of the question is not true, the answer is FALSE.
· Look for key words that limit, such as all, never, only, no, none, and always. These words usually make the statement FALSE.
Test Taking Tips – After the test
· Check your work. When you are finished with the test, always go back and check your answers.
· Have you bubbled/marked/written the answers properly? Are the bubbles dark enough? Are there any marks on the
page that need to be erased?
Parents and Family Members ~
Thank you for reviewing these tips with your child(ren). With your help at home and the steps we are taking at school to prepare our students and build their confidence, we know they will do their best work always.
Read to your children or have them read to you every day! Check your child’s backpack for important information from school!
Help them set resolutions/goals for themselves and talk about their progress!