Week Two "Ten Minute Truth"

Along with posting the weekly reading list on the blog every Monday, we will also be publishing short ten minute activities that you as parents can do with or without your child to further their educational experience.

Kindergarten Parents:
This week we would like you to focus on your child's developmental skills. Sometimes as parents we're not quite sure if our children are growing and learning at the correct speed. By the time your son or daughter enters kindergarten, The Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting (CEEP) suggests they should have these Kindergarten Entry Skills. The truth here is that the development of these entry factors will not only allow for a better transition into schooling for your child but also prepare them for the years to come.

To aid in the construction of your young child's developmental skills review the Beginning Sound Menu Games on pgs. 235-241. For even more practice with these skills, head on over to KidZone where you can print out worksheets on learning letter sounds. These entertaining sheets provide letter recognition, phonics and printing practice!

Parents with children in 1st-8th grades:
As you know, 3rd-8th graders are required to take End of Grade (EOG) Tests at the conclusion of each school year. The tests are designed to measure student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

The truth here is that it is extremely important f0r your children to start preparing for these tests early. They not only determine if your child is eligible to move on to the next grade, but their scores also help teachers to decide what classes would best suit them (which eventually determine the path of their educational career). Below are suggestions we put together to aid in the preparation for these sorts of tests!

Test Taking Tips-How to Prepare Your Child for Standardized Testing
1. Preparing all year round-Provide enriching experiences
2. Read aloud with your child (this helps foster a positive attitude toward reading)
3. Share experiences-Do activities with your child that build necessary test-taking skills (ex: create a map of your neighborhood)
4. Become informed about your state’s testing procedures
5. Help your child know what to expect (discuss tips with your child from their summer workbook)
6. Help your child with his or her regular school assignments
7. Keep in regular contact with your child’s teacher (attend teacher-parent conferences and PTO meetings)
8. Learn to use the computer as an educational resource

Pssst! On the North Carolina Public Schools website, you can find practice tests for each grade.