Welcome To Mrs. Shaffer's Web Page


Here
is a an article I found on a website that I feel is very good advice on
how to help your child become a better student: Top Ten Ways to Help Your Kids Get A's
Peggy Gisler, Ed.S. and Marge Eberts, Ed.S.
Parental Involvement Is the Answer
Study
after study has shown that parental involvement is the number-one
determinant of how well all children -- regardless of their background
-- do in school. Here are ten ways you can help your kids succeed in
the classroom -- and beyond.
1. Create an environment in your home that encourages learning.
This
will be a major influence on how well your children do in school.
Provide them with many different opportunities to become excited about
learning. Make sure that appropriate materials from puzzles to paints
to computers are available to stimulate their curiosity.
2. Provide your children with a well-balanced life.
A
stable home, filled with love, serves as a solid foundation for getting
straight A's. Establish routines so your children get enough sleep, eat
regular nourishing meals, and receive sufficient exercise. Limit
excessive TV-viewing and the playing of video and computer games.
3. Read to your children every day.
Most
of the learning your children do in school involves reading. Read to
your kids to teach them about reading, expand and enrich their
vocabularies, and broaden their experiences. Reading aloud exposes them
to materials that would be difficult for them to read on their own.
4. Encourage them to read extensively.
As
your children progress through school, as much as 75 percent of what
they learn will come from the printed page. The more children read, the
better their reading skills become. Make sure there is a wide variety
of interesting reading materials in your home to encourage the reading
habit.
5. Show your children how to be organized.
Children
who are organized find it much easier to succeed in school. One of the
best ways to teach organizational skills is through example. Show your
children how to use such organizational tools as assignment pads,
calendars, notebooks, binders, and backpacks.
6. Teach them effective study skills.
Good
study skills are absolutely essential to get A's. Make sure your
children know how to read their textbooks, prepare for tests, memorize
facts, and use their time efficiently. Encourage them to have a regular
time for studying, and provide a study place that is free of
distractions.
7. Urge your children to listen and participate in class.
Listening
in class is the easy way for children to learn. Advise your older
children to take notes, which will help them concentrate on what is
being said. Encourage your children to participate in class -- it will
greatly increase their interest in what they're learning.
8. Help your children learn how to tackle homework.
Doing
homework reinforces what your children learn in school. Show them how
to do it so that homework quickly becomes their responsibility. Help
them learn what assignments to do first and how to plan their time.
Encourage them not to rush through their homework but to consider every
assignment a learning experience.
9. Talk to your children about school.
Your
children spend hours in school every day. A lot can happen during that
time. Show that you are genuinely interested in their day by asking
questions about what they did and talking with them about the papers
they bring home. When problems occur, work with your kids to find
solutions.
10. Develop a good relationship with your children's teachers.
Good
communication between home and school helps children do well in school
and makes it easier to address problems. Be sure to attend
parent-teacher conferences, visit your kids' classrooms, and volunteer
to help their teachers. And don't forget to express your appreciation
to teachers for all that they do for your children.
http://familyeducation.com
Additional Information 
There are a couple of additional events that I wanted to make you aware of while you're visiting this page!!!
- Monday, September 4, 2006 - NO SCHOOL - LABOR DAY!
- Thursday, September 7, 2006
- OPEN HOUSE for Third Grade - 6:00 p.m. Classroom packets and other
valuable information will be given to parents at this time.
- Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - School Board Meeting - Boyer Center at 6:00 p.m.
- Friday, September 15, 2006 - BACK TO SCHOOL FESTIVAL - 4:00-7:30 p.m.
- Friday, September 15, 2006 - Parent Group Fund raiser Kickoff - 2:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - Skating Party at Springfield Roller Rink - 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- Friday, September 22, 2006 - D.I.R.T. Kick-off - "Reading is Forever" Assembly - 1:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - Fall Picture Day - 9:00 a.m. (students must prepay)
- Friday, September 29, 2006 - Progress Reports will be coming home. The pink copy MUST BE SIGNED AND RETURNED. Please keep the white copy for your records.
- Friday, September 29, 2006 - Last day for shorts!!