I am so impressed with all the parent involvement that I have seen at Una this school year. At every event we have always had a standing room only crowd. This statement supports the fact that Una is a great school due to our supportive parents and devoted staff. I am so pleased with the positive reactions that I have received at our parent activities. Your dedication and support to Una makes for a positive experience on your child's life as well as the overall climate of our school. I would like to take the opportunity to THANK YOU all for your active participation in Una and your child's life. Working together we can all make a positive impact.
Ms. Sells

Homework Tips

* Establish a regular time for homework. Whether it’s after school or after dinner, pick a time that works for your family and your child.

* Pick a place to do homework and keep supplies-paper, pencils, dictionary, etc.-at hand.

* Remove distractions during homework time. Turn off the TV and set a “no phone calls” rule.

* Set an example for your child. Show how you use the skills your child is learning in your everyday life-balancing your checkbook, measuring ingredients for a recipe, reading, etc.

Source: My Child’s Academic Success: How to Help: Show That You Think Education and Homework Are Important-Helping Your Child With Homework, U.S. Dept. of Educ., www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/homework/part5.html.

How to Promote Positive Reading Habits

As a parent, you are your child's first - and most important - teacher. Here are eight ways you can help your child become a better reader.

1. Read yourself. Your actions really do speak louder than your words. When your kids see you reading the newspaper or curling up with a book, they will want to follow your example.

2. Make sure your children read every day. Reading - like shooting baskets and playing the piano - is a skill. Like other skills, it gets better with practice. Researchers have found that children who spend at least 30 minutes a day reading for fun - whether they read books, newspapers, or magazines - develop the skills to be better readers at school.

3. Get the library habit. Make sure everyone in your family has a library card. Schedule regular trips to the library. While you are there, check out a book yourself!

4. Read aloud to the children. In *The Read Aloud Handbook*, Jim Trelease reports on research showing that this is the most important thing parents can do to help their children become better readers. Here are some tips from the book:

· Start reading to your children when they are young. It is never too early to begin reading to your children, according to Trelease.

· Don't stop reading to your children as they grow older. You will both enjoy the chance to do something together.

· Set aside some time each day for reading aloud. Even 10 minutes a day can have a big impact. Bedtime is a natural reading aloud time. Other busy families read aloud at breakfast or just after dinner.

· Read books you enjoy. Your kids will know if you are faking it.

5. Here is a way to use your newspaper to encourage reading: a scavenger hunt. Give your child a list of things to find in today's newspaper. Here are some ideas:

· A map of the United States.

· A picture of your child's favorite athlete.

· The temperature in the city where a family member lives.

· Three words that begin with "w".

· A movie that is playing at a nearby theater.

6. Give books as gifts. Then find a special place for your children to keep their own library.

7. Make reading a privilege. Say, "You can stay up 15 minutes later tonight if you read in bed." Or you might say, "Because you helped with the dishes, I have time to read you an extra story."

8. If you are not a good reader, you can still encourage your children. As your children learn to read, ask them to read to you. Talk about the books your children have read. Ask a friend or relative to read aloud to your children.

Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC.
(1993). Eight ways parents can promote reading at home. In M. Lopes (Ed.)