Kid Friendly Websites

Hi Everyone,
My daughter, Suzanne, is a teacher in Camden County, Georgia. Of course, our conversations always lead to "good stuff" for our kids and our schools. She recently shared some of her favorite websites for kids. Now, she is a teacher of very young children so these are primarily for elementary aged children. I recommend that adults sit with their children at the computer. It is amazing how much I've learned from sitting with a student exploring a website for the first time! You learn how websites capture our children's attention and interest. And you get a better insight as to how your student learns. Good Luck with these websites. And always HAVE FUN with your kids. ;o)

• www.noggin.com
• www.starfall.com
• www.spellingcity.com
• www.educationcity.com
• www.brainpop.com
• www.bookadventure.org
• www.pbskids.org
• www.seussville.com
• www.storylineonline.net
• www.primarygames.com
• www.iknowthat.com
• www.nlvm.usu.edu (math with manipulatives)
• www.playkidsgame.com

Tips for Talking About School

I know that it is sometimes difficult to get your child to 'tell' you about school. I recently read a short article in the "American Profile" magazine. I thought the suggestions were good ones. The author Denise Mann suggests:

• Make the time right. Don't pounce on your child the minute they walk in the door. "Let them unwind first."
• Be specific. 'how was your day?' is too broad of a question and children don't actually understand when we ask this. Instead be specific in your questioning. "Did you play on the playground today?" or "Did you see Suzy today?"
• Talk about yourself. Talk about yourself to get your child to talk about themselves. Chat with them.
• Use Technology. Older kids communicate by text messaging or e-mails.
• Take a deep breath. Don't drive yourself crazy if your child only gives one-word answers. "Keep working at it!"

I hope these suggestions help with your next conversation with your student.

Keeping in Touch with School

Thank you to all that attended Mayport's Open House this year. If you were able to have dinner with us, you know that some of our special faculty members can really "cook"! The spaghetti was outstanding. It was wonderful seeing familiar faces and catching up on news as well as meeting new families to our area. Our classroom teachers demonstrated excellence in informing all participants of their expectations this year. But, of course, this is not the only time to touch base with your child's school. Please feel free to set up a conference with their teacher-- to ask your questions, to find out how you can help your student at home, or even to hear current events concerning the "best students at the beach". Again, thanks for coming!

Looking forward to Open House

When you visit Mayport Elementary, you'll have a chance to spend time with your child's classroom teachers. You'll also have a chance to talk with other people that are guiding your student at school. I'll be available in the front hall area. If you would like to set up a conference to discuss your student's speech and language development, just stop by and sign in on my open house attendance sheet. I'll be glad to set up a conference time that is convenient for you. Open House will be an opportunity for you to see old friends, meet new classmate's families, and join in the fun. Looking forward to seeing you the 4th.