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DCPS
Duval County Public Schools

Duval County School
 

http://www.duvalschools.org

Guidance Corner

Each month, our school district celebrates a different character trait.  There is a link on our DCPS web page to the monthly character traits and activities to match. 
Check it out!
DCPS Character Education and Monthly Character Trait Link

Guidance Update
District Benchmark Testing for grades 3-5 will occur during the week of December 8-16.

Suggestions for encouraging success in school:

1. Encourage your child to keep up with hi/her daily planner.   This should be the responsibility of the child. Check the planner daily.  It is a wonderful way to monitor your child's progress.

2. Set up a designated study area. It should be an area with adequate work space, good lighting and freedom from distractions.

3. Keep a calendar so that students may note and plan long range projects or assignments. Family activities, field trips and extra-curricular activities should be noted on the calendar so that adequate preparation  and planning can be done by student and/or family.

4. Schedule a daily homework/study time. Even if there are no written assignments to be done, the student should have a daily time for studying, reviewing notes, working on long term assignments. Post a weekly or monthly schedule of agreed upon study times. The student should log in or check off the study time as it is completed. Phone calls or unnecessary interruptions should be discouraged.

5. After homework is completed in the evening, the student should put all work, books and supplies needed for school in one spot where it can be easily located on school mornings.

6. Expect your child to be responsible and independent in completing his/her homework. In his book "ENDING the HOMEWORK HASSLE", psychologist John Rosemond discusses homework's "Seven Hidden Values". They are responsibility, autonomy, perseverance, time management initiative, self-reliance and resourcefulness. If you "help" your child too much, you will deprive him or her of learning these seven skills that are essential to success in all areas of life. Monitor results by progress reports, phone calls or conferences with teachers and provide appropriate consequences, but do not take over managing your child's homework.

*Assembling a Homework "Survival Kit" *
We suggest that you help your student be prepared to do his/her homework by having the supplies listed below readily available. Although you may have all of these things somewhere in your home, it really helps to have them all together in one consistent place. You could designate one desk drawer for the "Homework Survival Kit" or just put everything in a cardboard box that has a designated place in your home.

Suggested Items for a "Homework Survival Kit"
package of lined notebook paper
unlined 8x11 or 8x14 paper
pencils, pencil sharpener, pens
stapler, staples, paper clips, rubber bands
ruler, compass, protractor, calculator
set of colored markers, pencils or crayons
scotch tape, hole puncher
dictionary, thesaurus
copy of "Classroom Connection"/ homework hotline numbers
"Shopping list" pad for students to indicate items that need to be purchased

I have found some wonderful web sites that might be helpful in all subject areas K-5. (http://www.brainpop.com/; http://www.funschool.com;/ http://www.abcteach.com;/ http://www.funbrain.com/)

All third grade students can log on the http://www.fcatexplorer.org/ for practicing skills needed for the FCAT.  Your child can log using their last name and first initial (example: medlockl) and the password is the first 4 letters of their last name and the date of birth, 2 digits for month and 2 digits for day (example: med10408).

What to Ask at a Parent - Teacher Conference
Take advantage of parent-teacher conferences during the school year.  Think of some questions and concerns you may have and write them down before your meeting.  Keep track of your child's schoolwork to help you with your questions.  You are in a position to share important information as well as ask questions.  Remember, you can and should talk to your child's teacher throughout the year.

Questions To Ask For Students In All Grades

• Is my child performing at grade level?

• What are my child's strengths and weaknesses in reading, math, and science?

• How much time should my child spend on homework?

• Are my child's assignments completed accurately?

• Does the school have special programs to meet my child's needs?

• Does my child have special learning needs? 

• Are there special classes my child should be in?

• Do you keep a folder of my child's work?  If yes, could you review it with me?

• Does my child have close friends?

• How well does my child get along with other students?

• What can we do at home to support classroom learning?

• What is the best way to keep in touch with you?

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Additional Questions For Middle and High School Students

• How can I help my child to work independently and make the best use of time?

• How can I help my child prepare for high school?

• What can you tell me about peer pressure and how I can help my child handle difficult situations-drugs, alcohol, and sex?

• What courses should my child take to satisfy graduation requirements?

• Do you have a list of courses my child should take to be ready to enter college?

• If my child plans to attend college, how will the school help with the application process?

• If my child plans to attend college, how will the school help my child find out about financial aid?

For more information, call 1-800-USA-LEARN

Television

American children watch an average of three to five hours of TV each day.  Although TV can be fun and educational, it's important to know what your children are watching, to make sure it's not too much, and to make sure it doesn't stop them from doing schoolwork.

• Find out how many hours a day your child watches TV.

• Monitor what your child is watching, and whenever possible, watch the programs with your child.

• Pick a TV show to watch as a family.  What kind of conversations can you start from the TV show?  For instance, you may ask, "Why are those people in the program so unkind to each other?"

• Plan other activities, such as crafts, reading, doing homework, and writing letters, instead of watching TV.  Try to plan at least one different activity each week.

• Avoid using TV as a babysitter.

• Look for TV programs that will stimulate your child's interests and encourage reading (dramatizations of children's stories, wildlife adventures, history, and science).

• Avoid using television as a reward or punishment.  It gives TV too much importance.

• If your child has a TV set in the bedroom, you may not know what is being watched.  If possible, keep the TV in a common areas, like the living room or den.

• Turn off the TV during meals and study time.  Make a rule that homework and chores must be finished before the TV can be turned on.

• Help your child understand the difference between make believe and the real world in television programs.

• Do you need to review your own television watching habits?  Remember your child is watching what you watch and how much time you spend doing it.

Interested in learning more about improving your child's education?  Go to www.ed.gov, or call 1-800-USA-LEARN

I hope you find this information useful and if you have any questions feel free to reach me in the guidance office, 221-8819.  Lori Medlock

We hope your year is wonderful!  Let us know if we can be of assistance.

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