December 2013
Madison Public Schools
Matthew Mingle, Director of Curriculum
Make sure your child keeps
learning over winter break
Like most students, your child is probably looking forward to winter break.
And winter break should be just that—a break from the normal routine. But
even without the formal structure of the school day, your child
can still keep learning. He can:
• Write. Your child may receive gifts
during this break. Many people say that
writing thank-you notes is a lost art. If
that is the case in your family, you can
revive it! Your child should write a
short note to anyone who sends him
a gift or performs a kindness. He
could also write a card or letter
to a friend or family member he
won’t see during the break.
• Read. Your child should continue
to read every day. If he has a book
he is enjoying, great. Otherwise, a
magazine or newspaper article of
interest works too. Online, he can
search for blogs about topics that
interest him. Make sure you know what
he is reading online.
• Practice math skills. Your child can help you add up the day’s
expenditures or stick to your budget while shopping. He’ll be helping
you—and keeping his math skills sharp at the same time!
Encourage your child to give this season
Giving to the community is an important concept to teach your child all year
long. However, many people really get into the “giving mood” during the
holiday season—so this may be a great time to help your child get into the
spirit of kindness.
Encourage your child to:
your child can deliver to a local
food pantry?
• Bake some holiday cheer. Together, bake cookies for your
• Offer to water plants or feed
local firehouse or police station.
pets for free for someone who will
be traveling.
• Check her closets. Does your
child have any outgrown clothes
• Look for other opportunities
to donate?
to volunteer.
• Look through your pantry.
Source: National Geographic Kids, “Help Others
This Holiday Season,” National Geographic,
Do you have any canned or
http://tinyurl.com/c6dou6z.
unopened boxed foods you and
Get to know your school
Your child has been in school for a few
months now. How well do you know your
child’s school? For example: What are the
school colors? What is the school mascot?
Who is the principal? What is the name of
your child’s counselor?
Attendance is still a priority
December is an exciting
time. You may be planning
some activities or traveling
during the winter break.
Remember, school is not
out yet! Attendance is just
as important as it is at other
times of the year. Keep in mind that:
• Many teachers assign projects that
are due before school lets out.
• Your child will likely have tests
before the winter break.
Make sure your child is in school every day
until break. Shopping is not an excuse for
missing school. Limit evening activities
during the week and postpone travel plans
until school is out.
A positive attitude can
boost school success
It’s important for your child to develop a
positive attitude in school. He should:
• Come to class prepared and on time.
• Have an open mind
and believe that something
interesting can be learned
in class.
• Participate. Offering
comments and questions
shows he’s paying attention.
• Show respect for
classmates by listening
when they speak.
Source: E.J. & C. Barkin, How To Be School Smart: Super Study
Skills, Beech Tree Books.
Copyright © 2013, The Parent Institute®, www.parent-institute.com
Use a timer to keep your
student on track
December 2013
How can I get my child to
spend time with the family?
Q: I know my child needs her independence, but she doesn’t
want to attend holiday events with us anymore. How can I
show her that family outings are still important?
A: The solution is compromise. While you’re
right to want her to participate in holiday
rituals, it’s natural that she wants to do her
own thing. So the more common ground
you can find, the better. Plan to:
• Communicate. Find out which
events she doesn’t care for—and why.
Would she rather avoid some rituals
because they take too long? Is the family
dinner at Grandma’s boring? Does she
keep getting lumped in with the little kids?
• Consider. Not wanting to spend two hours decorating
baked goods might be understandable, especially if your child’s free
time is already limited. Likewise, it makes sense that she wouldn’t enjoy
immature activities.
• Compromise. You might let her sit out of some events, for example.
It will show that you take her seriously. But if a holiday dinner can’t be
missed, make some adjustments. Remember to ask her for ideas. Also,
make sure she’s treated appropriately for her age. You may need to
mention this discreetly to the other adults in your family.
Are you promoting reading over break?
Winter break is a great time to encourage your child to continue reading for
pleasure. Take this quiz to see if you are promoting reading. Answer yes for
things you do most of the time and no for things you never or rarely do.
___1. Do you share reading
material, such as newspaper
articles, with your child?
___2. Do you encourage your
child to explore different types
of reading? For example, if he
likes science fiction, encourage
him to try fantasy literature.
___3. Do you look for “hooks” to
draw your child into reading?
You might read a book and
then see a movie based on
that book.
___4. Do you stress reading as a
family activity, encouraging
everyone to sit down and read
for 15 to 30 minutes a day?
___5. Do you take your child to
the library frequently?
How did you do?
Mostly yes answers mean you are
strongly encouraging your child to take
joy in reading! For no answers, check
the quiz for some suggestions on how to
get everyone reading during this winter
break and beyond.
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Middle schoolers are not the best time
managers. A half hour of TV slides into two
hours. Five minutes on the
computer becomes an
hour. Sound familiar?
Try setting a timer for
15 minutes. When it
goes off, so does the TV
or computer. You can
try the reverse also: Set a
timer for 45 minutes of
homework. When it beeps, your child can
have a 15-minute break.
Source: C.C. Giannetti and M. Sagarese, The Roller Coaster
Years, Broadway Books.
Don’t neglect your child’s
after-school activities
When kids start to falter in school or get
poor grades, parents sometimes think it’s
best to cancel all extracurricular activities.
But this can hurt a child’s important
connection to his school. Consider other
options instead, such as reducing TV and
social media time.
Source: L. Steinberg, Beyond the Classroom: Why School Reform
Has Failed and What Parents Need to Do, Simon & Schuster.
Stress tolerance by learning
about other cultures
Teach your child to respect diversity by
helping her become more accepting of other
cultures and people. You can:
• Sample new cuisines. Try Indian,
Thai or Mediterranean food this week.
• Explore the arts. Attend an international show at the community theater.
Borrow a foreign film from the library.
• Learn another language together.
Take an informal language course or
learn from books you check out from the
library.
Helping Students Learn®
Published in English and Spanish, September through May.
Publisher: John H. Wherry, Ed.D.
Editor: Stacey Marin.
Staff Editors: Rebecca Miyares & Erika Beasley.
Writer: Erika Beasley. Production Manager: Pat Carter.
Translations Editor: Victoria Gaviola.
Layout & Illustrations: Maher & Mignella, Cherry Hill, NJ.
Copyright © 2013, The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.
P.O. Box 7474, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-7474
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