Back to Back to School NightSchool Night

Leah WallaceLeah WallaceKaren KrautKaren Kraut

Christine MorellChristine MorellDebbie DuValDebbie DuVal

Jen TuchJen Tuch

Tonight’s HomeworkTonight’s Homework

Assigning HomeworkAssigning Homework

When sending homework home, the first When sending homework home, the first grade team will take into account students’ grade team will take into account students’ physical, mental, and social influences that physical, mental, and social influences that contribute to properly completing contribute to properly completing homework.homework.

(Skaggs)(Skaggs)

Taking a BreakTaking a Break

Your child will have between 15 and 25 Your child will have between 15 and 25 minutes of homework each night, please minutes of homework each night, please consider your child’s needs and let them consider your child’s needs and let them take breaks!take breaks!

Play is HomeworkPlay is Homework

Each week, your child should play Each week, your child should play WITH YOUWITH YOU for a minimum of 45 for a minimum of 45 minutes.minutes.

Your child will keep a play journal of the Your child will keep a play journal of the activities that you did. Please write the activities that you did. Please write the date, how many minutes, and initial each date, how many minutes, and initial each page.page.

Why Play is ImportantWhy Play is Important

It is the experience, NOT the toy that aids It is the experience, NOT the toy that aids growth in the brain.growth in the brain.

The children that do best on tests are those The children that do best on tests are those whose parents play with them.whose parents play with them.

(Porter)(Porter)

Why Play is ImportantWhy Play is Important

Through their play, children demonstrate their Through their play, children demonstrate their extensive symbolic thought capacities and their extensive symbolic thought capacities and their ability to self-regulate and explain their behavior.ability to self-regulate and explain their behavior.

A family that pursues a wide range of recreational A family that pursues a wide range of recreational activities, enjoys word games and other types of activities, enjoys word games and other types of play together, and values trying new play together, and values trying new experiences will help their children’s brains to experiences will help their children’s brains to develop richly and uniquely.develop richly and uniquely.

(Bergen)(Bergen)

Ideas for PlayIdeas for Play

Build with Legos or blocks:Build with Legos or blocks:Practice sorting (by color, size, etc.)Practice sorting (by color, size, etc.)Build a town and make up a story about Build a town and make up a story about the people that live therethe people that live thereMake a shape, trace it on a paper, have Make a shape, trace it on a paper, have your child try to build the same shapeyour child try to build the same shape

Ideas for PlayIdeas for Play

Teach your child a game you played when Teach your child a game you played when you were little:you were little:

TagTagJacksJacksHide-and-SeekHide-and-SeekBlind Man’s BluffBlind Man’s Bluff

Ideas for PlayIdeas for Play

Card Games:Card Games:Go Fish (or find a sum, a difference, etc)Go Fish (or find a sum, a difference, etc)War (or addition war)War (or addition war)Concentration/MemoryConcentration/MemorySolitaireSolitaireCrazy EightsCrazy EightsUnoUno

Ideas for PlayIdeas for Play

Outdoor Activities:Outdoor Activities:Walk around the neighborhood, talk about Walk around the neighborhood, talk about who might live in each housewho might live in each houseMake an obstacle course in your yard or Make an obstacle course in your yard or your living roomyour living roomGo to a playgroundGo to a playgroundBuild a fortBuild a fort

Ideas for PlayIdeas for Play

Play Pretend:Play Pretend:Switch roles with your childSwitch roles with your childPretend you’re an animalPretend you’re an animalPretend you’re at a storePretend you’re at a storePlay dress upPlay dress upEtc., Etc., Etc.Etc., Etc., Etc.

Ideas for PlayIdeas for Play

Board Games:Board Games:Sorry!Sorry!ScrabbleScrabbleCheckersCheckersChessChessDominoesDominoesChutes & LaddersChutes & LaddersCandylandCandylandEtc., Etc., Etc.Etc., Etc., Etc.

Ideas for PlayIdeas for Play

FREE PLAYFREE PLAY