How is My First Grader Doing in School?: What to Expect and How to Help - Softcover

Jacobson, Jennifer; Richard, Nancy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0684854384 ISBN 13: 9780684854380

Publisher: Prentice Hall & IBD, 1999

Synopsis

As the parent of a first grader, you may be asking yourself: When will my child begin to read? Is it okay that my child still counts on his fingers? What can I do to make sure my child knows everything she should? Perhaps you've been told by your child's teacher that your first grader is doing fine. But what does "fine" really mean, and how can you be sure that your child's academic growth will continue? Be your child's best teacher. Find out what your child knows, what your child needs to know, and how to work with your child to ensure success in school. Inside, there is a wealth of fun, easy-to-do activities designed to teach your child important skills. The time you spend together will foster a love of learning that will remain with your child in the years to come.

About this title

From the Author

Learning together enriches your life
Clam Festival time arrived in Maine again, and my family and I played cribbage on the library lawn while waiting for fireworks to begin. "Fifteen for two, fifteen for four and a pair for eight," my seven-year-old announced proudly. He was using strategic thinking, double-digit addition and beating the pants off the rest of his family. Despite losing, we had a moment of disappointment when the fireworks began and our game ended. I was reminded once again that no matter how hectic or harried our lives become, there remains opportunity to slow down and learn together. We spend hours in the car, waiting for appointments or on the sidelines of a playing field with one child while another chases a ball. All of these are opportunities for helping a child stretch his or her thinking. Educators call these natural opportunities "teachable moments," but I find that the phrase doesn't come close to describing what happens between a parent and a child when you take the time to connect through shared activity. The experience doesn't simply enrich the education of your child, it enlarges your own life as well. When I think back on my childhood memories, I recall most the times my parents stopped to help me learn. My earliest memory is one of my mother and I sitting at child-size table. I am drawing a person. My mother is trying to help me see that people have more than heads and legs. (Ironically, my mother, became a child development expert, teaching others that the drawings of three year olds always have legs coming directly out of heads! She wrote the developmental overview chapter for each of our books.) But what etched this memory in my mind were the triumphant feelings of having my mother at the table, coloring with me. My father, a highschool teacher, taught me, too. We had long discussions about a wide range of topics. He taught me to debate, which in truth taught me to think a problem through from a number of perspectives. From time to time I left for school having been shown something new by my parents. This empowered me. I stepped on the school bus knowing I had a leg up. And I did. Children do better when their parents are involved in their education. It was true when I was growing up, and it's just as true today. I hope that you find the books in this series to be immensely helpful in finding ways to help your own children learn. They are meant to act as a guide - answering questions regarding your child's progress in a particular school year, as the questions arise. Dottie Raymer and myself, both educators, and both parents of school-aged children designed the learning activities to match the needs of your child and your busy lifestyle. Let us know if this approach to participating in your child's education works for you.

About the Author

Jennifer Richard Jacobson received her BS in Education in 1980 from Lesley College and her master's in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has taught preschool through sixth grade and has served as Curriculum Coordinator, Admissions Director, Head of Studies, and Language Arts Specialist in several New England schools. She has also served as an educational consultant, offering workshops for teachers, parents, and librarians, and has written over twenty books for classroom use. She lives in Maine with her husband and two children.

About this edition

• Publisher: Prentice Hall & IBD
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0684854384
• ISBN 13: 9780684854380
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192