Show I Pag 10— The Herald Journal Logan Utah Monday July 21 1997 Summer’s moving on—get set know cokes can’t count can't do basic motor skills like hopping and skipping By Deborah White Scripps Howard New Service Some parents wonder whether they should buy phonics programs advertised on television or readiness hooks to prepare their children for kindergarten "They want a formula" says Tina Jacluou principal of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Academy in Memphis after talking with parents at a parenting seminar last month But the most important thing parents can do to prepare their children is simple and doesn't have to cost anything Jack-so-n and other local educators say It's reading "Many limes parents don't have time to read But it can make a difference in whether they (their children) succeed or not" says Jackson Mississippi Boulevard has a Parents as Reading Partners program developed by assistant principal Joyce Mathis who used a similar program when she taught first grade in Memphis City Schools Parents promise they will read with their children at least IS minutes every day and keep a reading log "We saw a tremendous improvement overall with children” she says can’t button and fasten clothes" says Yvonne Jones educational resource specialist within the city school system "Parents need to understand that they are the child’s first teacher” adds Jones who reads twice a day to her son Denzel After day care he colors every day at home and may also work puzzles paint or practice buttoning tying and writing his name This doesn't leave much time for TV Jones says Children don’t have to attend preschool to succeed in kindergarten if parents make sure they have frequent contact with other children and if parents help them in fun ways to develop basic skills agrees Sue Lynn kindergarten teacher at Presbyterian Day School (PDS) a private school for boys One area that’s often weak in boys entering kindergarten is development of fine motor skills which helps builds muscles needed for writing Lynn says "They can play Nintendo but they don’t have coloring books at home’ says Betty McGreger another kindergarten teacher at PDS But Lynn and other kindergarten teachers caution against repetitive formal lessons "If you make a game of it they'll think it’s fun” McGreger says "Don't buy readiness books and drill with a worksheet" agrees Susan Dokl English and language arts facilitator for Memphis City Schools who has a doc-- Educators bemoan the fact that so many children come to school not ready to Warn especially in inner cities "There are so many children who come to school and have never colored a picture used scissors don't know full names can't follow directions don’t education "In kindergarten we’re What kids need to know expecting children to know more things than they used to but in a wire that Is appropriate and in a style for children” Doldsays "An example would be watching a tadpole grow into a frog thee telling a story about it Learning is an active process” Children lean by doing and playing emphasizes Kitty Smith who has taught preschool or kindergarten for 30 years Good activities at home for fine motor Here are the basic skills educators say represent an ideal foundation far children entering kindergarten KNOWLEDGE Children should know: RtU names not just nicknames Address and telephone number dough working puzzles and stringing Full names of parents beads says Smith Opportunities for large motor skills include climbing in a fist grip Children tiiould: Begin to recognize letters in the alphabet at least letters in their first mure Begin to recognize numbers PERSONAL INFORMATION skills are painting using modeling or guardians run- ning jumping and bouncing a ball MOTOR SKILLS These activities help teach balance coordination and spatial coocepts Parents should give children simple tasks to complete at home such as following a set of directions Smith says Children should be able to: Catch a ball Skip Balance on one foot Hold a pencil between fingers not "Parents will say ’How many times should you tell a child to do something before they do it?’ And we say ’one’" Here are some other idem far parents to help prepare children for kindergarten: Set an example of reading frequently It’s very important that parents read If you’re excited they'll be excited Don’t limit children to easy readers Read to children from whatever is inter- esting to them and to you which can include newspapers or magazine Show them the pleasure and daily purpose found in reading so that they will learn J' Bv Scilppa Howard News Service to value the experience of reading Help develop thinking skills when reading Ask how else could it have ended? What else could the pigs have used to build those houses? Use the environment When you see a Kmart sign ask the child "What’s the first letter?" Use time in the car for fan leaching games See how many words they recognize on billboards or street signs Or count signs or cars 1 through 10 Be able orally to count up to 10 Recognize the following colors: red blue white Hack orange purple green yellow brown pink Recognize the four basic shapes: circle square triangle rectangle Be able to write first name Using only one upper case letter at the beginning of the name is preferable Know bow to tell right from left Get children to help set the table They will learn the names of utensils and how to tell right from left and will work on fine motor skills by folding napkins Use repetition in everyday situations When you drive into the driveway say the home address Pretty soon they’ll pick it up But don’t make any of this work overbearing kindergarten teachers stressed "We don’t want to rush the child They're still little kids” South said solutions: How to get through family spats Low-stre- ss By Linda Lewis Griffith Scripps Howard New Service m— Disagreements are the bane of all relationships Parents can feel as if they’re locked in endless battles with their youngsters And husbands and wives can harbor such differing viewpoints that they wonder why they ever got married What most people fail to realize however u that the disagree- Commentary of individuals with unique and varying outlooks temperaments and approaches families will always be beset with some degree of discord The problem lies in how family members resolve their differences Those parents and children who successfully manage conflicts not only wok out solutions to everyday skirmishes but experience more calm harmony and know that you care about him or her and thk you want this prob- 4) Identify the specific problem Pinpoint the exact area of statements such as "I love you and I know we'll work this out” greatly reduce animosity and set the stage far cooperation 3) Identify areas of agreement or success Look for similarities Aaron Margo told "It seems we agree that homework is important but we differ about when it should be done enjoyment in their lives Below are eight steps families can use as a framework to resolve their disagreements 1) Stay calm Never attempt to solve problems when you've lost lem to be resolved Heartfelt hurtful and are often remembered long after the argument has been in your viewpoints or positive characteristics of the other person For example when Larry and Deanna were disagreeing about how to discipline their children Deanna told him "We're your temper Angry words are forgotten Instead when your ments themselves are not the problem Because relationships are made up tarate in elementary and early childhood blood starts to boil take a walk go outside or hit a punching bag until you've regained your com- posure Then return to discuss the situation 2) Express your commitment to the relationship Let the person with whom you're disagreeing We Buy Scrap Cars at i 93CP°ATon already thinking along the same pathways Neither of us want the kids to run wild through the living room We both want to establish some new rules" know that your efforts will foster teamwork and collaboration 7) Seek solutions that benefit the relationship Look for ways to meet everyone's needs or areas on which you can compromise Don’t feel pressured to cave in on your principles but do keep in mind the importance of maintain-- a strong relationship ) Assess the outcome After all is said and done analyze the final solution Does this seem to disagreement For instance Right?” 5) Express your desired outcome Clearly and calmly state your wishes: "I don’t want you to Interrupt me when I'm talking” Avoid yelling sarcasm and as throe elicit hostile and defensive responses put-dow- ns AIAIVTH be a realistic option? Do all parties involved feel OK about the course of action? Hu everyone felt heard respected and considered? 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