Ways to Support Your Friends School Haverford Fifth Grader

• When planning family activities, inform and include your fifth grade child. Assist in the writing of appointments and activities in her/his planner. This will help with time management skill practice.

• Establish a consistent pattern for doing homework with respect to time and place.

• Create a regular workspace with proper lighting, comfortable seating, and easy access to supplies.

• Enforce the ongoing nightly assignment of at least 30 minutes of reading children’s literature.

• Pack nutritional, low sugar foods for both snack and lunch.

• Regularly check your child’s assignment planner. Assignments are explained each day in class, and students are directed to write them down in the planner during that time. Each teacher has a classroom homework board on which are recorded all assignments and due dates for easy reference. Take advantage of the homework hotline, as necessary (explained on Homework Policy page).

• Carefully read all papers that are sent home, and sign as requested.

• Return your Thursday envelope to school with your child no later than the following Wednesday. It is your child’s responsibility to remind you of this weekly “homework” assignment.

• If motivating your child to begin and/or complete homework is major challenge, consider setting up an appointment with your child and his/her teacher. Together, along with the Learning Resource Team, a plan can be created.

• Encourage your child to inform you immediately about assignments that require adult participation, so that time can be allotted for their fulfillment. Such assignments are given at least 2 days in advance of their due date.

• Help your child to get into the habit of organizing his/her backpack every night and placing it in the same visible location for quick pick-up in the morning.

• Arrive at school as close to 8:00 as possible, to allow your child enough time to get organized for the day and to write the nightly homework in her/his planner.

Thank you for being our partners in your child’s education!