Ways to help your Eagle at home
Nothing is worse than feeling helpless when it comes to making your child feel better. Please let a counselor, administrator, or teacher know if you detect a shift in mood, behavior, or a significant life event that you feel is negatively impacting your child so that we can create supports for your child's success.
Parents: The way you phrase your question does matter!
- Starting with factual questions is a great way to ease into conversation. (“I know your class size is bigger this year than last year. What’s that like?”)
- When you want to ask about school, make sure you avoid closed questions that will result in a yes or no. Students tend to be vague so make sure you craft a question that makes them describe or elaborate in the answer.
- Avoiding emotion-packed words (happy, sad, mean) can help the conversation go on longer.
- Ask questions about times when your child socializes with other kids, like lunch and recess (which are less structured).
- Asking positive questions gives your child a chance to express concerns. Negative questions tend to stop a conversation.
Conversation Starters
- Tell me about the best part of your day.
- What was the hardest thing you had to do today?
- Did any of your classmates do anything funny?
- Tell me about what you read in class.
- Who did you play with today? What did you play?
- Do you think math [or any subject] is too easy or too hard?
- What's the biggest difference between this year and last year?
- What rules are different at school than our rules at home? Do you think they're fair?
- Who did you sit with at lunch?
- Can you show me something you learned (or did) today?
THE RIGHT PIECES
Sometimes we need to remind our students what makes a good friend. Some students hold on to not-so-healthy relationships and feel obligated to stay friends due to history. When people change, they have the right to change their minds as well.
Sometimes we need to remind our students what makes a good friend. Some students hold on to not-so-healthy relationships and feel obligated to stay friends due to history. When people change, they have the right to change their minds as well.