December 11, 2015
Dear Parents,
Calendar of Events for the Week of December 14th-15th:
Monday, December 14th: 7th & 8th grade football banquet 6:30-7:30 PM in the cafeteria and gym
Tuesday, December 15th: Band Winter Concert 7PM in the cafeteria
Wednesday, December 16th: Choir Winter Concert 7PM in the cafeteria
Thursday, December 17th: Last Day of First Semester
Thursday, December 17th: 6th- 8th grade Awards Assemblies in the cafeteria
Friday, December 18th- Monday, January 4th: Winter Break (Students return on Tuesday, January 5th)
6th – 8th GRADE AWARDS ASSEMBLIES IN THE CAFETERIA:
We will be holding our Hopewell MS 6th – 8th grade awards assemblies to honor those Hopewell students that have shown exemplary performance in the classroom, display good citizenship, and have perfect attendance throughout the first semester. All will be held in the cafeteria according to the schedule below:
6th Grade: 10:10-11:10AM
7th Grade: 2:38-3:30PM
8th Grade: 12:50-1:50PM
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD WITH SCHOOL WORK? THE ACCOUNTABLE HOUR:
A former colleague of mine during my tenure in Eanes ISD wrote up some suggestions for parents regarding ways they can help their child at home to be more successful in school. I would like to share it with you all and hope that it will provide some help, ideas, and support for you as a Hopewell parent
THE ACCOUNTABLE HOUR
One of the questions parents most frequently ask teachers is, “What can I do at home to help my child?” Ideally all parents want to provide a supportive and enriching environment for their children. Realistically, parents are over-worked and struggling to keep up with family, home, job - modern life in general. In spite of the fast-paced way we live, it is a parent’s responsibility to encourage the sense of duty and accomplishment that results from successfully completing homework. This is possible and can be achieved by a child’s devotion to study for one hour each evening - not an unstructured hour, not a supervised hour, but an accountable hour.
The purpose of homework is threefold: 1) to lead a child to think and work independently, 2) to reinforce recently accumulated knowledge, 3) and to apply learning to the context of life. By providing a place for study, assisting with the time frame, and using appropriate praise, parents can help a child establish good habits.
How is this possible? First, include the child in the problem-solving process of determining time for homework. Most younger children will not be able to attend to a task for an uninterrupted hour. The two of you can work out four 15 minute segments or three 20 minute segments, for example. Have the child tell you what will be attempted in a block of time. Use a kitchen timer. When time is up, look at the assignment, check for completion, not accuracy, and, most importantly, have the child explain the operation, concept, or process related to the assignment. Understanding precedes explanation. If the student is working on a particularly difficult concept, it may take several attempts and several practice sessions before the child reaches understanding. Recognize and appreciate the attempts, keep praise specific and brief, and avoid threats and promises. The latter will only weaken your position. Tokens or stickers on a calendar are good visible rewards.
The student who is disorganized, unmotivated, or forgetful needs the structured system and the sense of accomplishment that come from following through with tasks. The parents’ resolve must be strong. After all, parents are trying to establish noble goals - the values of self-discipline, good work habits, and a love of learning.
Following are examples of the accountable hour in specific subject areas:
social studies - If a child has to read a chapter in a textbook, the parent might ask for a brief summary of what has been read. An atlas nearby would help parent and child find places on the map that were mentioned in the reading. The student should attempt to pronounce the names and key words. In addition, the child should be able to explain how that particular reading assignment fits in with the unit of study.
Math - Homework in math focuses on drill, practice and application of one concept. Have the child explain the concept and the steps involved.
Language Arts - If the assignment is a written paper, ask the child to read the paper to you. Reading aloud will often call attention to mistakes in the paper. Talk about the purpose of the paper and ask the child to explain the approach. Call attention to good use of vocabulary and have a thesaurus nearby if one is needed.
Science - Science study guides contain specialized vocabulary and sequential information. Again, make sure the child is able to pronounce the words and to make an attempt to explain procedures, concepts, cycles, or processes. The student should go over science each evening because of the technical material. It is helpful to have a tablet handy for the child to sketch a diagram during the explanation.
If the child has no homework on a particular evening, the parent should insist on the structure of the accountable hour. Have the student read a book and talk about the characters; why they behaved the way they did, who they remind the child of, or how the child would have handled the situation. The student could draw a picture of a favorite part of the plot or an interpretation of the setting. This would also be an excellent time to read and react to different articles in the newspaper.
Television viewing is even acceptable if the child assumes a participating role. After viewing a 30 minute show, a child could jot down cause/effect examples, sequence the plot, or rewrite the ending. The student could also comment on the commercials. What is the purpose? Why are only good things mentioned? What technique is being used to convince the public?
The benefits of this specialized hour are worth the effort it takes to establish and maintain. The child becomes an active rather than passive learner, feels accountable for the work, builds a foundation on how to learn, develops thinking skills, and hopefully establishes the habit of lifelong learning.
PTA NEWS:
DISTRICT REFLECTIONS UPDATE
Congratulations to the following students who received special mention at the District Reflections Art competition last week:
Trinity G - AE (Award of Excellence)
Jenise D - HM (Honorable Mention) and
Hannah White - HM (Honorable Mention)
These students will be invited to the PAC for the Council Award Ceremony on the evening of February 9th, 20216.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR "DOGS WITH DADS"
Friday January 8th is "Dogs with Dads" night in the Hopewell cafeteria.
WATCH D.O.G.S. will be holding this event beginning at 6:30pm. Hotdogs, chips and drinks will be served, followed by a short presentation on the WATCH D.O.G.S. program and then a movie night! All dads, grandfathers, and uncles of students at Hopewell Middle School are invited to attend and have a great time!
WATCH D.O.G.S. will be holding this event beginning at 6:30pm. Hotdogs, chips and drinks will be served, followed by a short presentation on the WATCH D.O.G.S. program and then a movie night! All dads, grandfathers, and uncles of students at Hopewell Middle School are invited to attend and have a great time!
Hope you all have a wonderful Holiday Season!
We’ll see the students back on Tuesday, January 5th, 2016.
Karl
