"Mama said thereâd be days like this."Mama Said by The Shirelles Hi Reader, When your child gets in trouble at school, it can feel overwhelming. You hear about it secondhand and try to balance your childâs version with the teacherâs. Youâre managing their feelings, questioning the consequence, and juggling dinner and evening activitiesâall at once. Here are a few tips from a seasoned teacher to help you navigate this tricky situation:1. Teachers Put on Pressure
2. Little Kids Lie, Big Kids OmitHow do I know this? It's a part of child development! Of course it depends on your child's personality, but many behaviors are predictable by age. I highly recommend Yardsticks by Chip Wood to understand your child's phase in development.
3. Itâs Not Always a Big Deal
What I Wish I Could Tell TeachersDiscipline practices have shifted significantly. At my school, we were no longer allowed to take recess away as punishmentâit was deemed equivalent to an employeeâs break. We could only keep kids out of recess for safety reasons. This change pushed me to rethink how I approached consequences, and itâs when I learned about the power of meaningful consequences. The Power of Meaningful Consequences
This approach transformed my classroom. I realized that many young kidsâespecially 5-year-oldsâdonât even remember why theyâre being punished hours later. A 2 PM consequence for a 9 AM behavior doesnât resonate and doesnât teach the lesson effectively. By focusing on timely and relevant responses, I saw improvement in behavior and classroom dynamics. Itâs a small shift, but it makes a huge difference. What's New?đĽ New Video: This Wednesday I'll be release my final Banned Book Game of the year. Usually I just do 1-2, but since they have been performing so well I've created 4 this year. Click here to remind you when it's out!â đ Shopping small: I've been trying to support small businesses for Christmas this year, so I went to a huge market with hundreds of stalls. I discovered a store called Fancy Concrete that had great gifts. We got a gorgeous new decorative bowl for our home Things I Loveđ SO GOOD: This tea tastes like Christmas in a cup. It's a black tea with cinnamon, clove, ginger, and a hint of sweetness. I've been drinking it on cold mornings and it's so tasty! đď¸ Keep them busy: Every year Mike gets me a fun advent calendar. This year I decided to surprise him with his own: Professor Charlie's World Tour. This can be used as a set of fun puzzles or a Christmas countdown (no holiday packaging on it- just happens to be 24 challenges). Every day he solves the puzzle to get one step closer to finding out Professor Charlie's secret! Great for clever kids and husbands ages 9+ đ Easy: Did you know young children benefit from reading the same books again and again? But to get the most out of this experience, an adult should be having meaningful conversations with them. But how can you think of something to say beyond basics? This book subscription provides no/low prep activities, comprehension questions, and a map to track your child's progress. No commitment, you can try for one month or the whole year. Have a wonderful week! |
Learn about the latest news in education and tips to help your kids thrive in elementary school. Delivered to your inbox every Tuesday. Primary Focus was founded by Natalie Parmenter, a former kindergarten teacher to guide parents through elementary school. We provide information that is often common knowledge to teachers but is not widely known among parents. Primary Focus is dedicated to enlightening parents on all things elementary school so their children can thrive.
"Out for summer, out 'til fallWe might not come back at all" School's Out by Alice Cooper đđđ My June workshop sold out! Thank you so much for buying tickets and spreading the word. I've added a second date Mon June 23. Get your tickets here- save $5 with code FRIENDS5EVER Hi Reader, The end of the school year is a big deal. It marks growth, effort, and a whole lot of learning (in and out of the classroom!). But letâs be honest: itâs also a really busy time. I'm sharing 5 simple, repeatable...
"Anytime you feel danger or fear, then instantly I will appear" I'm Every Woman by Whitney Houston âłď¸ In Case You Missed It! Today is the LAST DAY for the Early Bird Discount for June's Workshop. Use code EARLYBIRD at checkout Hi Reader, Last week I returned to my old workplace to proctor the EOGs. These are the "End of Grade" state exams in North Carolina. These tests are long and really challenging. I'm going to be honest with you- I HATE STATE TESTING And I know a lot of you do too. It's...
"Just shower the people you love with loveShow them the way that you feel" Shower the People by James Taylor âď¸ Last Chance for workshop tickets- Get Ready for K Workshop is TOMORROW! Hi Reader, As the school year winds down, motivation gets⌠tricky.Kids are tired. Parents and Teachers are tired. Everyoneâs just done. Letâs talk motivationâquick refresher first: Intrinsic motivation = doing something because it feels good or meaningful (think: reading for fun, finishing a puzzle just to see...