Tips for 5th grade success

MATHGAME.COM

It’s easy to help your 5th grader achieve success if you have a few basic ideas about how to stay on top of lessons and everyday tasks. It is important to keep open and frequent communication with your fifth grader. Being aware of what he or she is learning and what kind of homework is required is just the beginning of helping him or her rise to the top. You can help your 5th grader become successful with a few easy tips.

1.  Learn everywhere. Encourage learning with every activity you do – ask open-ended questions and encourage well-thought-out responses. Ask questions about what your student is learning in different subject areas, and encourage him or her to share homework topics and projects with you. Create an environment at home that is conducive to learning and studying; be sure that your student has a quiet place to work, proper lighting, and whatever resources are needed to perform at his or her best.

2.  Every day reading. Encourage reading and all kinds of learning in any way possible! Take your 5th grader to the library, set aside reading time at home, and encourage your student to read directions, recipes, lists, or whatever you have to read. Challenge your child to read a variety of books. Then talk about the plot, the characters, and other parts of the narrative to help assess learning and comprehension. Also, try some fun   word games online to help reading speeds!

3.  Every day math. Use mathematical language whenever you can, practice math facts and concepts at home, while waiting for the bus or even while setting the table for dinner.  During the summer, make sure your child keeps reading, practicing and engaging.  Make up your own math activities, encourage your student to play free math games online. You can even try an old style favorite video game with a twist, likeMath Pac-man. Making math fun is a great way to engage your student in the learning process!

4.  Practice practice practice! Make every effort possible to ensure that your student is present and alert for the classroom lessons, especially for math class. New math concepts are introduced every day, and one lesson builds on the next. Help your student master the basic concepts before moving on to higher-level thinking content. Math games are a great way to practice and stay sharp!

5.  Open communication. Encourage your 5th grader to ask questions about what he or she is learning, and make sure that he or she understands mistakes before moving on to other topics. If needed, help your child find a study partner or friend who can help explain things better. And, be sure to keep communication open with your child’s teacher. It’s important for the teacher and parent to talk frequently about the student’s progress; everyone should be on the same page about the child’s skill level and ability to learn.

6.  Homework. Last but not least, when it comes to time for homework, make sure your student does all of the homework that’s been assigned. If he or she is struggling, make time to help. Homework is one of the best ways to practice concepts and master the material. Encourage your student to show his or her work and check the answers a second time.

Child independents

When toddlers and young preschoolers start in Montessori, parents are often amazed at the sudden spurt in independence and skill their children display.

If your child is starting in a Montessori toddler or preschool program, and you want to witness this incredible development in your own child, it helps if you are able to prepare your home environment in ways that support your child’s new skills and desire to be independent.

Here are some ideas to consider:

1. Provide simple storage spots for belongings right inside the front door.  A small rug to place shoes or a basket to put them into and some hooks to hang jackets are a great start.  This can help your child get out of the house and back in more independently, and maybe prevent some meltdowns!  A little stool to sit on helps, as well.

2. Make your kitchen accessible to your child.  Find a low shelf or drawer to store cups, placemats, and utensils within your child’s reach.  Buy glass cups and inexpensive ceramic plates (IKEA is great!) that you don’t mind getting broken.  Invite your child to set his own place at the table.  A bigger step stool, or a learning tower can be a great help to little people who want to join you in the fun cooking activities at counter height.  And, of course, when it comes time to sit down and eat, encourage your child to feed himself:  Even young toddlers can eat finger-foods on their own, and start using a spoon; this is what they do in their Montessori classrooms, too.

3. Organize and simplify the play area.  Fewer toys, displayed on open shelves, are preferable over lots of toys in boxes that the children can’t see.

4. Small chairs and tables facilitate independent snack time and organized playtime.  Provide some buckets, sponges, rags, and child-sized brooms, and your child can even clean up after himself.

5. Facilitate getting dressed independently.  Low open shelves, low racks, a mirror and a bench with brush or comb can enable even 2- or 3-year-olds to begin to dress independently, especially if you pre-select an outfit the night before, or lay out two simple choices for a younger child.

6. Consider a floor or other low bed.  Some Montessori parents never have cribs; instead, they baby-proof an entire room and let even infants sleep on a floor bed.  While this may not work for every parent, a low bed or a twin mattress on the floor can be a great step up after a crib, instead of a toddler bed.

7. Make books accessible and create cozy reading areas.  The more that books are all over your house, the easier it is for your child to grab a book instead of asking for your iPhone or the TV when you are not available to play.

To see growth in your child’s independence, it’s not necessary to reorganize your entire house (who has the time and energy for that?!).  Just pick one or two ideas and make little changes over time.  You might think your child is too young to take advantage of these kinds of opportunities for independence—but once she starts school, you might be just as surprised and thrilled as the LePort Montessori parents who wrote the Facebook posts above! 

Thanks to Bernadette, a LePort parent of three children, ages infant to preschool, for inviting us into her house to take many of these beautiful pictures!

Related Posts

• Transitioning to Montessori: Independence (Part 1 of 5)
• What's the big deal with independence in Montessori preschool?
• The Dual Purpose of Montessori Preschool Practical Life Activities