A Message from the
Executive Director
The last official days of summer
are coming to an end and we are gearing up for another great
year at Investing in Children. Plans are well underway for
our Leadership Camp at Stevenson Children’s Camp. Hundreds
of students from across the Thames Valley area will have an
opportunity on Sept. 25, 27 and October 2,4 to explore team
building and leadership initiatives. Our Community Service
clubs, homework clubs and Family Literacy events will soon
be underway. We are also planning on a new Community Art project
at the Stronach Community Centre thanks to a grant from the
Sifton Foundation.
This is also the perfect time
for parents to establish good routines for their children
going back to school. Making sure that our children have healthy
food choices for breakfast and lunch will aid in their concentration
at school and overall health. Homework also becomes a part
of our children’s lives and we are providing some helpful
tips in this emailer to assist your child with a homework
routine.
We look forward to celebrating
with you our many successes over the coming year. These successes
belong to all of you who support Investing in Children and
we thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Anita Gilvesy
Executive Director
Book Camp
Investing in Children's
Book Camp London, held in partnership with the London Public
Library and supported by
Ontario Arts Council. 40 young authors took part in Book Camp
London on August 20-24, working closely with professional
writers, artists and editors to develop their skills and hone
their craft.
Children's
Nutrition Network
We are pleased to announce that
45 schools in London and Middlesex County will receive over
$70,000 from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to
help support their student nutrition programs. The research
shows that students who begin their day with a nutritious
start are able to concentrate better in school, have less
discipline problems and are healthier. With obesity rates
in children at an all time high, we need to recognize the
urgency of this problem. By teaching our children how to make
healthy food choices and encouraging them to increase their
physical activity we can begin to address this issue.
Schools wishing to access funding
from Breakfast for Learning can do so at www.breakfastforlearning.ca.
The next application deadline is October 15, 2007 with funding
being received January 2008.
The deadline for the Thames Valley
Children’s Nutrition Network Back to School Nutrition
Contest closes October 5, 2007. Information regarding this
contest was sent to all principals in Thames Valley Area elementary
schools. The winning classes will receive $100 and an opportunity
to appear on the A Channel Morning show.
New Supporters
Investing in Children would like
to thank Green Shield Canada for their sponsorship of our
Family Literacy Events during this coming school year.
Homework
Tips
Returning to school means returning
to the routine of waking up early, walking to school and making
lunches. It also means returning to homework! Homework is
often one of those tasks that students and parents may not
enjoy but it is a necessary link between the school and your
child. Teachers use homework to see whether the student understands
the classroom lesson and it helps students learn to find and
use information on a subject as well as to review information
that was taught in the classroom.
Research shows that when homework
is turned in to the teacher, graded, and discussed with students,
it can improve students' grades and understanding of their
schoolwork. Children who spend more time on regularly assigned,
meaningful homework, on average, do better in school, and
that the academic benefits of homework increase as children
move into the upper grades.
The following is a list of tips
that will assist your child with their homework routine:
- Make sure your child has
a quiet, well-lit place to do homework.
Avoid having your child do homework with the television
on or in places with other distractions
- Make sure the materials your
child needs are available (include pens, pencils, sharpener,
glue stick, scissors, computer disc and dictionary). Place
the materials in a box or basket that is easy for the child
to access
- Help your child with time
management. Establish a set time each day for doing homework.
Don't let your child leave homework until just before bedtime.
Think about using a weekend morning or afternoon for working
on big projects, especially if the project involves getting
together with classmates.
- Be positive about homework.
Tell your child how important school is. The attitude you
express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires.
- When your child does homework,
you do homework. Show your child that the skills they are
learning are related to things you do as an adult. If your
child is reading, you read too. If your child is doing math,
balance your checkbook.
- When your child asks for
help, provide guidance, not answers. Giving answers means
your child will not learn the material. Too much help teaches
your child that when the going gets rough, someone will
do the work for him or her.
- When the teacher asks that
you play a role in homework, do it. Cooperate with the teacher.
It shows your child that the school and home are a team.
- If homework is meant to be
done by your child alone, stay away. Too much parent involvement
can prevent homework from having some positive effects.
Homework is a great way for kids to develop independent,
lifelong learning skills.
- Stay informed. Talk with
your child's teacher. Make sure you know the purpose of
homework and what your child's class rules are.
- Help your child figure out
what is hard homework and what is easy homework. Have your
child do the hard work first. This will mean he will be
most alert when facing the biggest challenges. Easy material
will seem to go fast when fatigue begins to set in.
- Watch your child for signs
of failure and frustration. Let your child take a short
break if she is having trouble keeping her mind on an assignment.
Often breaking for a 5 minute period to get a snack or drink
can refresh the child.
- Reward progress in homework.
If your child has been successful in homework completion
and is working hard, celebrate that success with a special
event (e.g. a walk, a trip to the park) to reinforce the
positive effort.
Together, families and teachers
can help children develop good study habits and attitudes
to become lifelong learners.
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