Handy+Tips+4+Parents

**READING** **Things you can do at home to help your child/children with their reading:**
 * Ensure your child reads every night.
 * Ensure that your child knows that you value and enjoy reading yourself.
 * Continue to read to your child if he/she enjoys it. You might have them read one page, then you read a page and so on.
 * Ask your child what word would make sense when he/she becomes 'stuck' on a word. Encourage your child to have-a-go and read-on to get the overall meaning.
 * If a child makes a mistake when reading aloud, don't interrupt the reading, allow time for self-correction. If the mistake doesn't alter the meaning, let it go.
 * Encourage your child to retell stories.
 * Encourage your child to read to younger brothers and sisters.
 * Read books that have been made into films or videos and encourage your child to talk about the differences between the books and the film

**WRITING**


 * Things you can do at home to help your child/children with their writing: **


 * Praise children's writing efforts and respond to the message rather than the grammar or spelling. Prominently display children's writing and demonstrate that you enjoy and value children's writing.
 * Have fun writing messages to each other. Try writing reminders, riddles and secret messages.
 * Look for opportunities for purposeful writing activities at home. Adults and children can write notes, telephone messages, holiday plans, helper's rosters, greeting cards, letters to friends or to relevant places for information.
 * Start a family diary to record special days, funny sayings, weekend activities and other significant events. Include photos, letters, cards and other mementos relevant to family. Share reading of the journal with family members.
 * Talk with children to help them clarify their thinking about their writing.
 * Talk with children about the sort of writing they are doing at school. If you are involved in writing for work show children how you write and explain why you are writing.
 * Encourage children to use a word processor is one is available.
 * Read children's draft writing and comment on the things you like about it. Encourage children to figure out their own answers, e.g. have-a-go at spelling a new word and then use a dictionary to check. Provide help if children ask for it but leave final decisions about writing to the writer .

**SPELLING**


 * Things you can do at home to help your child/children with their spelling: **


 * Internet Resources / iPad Apps: **

**MATHEMATICS**

**Things you can do at home to help your child with their development of Mathematical concepts:**

**Number Plate Knockout** When travelling by car you can play games that help children to understand numbers. In Number-plate Knockout, take turns to decide on a number range, e.g. a number between 200 and 270. The first player to spot a number plate within that range, e.g. BTM 239, wins one point and selects the next number range. The player with the most points after a certain time wins.

**Bounce into Maths** Many children love to play ball games. Help your child to learn their tables by playing a ball game with them. First, as a tables questions, e.g. 7 x 9. If your child answers correctly then they can have a shot at the basket or a kick for goal, etc. Ensure you score so effort is rewarded, e.g. a goal = two points; if the ball hits the ring without going inside, then score one point. Your child then asks you a tables question. You can also play in teams.

http://resources.oswego.org/games www.multiplication.com www.coolmath4kids.com www.mathplayground.com www.abc.net.au/countusin/games.htm www.mathsisfun.com www.funbrain.com
 * <span style="color: #ff0099; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 17px;">Internet Resources / iPad Apps: **

Doyle, T (2007) //Nelson Maths Teacher Resource Book Year 3//, Cengage Learning, Australia Doyle, T (2007) //Nelson Maths Teacher Resource Book Year 4//, Cengage Learning, Australia <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">First Steps Reading Developmental Continuum <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">First Steps Writing Developmental Continuum <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">First Steps Spelling Developmental Continuum
 * References:**