Susan Wolf

Mary Shoemaker Guidance Counselor

From the day children are born until they graduate from high school, they spend just 15 percent of their waking hours in school.  The other 85 percent is spent outside school - and most of that is spent at home.  That means parents are their children's most influential teachers.  Fortunately, children are naturally curious and love to learn. 

                                                       

                                    Understand Your Child to Reinforce Good Behaviors

A child's habit's effect her school success. Kids who study every day and who turn in their homework on time do better than kid's who don't.
But few children choose those habits without a fight. So if you want to help your child develop them, you may be in for a bit of a struggle. Still, you will be more successful if you understand these basics:

** Behaviors that are rewarded tend to continue. Behaviors that are punished tend to decrease or even stop. Neither will be true unless the rewards and punishments matter to the child.

** Consequences must be applied every time. Otherwise kids will try to wear you down.

** Some kids need both positive and negative consequences. ("If you do all your homework this week, you can have a friend for a sleepover. Otherwise, you'll lose TV time this weekend.")

** Grandma's rule (work before play) is always a good idea. Try this if your child asks you for something and you haven't had time to think about it. ("Let me think about that. But I'll be more likely to say yes if you have your math problems finished.")

** As a parent, you have the right to say, "No".

Source: Ruth Peters, Overcoming Underachievement, 2000 (Broadway Books, 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, 202/782-9000). ISBN: 0-767904-58-3, paperback, 207 pp., $12.95.

 Sparklers

      Students are awarded a "Sparkler" when they do something worthy of school-wide recognition. They are acknowledged by our principal, Mrs. Cioffi, who gives them a Sparkler ribbon to wear. At the end of the month, they are invited to a lunch with all the other Sparklers. These lunches are held outside (weather permitting) where students can bring beach towels to have a picnic.  In the case of bad weather, the luncheons are held in the art room.  They are given a treat baked by the Junior Women's Club of Woodstown. The children who receive sparklers each month are acknowledged in "Today's Sunbeam".  They also have their picture taken to be displayed on the bulletin board. Please stop and see the pictures of all our Sparklers throughout the year. The bulletin board is located outside the gym.

Congratulations to all our SPARKLERS!!!

                                                                Email me:  wolf.s@woodstown.org                         

                                                                    Call me at (856) 769-0144 ext. 3132