Taking Distress Out Of The Stress

The school year is off and running and you may have received what you think is gut-wrenching news; your child doesn’t have the teacher you or your child wanted. Or maybe your child doesn’t have any friends in their new class. Well, as stressful as it may be, rest assured that there are some things you can do to help alleviate the disappointment that you and/or your child have.

1. Encourage your child to build new relationships. I always tell my students that they will now have twice the amount of friends when starting off a new school year.
2. Arrange play dates to help build the new relationships and maintain the old ones. This is a fun way for kids to get to know each other in an informal setting or see friends from previous years.
3. Focus on the positive! I always try to see the glass as half full. Take time to discuss all the wonderful things about their new teacher and classmates.
4. Notify the guidance counselor and/or classroom teacher about your concerns and/or issues your child is dealing with. Maintain honest and open communication and keep in mind the importance of teamwork.

As the adult with life experiences find the right time to discuss with your child the bumps in the road. There are times when things don’t always go our way. We must learn how to adapt during what we think are turbulent times.

It is important to remember that your child’s school wants every child to have a wonderful school year. Guidance counselors and classroom teachers will help you and your child get off to a smooth start. I wish you and your child a spectacular school year!

Picture Book The Wednesday Surprise By Eve Bunting Every Wednesday, grandmother and granddaughter get together because mom and dad work. They plan a surprise for dad’s birthday but no one knows the surprise except grandma and granddaughter. On dad’s birthday grandma reads to her son and that’s the surprise, the granddaughter taught her grandmother to read. A warm heartfelt story!	Grades 2-3 Charlie Anderson By Barbara Abercrombie Charlie, a gray striped cat, spends his nights with Sarah and Elizabeth at their mother’s house-every morning he leaves. This goes on every night except on the weekends, when the girls stay with their father. One stormy night when Charlie fails to show up, Sarah and Elizabeth go in search of him and discover his special secret. Great story for children dealing with divorce.
Grades 4-6 Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! By Marilyn Burns For the Comfort family reunion, Mr. Comfort cooks up his famous spaghetti and meatballs, while Mrs. Comfort arranges eight tables and 32 chairs so that everyone will have a seat. This delightful Brainy Day Book uses humor to draw children into thinking about area and perimeter.	Teens Someone Is Hiding on Alcatraz Island By Eve Bunting Danny saves an old woman from an attack and doesn’t realize he is messing around with a tough gang from school. Danny flees to Alcatraz Island but soon the gang will catch up with Danny. This book keeps you on your toes. Great story for kids of all ages!
Parent Resource succeedtoread.com This website has great suggestions on how to help your child practice reading at home. From teaching how to rhyme to putting sounds together this site assists parents in helping their child improve their reading skills.