1. LEAP Back-to-School Read Alouds & Homework Help
September 2017

2. Welcome & Overview Introductions & Housekeeping Ready for Read Alouds
Homework Help
Back-to-School Tips
Comments & Questions

3. Read Aloud Secrets! Practice, practice, practice
Pick a book – have TLAs or children help with your selection
Read it all the way through!
Read it out loud to yourself or your friends or your family or your pets.
Read it aloud as part of a program

4. Practice, Practice, Practice!
A Read Aloud
from Julie Skodzinski

5. Read Aloud Break out Session
Work in groups of 2-3
Select a book:
take turns reading it to yourself
read it to a partner or the group
talk about:
how it went
ways to get children more interested in the story
what could you do differently?
Start around 10:15

6. Found Objects Dig deep into your pockets, handbag, backpack, or purse
Find one thing in your pockets or bag that represents you
Share with those at your table!

7. Literacy Activities Homework
Homework is not punishment.
Literacy activities are not a reward.
Hands-on learning supports education.
Both can spark curiosity.
Inclusive of multiple learning styles.
Benefits to learning in a social setting.

8. , huh, what is it good for?
Allows for practice/review of what was covered in class
Improves thinking and memory
Helps establish study skills
Promotes accountability
Allows for skill building
Extends the school-day learning
Promotes independent work habits
Introduces student to various resources
Helps parents learn more about what children are learning
Encourages development of time management skills
Ask for examples:
Review/practice what students have already learned
Get ready for next class
Learn to use resources – libraries, encyclopedia, computers
Explore subjects more fully than class time permits
DON’T DO THE ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE KID (if parents are doing kids homework, that’s on them)
Doing homework for the child can actually limit their self-confidence.

9. Homework Help Strategies at the Library
Do you understand what you are supposed to do?
Have the child paraphrase the assignment.
What do you need to finish the assignment?
Read through and review the steps required to complete the assignment.
Have you ever done any problems like the ones you are supposed to do now?
Relate the current assignment to a previous one when possible.
Do you have everything you need to do the assignment?
What physical things do you need? A ruler? Colored pencils? Graph paper?
Do you need help in understanding how to do your work?
Check in & see how the child is doing with the assignment.
Does the answer make sense to you?
Is this the answer you expected? Can you explain how you got this answer?
Have the child paraphrase the assignment. Are there words or concepts the child doesn’t understand?
Ask the child to consider all the steps that are needed to complete the assignment – do they have everything that is needed?
As the child works, check in to make sure they understand the homework – are they struggling with one or more aspects? Is it a subject that you are familiar with enough to provide guidance?
Relate this New Homework to something the child may have already done. “ is very similar to the subtraction homework we did last year – do you remember what 9-2 is?”
Does the assignment require coloring a graph or using a metric ruler?
Is this the answer you expected? Can you explain what you mean by this sentence/paragraph? Still having problems? Suggest the child take a 5 minute break – walk away, shake it off, get some water…

10. Home
You can help parents and caregivers support homework at home by sharing these tips with them at the start of the school year & throughout the year!
Know the teachers
Understand what the teachers expect
Create a homework zone at home
Set up a homework schedule
Use meaningful praise
Pinpoint what the issues are
Ask open-ended questions

11. -ended Questions
How would you …..? What would happen if ….? How does … compare with ….? What would you do differently? How would you improve ….? What could be done to improve ….?

12. Troubleshooting Common Homework Issues
What if the children are actively uninterested in doing their homework?
How can LEAP staff help students who don’t have notes or instructions that help explain key concepts for an assignment?
What if it seems as though the child is struggling or behind? How can LEAP staff help them without frustrating the child?
How can LEAP staff provide support to a student who regularly waits until the last minute to complete a school project?

13. Homework Help Best Practices
Work in small groups and consider:
What has been the biggest homework struggle you’ve encountered?
How do you cultivate a productive homework environment?
What homework help is your go-to tactic?
What worked for you as a student?

14. For more on Everyday Mathematics, visit everydaymath.uchicago.edu.
The School District of Philadelphia uses Everyday Mathematics for grades 1-5.
Everyday Mathematics uses several techniques to help children develop their basic number-fact reflexes.
The Everyday Mathematics curriculum emphasizes:
Use of real-life examples
Repeated exposure to concepts and skills
Practice of computation skills as a means of building mastery and recall
Multi-modal to accommodate different learning styles
Problem-solving strategies to foster proficiency
For more on Everyday Mathematics, visit everydaymath.uchicago.edu.

15. Everyday Math Videos Column Addition Trade First Subtraction
Lattice Multiplication
Partial Quotients Division

16. Mathematics x 2!
Websites all K-6 School District of Philadelphia students might find helpful include:
Study Island – studyisland.com
First in Math – firstinmath.com
Internet for Classrooms – internet4classrooms.com
Cool Math 4 Kids – coolmath4kids.com
A Plus Math – aplusmath.com

17. Science Homework Help Websites List
Science Resources
Discovery Education
Amazing Space
Science Homework Help Websites List
Science tools
Everyday Mysteries

18. Guide Learning & Inspire Curiosity
How Everyday Things Are Made - manufacturing.stanford.edu/hetm.html
The Magic School Bus - scholastic.com/magicschoolbus
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Virtual Tour - mnh.si.edu/panoramas
Virtual Caves - goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave
Starfall - more.starfall.com/
Learning Games for Kids - learninggamesforkids.com

19. Writing & Vocabulary Help
Vocabulary Lists
ABCYA
Spelling City
Kidsspell
Word the Day & more!!

20. Homework Help – At Your Fingertips!
Free!
Live Tutoring!
Study Tools!
Writing Lab!
Career & College Exploration!
More!

21. Good Study Habits
Teachers give tips, but good study habits aren’t formed overnight.
We can help reinforce good study habits.
Share examples of good study habits.

22. Questions? Comments?