220 E. Sunset, De Kalb IL, (815) 754-2212, fax (815) 758-1279
Mrs. Anna Hoyou - Principal
School Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
A Note from our Principal
In the doldrums of winter, I have been hard pressed to find an inspiration for this newsletter article. It is too early to talk about the ISAT tests that will happen in March, too late to discuss the snowfall, but just right to bring up student achievement. After listening to President Obama’s State of the Union Address, I found just the inspiration I was looking for.
Next week you will be receiving your child’s report card along with other student data that Lincoln Elementary School routinely sends home. It is not the specific data that inspired me to write, but the idea of two parties working together toward a common goal. In politics we refer to the Democrats and Republicans; in education we look to parents and teachers. If both of these parties are working toward the same goal, student growth, the possibilities are great.
Successful children have supportive homes. The following excerpt is taken directly from the U.S. Department of Education, Educational Partnerships and Family Involvement Unit.
GENERAL HOMEWORK TIPS FOR PARENTS
✪ 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, such
as people coming and going.
✪ Make sure the materials your child needs, such as
paper, pencils and a dictionary, are available. Ask your
child if special materials will be needed for some projects
and get them in advance.
✪ 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,
✪ 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. Follow the directions given by the teacher.
✪ 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.
✪ 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., pizza, a walk, a trip to the park) to
reinforce the positive effort.
Please take these suggestions into consideration or contact your child’s teacher for specific strategies
and suggestions that are specific to your student’s growth.
Thank you for your partnership and collaboration in your child’s success!
Anna Hoyou, Principal