The Parent’s Guide to Public School

Making Waves For Science

Teach your child to be a careful observer and think like a scientist. With simple phrases, you can use everyday conversation to boost their critical thinking skills. You can also plan simple, free activities that help get them excited to explore the world around them.

Counting Past 100

Math gets more complicated in first grade, but it's easy to help your child at home so they will have an easier time at school. Listen to get ideas for activities to help them visualize quantities up to 120. Understand how to help them with place value using easy crafts and coins and get simple habits to do every day to help them learn to read and write 3-digit numbers. First Grade Journey (Game Board) [https://publicschoolsuccess.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/1st-grade-skills-printer-friendly.jpg] https://publicschoolsuccess.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/1st-grade-skills-printer-friendly.jpg [https://publicschoolsuccess.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/1st-grade-skills-printer-friendly.jpg] 120 Acts of Kindness Chart [https://publicschoolsuccess.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/120-acts-of-kindness.pdf] https://publicschoolsuccess.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/120-acts-of-kindness.pdf [https://publicschoolsuccess.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/120-acts-of-kindness.pdf]

Sound It Out: Blending and Segmenting Letter Sounds

This episode, hosted by Miriam Brown, offers insider tips for parents of first-grade children learn how to read. Parents will learn how to use simple guessing games while traveling in the car to help children learn that will support their ability to hear the individual letter sounds that form words. Miriam coaches parents on simple, age-appropriate practices to use during their bedtime story routine to start applying  knowledge of letter sounds to read short words. Short spurts of consistent, interactive practice will help children build phonemic awareness and unlock the world of reading. https://publicschoolsuccess.com/2025/10/08/__trashed/

Making Friends At School

One of most important reasons to send your child to school is so they will learn to get along with all kinds of people. In this episode, Miriam Brown talks about what can do to increase the chances that your child will be socially ready for elementary school. You will learn about how games, like high-low, and resources like "Mightier" video games, can help teach your child good conversation skills and good sportsmanship. Mightier Video Games: https://www.mightier.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqv2_BhC0ARIsAFb5Ac_3uZ9OAsHi6dsVBQiZkDp_5T1UlgeT8RpbhHmOp5S6EcuU-eLpjTAaAhwpEALw_wcB [https://www.mightier.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqv2_BhC0ARIsAFb5Ac_3uZ9OAsHi6dsVBQiZkDp_5T1UlgeT8RpbhHmOp5S6EcuU-eLpjTAaAhwpEALw_wcB] Deep Breathing: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/all-childrens-hospital/services/anesthesiology/pain-management/complimentary-pain-therapies/diaphragmatic-breathing#:~:text=Using%20your%20diaphragm%20also%20activates%20your%20vagus,body's%20stress%20response%20(or%20sympathetic%20nervous%20system).&text=Diaphragmatic%20breathing%20can%20help%20you%20deal%20with,may%20come%20from%20schoolwork%20or%20other%20situations. [https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/all-childrens-hospital/services/anesthesiology/pain-management/complimentary-pain-therapies/diaphragmatic-breathing#:~:text=Using%20your%20diaphragm%20also%20activates%20your%20vagus,body] High, Low, Buffalo: https://sunshine-parenting.com/highs-lows-buffaloes/ [https://sunshine-parenting.com/highs-lows-buffaloes/] Helpfulness: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/09/616928895/how-to-get-your-kids-to-do-chores-without-resenting-it  [https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/09/616928895/how-to-get-your-kids-to-do-chores-without-resenting-it]

Confusing b & d

Does your child get confused by the lowercase "b" and the lowercase "d"? This doesn't necessarily mean they have dyslexia. Find out when you should start to be concerned about it and how you can help them learn to distinguish between those tricky letters.   References and Resources Engage and Inspire with Mrs. Sneider. (n.d.). B & D Reversal Posters, Student Desk Cards, & Student Stickers [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/B-D-Reversal-Posters-Student-Desk-Cards-Student-Stickers-7651784]. [https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/B-D-Reversal-Posters-Student-Desk-Cards-Student-Stickers-7651784]Teachers Pay Teachers. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from B & D Reversal Posters, Student Desk Cards, & Student Stickers Kelly, K., & Margent, R. (2024, August 16). FAQs about reversing letters, writing letters backwards, and dyslexia. Understood.org. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://www.understood.org/en/articles/faqs-about-reversing-letters-writing-letters-backwards-and-dyslexia [https://www.understood.org/en/articles/faqs-about-reversing-letters-writing-letters-backwards-and-dyslexia] NOCO Dyslexia Center. (2022). Why the “Bed” Trick Doesn’t Work to Resolve b/d Confusion for a Dyslexic Student. NOCO Dyslexia Center. Retrieved 14 January, 2024, from https://www.nocodyslexia.com/post/why-the-bed-trick-doesn-t-work-to-resolve-b-d-confusion-for-a-dyslexic-student [https://www.nocodyslexia.com/post/why-the-bed-trick-doesn-t-work-to-resolve-b-d-confusion-for-a-dyslexic-student] Treiman, R., Gordon, J., Boata, R., Peterson, R. L., & Pennington, B. F. (2014, March 11). Statistical Learning, Letter Reversals, and Reading. Sci Stud Read, 18(6), 389-394. National Library of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888438.2013.873937 [https://doi.org/10.1080/10888438.2013.873937]