Port Barre Elementary School

Make summertime learning part of the fun Summer is prime time for combining learning and fun. Try having a family spelling bee (give each family member words that are appropriate for their skills). Or add math to a family trip (How many miles until we get there? How much gas will we need? How many steps to climb the hill?). Try some science and history with your child, too. Learn the names of the bugs or trees you see. Talk about ways the world has changed over time. With a little thought, you can add some learning fun to every day. https://tpitip.com/?15fd17376

To reduce anxiety, turn down the volume Is your child prone to stress and anxiety? Noise may be part of the problem. Loud, chaotic environments can contribute to anxiety and other issues that affect children's learning. Do what you can to eliminate background noise at home. For example, turn off the TV when no one is watching it. Or, take your child someplace quiet to unwind. Regular routines can also help your child maintain a sense of order. https://tpitip.com/?15fc17376

There's no deadline for summer writing The lazy days of summer are great for writing. Your child has time to think, choose the right word and make revisions. Encourage your student to do some writing this summer. Provide a notebook to use as a journal. Encourage your child to observe and take notes about people and things, and then write stories about them. You might even help make a collection of your elementary schooler's writings that your child could give as a holiday gift. https://tpitip.com/?15fb17376

📚✏️ Getting Ready for the New School Year! 🎒📘 Check out the 2025–2026 School Supply List to make sure your student is ready for a great year ahead! 🏫✨ 📝 View the full list here: https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1759/pbes/5803558/25-26_Supply_List.pdf

Use poems to build language skills Reading poetry together enhances your child’s awareness of language and how it can be used. Share a wide variety of poems with your elementary schooler. When you read them, speak slowly and let your child listen to each word. Your student is likely to hear new descriptive words. Talk about unfamiliar words, and help your child look them up. Your student will build vocabulary and gain ideas for use when writing. https://tpitip.com/?15fa17376

Help your child make a reading connection To encourage a love of reading, help your child get actively involved with the stories. One way is to ask your student to think about how things might have turned out differently. What if Laura Ingalls and her family had stayed in the big woods? You can also ask how a book is or isn't like your child's own life. "Have you ever felt like that? Would you have done what this character did? How might you have handled this situation differently?" https://tpitip.com/?15fZ17376

📣 2025-2026 Uniform & Backpack Policy 🎒👕 NOTE: Pre-K through 4th grade students will require a clear or mesh backpack. Stay tuned! 🎉 Details about Spirit Wear will be posted soon.

Disappointment offers a chance to learn You can't protect your child from disappointments at school or in life. But you can make it easier to cope with them, and even grow from them. First, ask how your child feels, and acknowledge those feelings. Then, ask questions about what happened, so your child can better understand the experience. Don't try to "fix things." Instead, help your child explore possible actions by asking "What if?" questions. https://tpitip.com/?15fY17376

Find a volunteer project that suits your child Participating in community service helps students develop leadership, initiative and other positive qualities that carry over into their school lives. To find a project that suits your child, brainstorm together about things your child cares about. Animals? Play space for children? Then, look for an activity that matches your student's interests and personality. A shy child might enjoy collecting used towels for an animal shelter. An active one might like cleaning up a park. https://tpitip.com/?15fX17376

Come join our team! Port Barre Elementary has two teacher positions open. Please contact Billie Cortez at 337-585-6172 or BCortez@slpsb.org.

A fun writing challenge helps kids think step-by-step One effective way to encourage clear thinking is to have your child write instructions. Choose a familiar activity, such as making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or playing a favorite computer game. Have your child write down the directions for doing it. Then, read the instructions back and have your child follow them exactly. Did they work? If not, have your student correct the directions, then try again. https://tpitip.com/?15fW17376

Minimize arguments and maximize cooperation Even the best-behaved children sometimes argue. To encourage cooperation from the outset, help your child develop self-discipline. Compliment good behavior, for example. If a task is within your child's capabilities, such as resolving minor spats with a sibling, let your child handle it. And be sure to enforce consequences for misbehavior consistently. When your child knows you mean what you say, it's less likely that testing you will seem worth the effort. https://tpitip.com/?15fV17376

Begin the conversation about the dangers of drugs and alcohol Your elementary schooler is not too young to begin learning about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. With first or second graders, look for teaching moments, such as news of a car crash caused by a drunk driver. Say, "WE know people should never drink alcohol and drive."By the time your child is nine, you can have longer talks. Start by asking, "What do you know about drugs and alcohol?" https://tpitip.com/?15fU17376

Responsibility is a key part of reading Reading is an entertaining hobby, but it involves responsibility, too. Teach your child to keep borrowed books in a special spot, like a basket or shelf, so they won't get lost or damaged. When books come home from the library, have your child write their due dates on the family calendar. To keep reading from interfering with sleeping, set an early tuck-in time so your child can read before lights-out. https://tpitip.com/?15fT17376

For math fact fun, this game is a winner Here's a game to try when your child is reviewing math facts. Grab a deck of cards and remove all the jokers and face cards. Deal half the cards to your child and half to yourself. To play, each of you turn over two cards. Have your child add each pair of cards together. The person with the highest sum takes all four cards. Continue through the deck. Whoever has more cards at the end wins. Try it with multiplication, too! https://tpitip.com/?15fS17376

Hunt for constellations on a night-sky walk A warm, clear summer night is the perfect time to take a walk outside with your child and look at the stars. Which constellations can you identify? Help your child research how the constellations got their names. Keep taking family night-sky walks across the seasons. Which constellations disappear? Which new ones can you see? Invent some constellations of your own. https://tpitip.com/?15fR17376

Keep vision problems from turning into school problems Children's ability to see can affect their performance in school. So it's important to be on the lookout for possible vision problems, so they can be treated. Ask your child to read to you. Does your child lose track of the words? Skip or reread lines? Leave out small words, or add words that aren't there? Does your student squint or complain of blurry vision or headaches? If you see these signs, consider having your child's eyes checked by a professional. An annual eye test is an important way to prevent vision-related school struggles. https://tpitip.com/?15fQ17376

Learning shouldn’t stop when school lets out To help your child be ready for school in the fall, make your home a learning place this summer. Ask what your child would like to learn, and plan some activities to help. You can also invite your child to join you in exploring a hobby you enjoy, such as gardening, astronomy or painting. Build problem-solving skills by asking, "How do you think you could do this?"instead of simply telling your child what to do. https://tpitip.com/?15fP17376

Magazines offer appealing ways to read Are you looking for ways to motivate your child to read? Try using magazines. Look for children's magazines—in print or online—with articles that match your child's interests. Then, ask your student to read an article to you. Another fun activity is to have your child cut out magazine pictures to create a rebus (a story that replaces some words with pictures). https://tpitip.com/?15fO17376

Empower your child to keep anger under control Anger and similar strong emotions can be overwhelming for children. To help your child learn to keep anger under control, ask, "What situations seem to make you feel angry?" Then, brainstorm together about what to do in those situations. You might give your child some self-talk phrases to repeat like, "I can handle this without losing my cool." Discuss what to say to others, too: "I'm too mad to talk now. Let's talk when we're calmer." https://tpitip.com/?15fN17376