Helping Your Student

Support your child’s progress

Parents are a child’s first teacher and they know their child in ways no one else does. By working in partnership with us, parents can help their child reach his/her fullest potential.

A parent’s primary role is one of encouragement and reinforcement. Parents can enhance what is experienced at school and foster a sense of excitement and a love for learning. Opportunities for parents to encourage the natural development of the child are endless. Children learn to read and write in a manner similar to the way they learned to speak. They observe others reading books, directions and signs. They watch those around them write shopping lists, and letters. Through watching others, they try these activities. By reading license plates, food labels or other objects around them children learn that print is meaningful and useful. Whether scribbling on scraps of paper, writing a note to a parent with letter-like marks, or reading a book by looking at the pictures, these attempts should be accepted and encouraged.

Your child will exhibit many beginning reading and writing behaviors throughout this year.

• Approximate Reading is retelling a story from memory using the story’s picture clues. Your child may use his/her finger to point to words or pictures.
• Scribble Writing is making different lines or strokes which may or may not refer to specific words or letters.
• Labeling pictures or commenting on items found in books.
• Reciting a Story Aloud while looking at pictures.
• Temporary Spelling is the use of a letter or letters to represent a word or phrase. For example, l or lik may be used to represent the word like.

To help, read with your child every day. Read a variety of stories (folktales, fables, information books, and poetry). Read different written materials such as cereal boxes, recipes, books, magazines, signs, and greeting cards.

• Model reading and writing in your home. Involve your child in writing shopping lists, telephone messages, or reading letters from relatives. Let your child see you reading books, instructions, newspapers, and magazines.
• Expose your child to wordless picture books. These encourage your child to use picture clues to make up his/her own stories.
• Encourage your child to take chances. Build the concept that learning means taking chances and not always being right.
• Take trips to the library.
• Include your child in family discussions. Use questions that involve who, what, where, why, and when.
• Use family activities as a chance to explore new language. Visit and talk about the zoo, library, park, store, movies, or sports events.
• Play games like “Simon Says” that involve following directions.
• Sing and read simple songs and nursery rhymes like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; Wheels on the Bus. Clap the rhythm.
• Read and follow recipe directions. This provides children with the opportunity to listen to and follow step-by-step directions.
• Reread favorite stories. Allow your child to choose the book for story time.
• Provide writing materials like pencils, pens, chalk, markers, crayons, different sizes and colors of paper, envelopes, and tape. Allow your child to write messages to family members, book authors, or friends. Also leave notes on the refrigerator or in a lunchbox from you to your child.
• Ask your child questions that require more than a “yes” or “no” answer. Example: “What do you think will happen to Goldilocks?” Look at books and magazines and ask questions about what was read.
• Listen to your child when he or she speaks. Show that you are interested in what is being said. This encourages good listening habits.

Help your child develop muscle coordination by letting your child

• Draw letters or numbers in the sand or on the sidewalk with a paintbrush and water.
• Use puzzles, clay, or dough.
• Use crayons, scissors, snaps, buttons, zippers.
• Run, hop on one foot and two feet.
• Catch a ball.

Help your child develop independence by letting him/her:  

• Make simple choices.
• Help choose his or her clothing.
• Perform simple household tasks.
• Dress himself or herself when possible.
• Find letters of his or her name in books, magazines, or signs. 
• Sort things by size, shape, and color (clothing, buttons, dishes).
• Count seeds, pennies, stamps, M&M’s or any other objects.
• Locate food items in the grocery store by looking at the pictures and the labels

When reading with your child:

• Let your child have opportunities to choose what book he/she wants to read.
• Pick a quiet time to read.
• Sit close to your child. Let your child see the pictures and print.
• Point to words as you read them. Refer to your child as a “reader.”
• Reread the book and encourage your child to join in with familiar phrases, turn the pages, and predict what will happen next.

PTA

An active PTA sponsors family socials, like the Welcome Back Picnic, Bingo Night, and fun assemblies, field trips, and materials that enrich your child’s school program. Parents can and do make a difference in the education of their children by joining other families and staff as members of the Columbia Elementary PTA.   A packet of general information about the PTA is sent home on the first day of school.  Everyone is encouraged to join the PTA.  Ideas and suggestions are always welcomed.

Parent Resources

Day care (SACC)

School Age Child Care (SACC) is a Fairfax County Office for Children program for children attending elementary school. The program accommodates families in which all adults in the home are working, attending school, or are disabled. The program provides professional care for children attending kindergarten through sixth grade, and is offered at most elementary schools, including Columbia Elementary. Fees are based on gross household income.

SACC operates school year, summer, winter, and spring programs. During the school year, children may enroll in separate sessions:  before school – 7:15 a.m. until school begins, after school – from the end of the school day until 6:15 p.m. Summer and winter/spring holiday sessions are offered at consolidated sites from 7:15 a.m. until 6:15 p.m.  Call SACC registration at 703-449-8989 to receive information or enroll.

Fairfax County Health Department

The goal of the Fairfax County Health Department is to protect public health and the environment in which we live. Services include:

• Immunizations, such as hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, polio, diphtheria, and pertussis
• Case management for high-risk children and families
• Children’s specialty services (neurology, cystic fibrosis, eye surgery, orthopedic)
• Primary health care for low income, uninsured county residents (pediatric care)
• Dental services for children
• Vision screenings and examinations
• Referral for other services within the county

For more information, call 703-569-1031 (TDD 703-591-6435).

Parenting classes

Fairfax County’s Center for Promoting Family Learning and Involvement offers classes, parenting tips, and resource for families. Their schedule includes single and multi-session classes for parents, family members, and caregivers of infants through teens. Classes are taught by professionals and are scheduled seasonally, three times per year. Most classes are 2 to 4 hours long and meet during the day, evening and/or some weekends.

Translator Contacts

Spanish: 703-764-7361

Korean: 703-764-7363

Make your connection with these Parent Information Lines. Get general information about FCPS and answers to your questions. Call anytime and leave a message. You will receive a return phone call in Spanish or Korean within 24 hours.

Mariam Pitchford is our Columbia Parent Liaison.