 | It's little late in the month to emphasize it for September, but the same holds true for the entire school year: attendance matters. The following message was included in a recent Eagle Minute from Joplin Schools. |
Missing a day here and there won't hurt, right? Research shows that absences, excused or unexcused, can add up to academic trouble.
Attendance matters as early as kindergarten. Studies show many children who miss too many days in kindergarten and first grade can struggle academically in later years. They often have trouble mastering reading by the end of third grade.
By middle and high school, chronic absence is a leading warning sign that a student will drop out.
Too many absent students can affect the whole classroom, creating churn and slowing down instruction.
Parents can help:
*Avoid extended vacations that require your children to miss school.
*For younger children, you can set a regular bedtime and morning routine. Make sure they get 9 to 11 hours of sleep. You can lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
*For older children, you can help set homework and bedtime routines that allow for 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 hours of sleep. Make sure that when the lights go out so do cell phones, video games, and computers
Above all, set an example for your child. Show him or her that attendance matters to you and that you won't allow an absence unless someone is truly sick.
