om
What’s happening here? You’re
simply trying to connect with your child. And while it seems like he’s brushing you off, he may just be trying to disengage from school business. And your questions prevent that. Or he’s so used to the question rolling off your tongue as a form of greeting, that he doesn’t think you expect a real answer. Rather than push harder for answers to your standard end-of-the-school-day questions, why not try some new conversation primers? Here are 21 ideas to get you rolling:
15. Who do you admire in your class? What do you like about them?
CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC SCHOOL
16. When you approach school, who did you look for first? Why?
Openings in grades K3 through 8th
17. Tell me about one thing you learned today. What makes it interesting?
1. Tell me something that made you laugh.
18. What do you hope to do tomorrow?
2. Who did you encourage today? How?
19. What part of your day do you wish lasted longer?
3. Who encouraged you? What did they do?
20. What’s the best thing about your teacher(s)?
4. If you had a “do-over” button, which part of your day would you press it on? Why?
21. What don’t most people at school know about you?
5. What are you glad for? 6. Is there anything you missed today? What do you miss about it? 7. Name something you are proud of. 8. If you could be any teacher in your school, which one would you be? Why? 9. If today had a color, what would it be? Why? 10.Who did you sit with at lunch today? What did you talk about? 11. What do you look forward to next week/weekend/month? 12. Name something you’re good at now that you weren’t last year. What makes it easier? 13. What’s one thing you’d like to learn to do someday? 14. What’s one thing I could do for you or say to you that would make you feel good?
Registering NOW!
Interested parents are invited to tour our school, meet with
For fun, write each question on a slip of paper and place in a container near the dinner table or in your car. Each evening pick out a question from the container to ask. Invite your child to add questions of his own to the mix or let him create his own container of questions to ask you. Take turns answering the same or different questions. If all else fails, try posing this final question and see if your child can begin building the bridge from his side of the conversation: What question do you wish I would ask you after school? Some tips on creating an atmosphere that encourages dialog: • Don’t machine gun multiple questions at your child at once. It’s best to only ask one or two questions to get conversation going. Then stop and listen. • Be prepared to answer any question that you ask. And be honest in the answers you give. You and your child can both learn more about each other and what goes on in your day when you create an atmosphere of safety and openness.
students, teachers and current parents while learning about our many excellent academic programs for all students. Join us at an Open House program.
Friday, December 6th, 2013 9 a.m.—1 p.m. Sunday, January 5th, 2014 1 p.m.—3 p.m.
6300 McKenna Drive Mobile, Alabama 36608 www.corpuschristiparish.com/school 251.342.5474
• Listen carefully to your child. Reflect back what you hear her say. Acknowledge any emotions implicit in the communication. MBP Lara Krupicka is a contributing writer.
59
www.facebook.com/mobilebayparentsmagazine