Hawthorne is very fortunate to provide special programs to meet the diverse needs of our student population. The following will help you understand the programs we have to offer.

Title I is a program that is funded through a grant from the federal government. This grant provides supplementary services for all of our students. It is designed to provide additional instructional assistance to the classroom teachers, and to provide materials needed for those services. Funding also provides additional teachers to our staff, enabling flexibility and diversity of programs. Students at Hawthorne benefit from instructional assistants who work with the teachers and students at all grade levels. Students receive individual and small-group instruction in reading, math, and language arts skills. Title I newsletters are sent home on a monthly basis. These provide parents with ideas and activities to do with their children at home.
For more information about Title I programs, please contact our Basic Skills Specialist, Gaye Heath at
(480) 472 - 7492 or e-mail her at gheath@mpsaz.org

Accelerated Reader is a program that ensures reading success for every child by encouraging students to read at a reading level that is appropriate for them. It provides not only time for reading but also the motivation to want to read. The goals of Accelerated Reader are to improve reading skills, to provide an opportunity for all students to read independently, to ensure success for each student as a reader, to build students' self-confidence, and to inspire a love of reading by creating lifelong readers.
We have a more detailed description of Accelerated Reader and a listing of the current books in the program. You can visit this site by clicking on Accelerated Reader on our Home Page or clicking on this link
http://www.mpsaz.org/hawthorne/accelreader.htm

If you have any questions about the Accelerated Reader Program, please contact our Media Specialist, Debbie Olson at (480) 472 - 7507 or e-mail her at olson@mpsaz.org

Accelerated Math is a program based on teacher-chosen objectives, that individualizes the mathematics instruction within a classroom and ensures the success for all students, regardless of ability. Teachers get timely, accurate information on every student's academic performance and students are provided with instant feedback using scan card answer sheets. The AM program generates the next practice assignment for each student, taking into account the objectives mastered and the objectives the teacher has assigned. Reports are frequently generated for both teacher and student to verify progress. The Accelerated Math Program is currently in use by our third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. For more information about Accelerated Mathematics, you can read about it at the Renaissance Learning website at http://www.renlearn.com/am

PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Special Education Preschool is a program for children who are developmentally delayed, speech language delayed, visually or hearing impaired. Children from the age of 2 years and 9 months, but are too young to attend kindergarten are part of this class. For more information about this program, contact our Special Education Preschool Teacher, Mrs. Gonzalez at 472 - 7491. To make an appointment for evaluation, contact MPS at (480) 472 - 0703.

HeadStart is a program for children who are 3 and 4 years old. It is free, however it's income-based. Call (480) 464-9669 ext. 288, for registration.

MELP is a program for children who are 4 years old before August 31st. This is an income-based program. Call Yolanda Chavira at (480)472-0378 for registration or any information.

Young Learners Kindergarten (YLK) is a program for childing turning 5 years old between Sept. 1st and Dec. 31st. This program is free for all students. It is on a first come first serve basis, space is limited.

Counseling
Hawthorne Guidance Counseling

The Hawthorne Elementary guidance counselor is Mrs. Mimi Senner. She sees all students K-6 for classroom guidance lessons, small group & individual counseling. She is also available for parent conferences & can assist families with community resources & referrals. She is organizing a Parent Center and planning parent workshops and classes during the year.
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Support and resources are always available to parents. Please feel free to contact guidance counselor, Mimi Senner(480) 472 –7513, or parent liaison Candida Arzaga, in the parent center – room 47.

How counselors make a difference for elementary school students:

Your student is supported by a team of caring adults--you, of course, plus teachers, administrators, & counselors-- working together to support your student's academic achievement and personal development. Counselors contribute to your child's academic success by:

Teaching skills in leadership, test-taking, decision-making, effective communication, personal safety and protection, and positive peer relationships.
Supporting students during times of crisis,
Guiding students in improving academic skills, setting positive goals, exercising self-responsibility, and expanding career awareness,
Coordinating referrals and community resources for students & families, as needed.
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When should you call a counselor?

1. When your student is having difficulty learning.
2. When family changes interfere with academic progress.
3. When your child needs extra help adjusting to school.
4. When you want to arrange a meeting with several teachers or with both a teacher and a counselor.
5. When you want to discover available community resources & agencies for your student or family.
Programs:

Care Team: This committee made up of Principal, Assistant Principal, Nurse, and Counselor teachers & staff works in conjunction with PTA's Helping Hands Committee. The Care Team provides resources for children and/or families during a time of crisis/need.
TAT Team: coordinated by Chuck Burger, Assistant Principal, this committee is made up teachers, special education, and support staff. This team provides resources for children & families who may need assistance for special programs, based on recommendation from this team.


Basics to Help Children
Control Anger
? Be a good role model by controlling your own anger.
? Limit your child’s viewing of violence in the media, whether on TV, in movies, video or Internet.
? Keep your child healthy, with enough rest and nutritious foods.
? Learn to recognize signs of stress in your child and help him/her handle stress you can’t reduce.
? Encourage your child to put angry feelings into words rather than into physical actions.
? Teach your child to respect the feelings of others.
? Help your child make a list of things to do when angry that won’t hurt himself/herself or others.
? If you blow up at your child, apologize later, after you’ve calmed down.
Smart Parenting, 1999 The Positive Line, ASI #79930. Reviewed by Psychologist David Rubin, PhD.
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ABC's To Self Esteem Family Checklist

A. TALK it out
B. LISTEN to each other
C. Set aside TIME for family activities
D. INVOLVE each family member in family decisions
E. RESPECT privacy - knock on closed doors
F. AGREE to disagree
G. Go for a family walk or play a game
H. REMEMBER that no one is perfect
I. PRAISE each other
J. BE PATIENT

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Tips for “Grooving” Back Into the School Year

• Make a plan for after school activities. Schedule adequate time for homework, play, and sports
• Reduce TV time during school days
• Establish a family reading time
• Establish bed times for school nights
• Keep a large calendar. Mark each family member’s activities in a different colored pen.
• Collect important phone numbers. Update doctor, work and other listings for the school office, after-school program and a neighbor.
• Have a backup plan. Find another parent who will exchange school pickup favors-incase you become sick or delayed by work or traffic.
• Develop a study space for your child. Include pens, pencils, a dictionary and other needed supplies.
• Make a file for school papers. Place all school notices in it so you don’t misplace them.
• Get children in the habit of getting ready the night before school. Set out clothes, pack lunch and put the backpack by the front door.

Source: Barbara Albers, “12 Ways to Gear Up for School,” Family Circle, September 1, 1995 (Gruner &Jar, 685 Third Avenue, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10017-4024. 212/878-8700).

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Suggested Reading List for Parents of Elementary Students
Student Academic Support and Advisement

Miram Adderholdt-Elliott, Perfectionism: What is Bad About Being Too Good?
Louise Bates Ames, Arnold Gesell, and Frances L. Ilg, The Child from Five to Ten
T. Berry Brazelton, Working and Caring
Barbara Brooks, The Scared Child: Helping Kids Overcome Traumatic Events
Lee Canter & Lee Hausner Ph.D., Homework Without Tears.

Jean Illsley Clarke, Self Esteem: A Family Affair
Foster Cline and Jim Fay, Parenting with Love and Logic
Barbara Coloroso, Winning at Parenting Without Beating Your Kids.
Stephen Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families
Bernice E. Cullinan, Reading to Me: Raising Kids Who Love to Read
Dolores Curran, Traits of a Healthy Family
Dr. Don Dinkmeyer & Gary McKay, Raising a Responsible Child
Rudolph Dreikurs, Children the Challenge
David Elkind, The Hurried Child
Adele Faver and Elaine Mazlish, Siblings Without Rivalry
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen
How to Talk So Kids Can Learn
H. Stephen Glen & Jane Nelson Ed.D, Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self Indulgent World
Positive Discipline (Jane Nelson)

Edward Hallowell & John Ratey, Driven to Distraction: Recognizing & Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood

Louise Hart, The Winning Family

Karen Renshaw Josline, Positive Parenting from A to Z
Florence Karnofsky and Trudy Weiss, How to Improve Your Child’s Language and Thinking Skills
Kevin Leman, Making Children Mind without Losing Yours
Amy Lew and Betty Lous Bettner, A Parent’s Guide to Understanding and Motivating Children
Linda Madaras, What’s Happening to My Body – Girls
What’s Happening to My Body – Boys
Robert J. MacKenzie, Setting Limits
Carl Metzger, Good Parenting Guide
Dr. Ruth Allen Peters, Don’t be Afraid to Discipline
Frank Walton, Winning Children Over (English and Spanish).