Share your ideas about the importance of education with your child.Talk about ties between what your child is learning today and how that knowledge might be used in the future. Begin to talk about possible education goals for your child. If you begin to think about goals, your child will, too. Talk about technical and professional schools in your area, careers that you find interesting, or people you have met that seemed to enjoy their work. Let your young student know that they have many educational possibilities!
Be careful not to pass on negative attitudes about school that may be a part of your own past experience. Without realizing it, you could start your child off on the wrong foot by recalling bad memories from your own school days. Giving children the idea that school is too difficult, that teachers are unfair, or that school isn’t important will discourage them from doing well. Instead, talk about your friends from school, your favorite teachers or your best subject. If school was a bad experience for you, you might tell them you made the mistake of not liking school and you don’t want them to do the same.
Help your child set education goals, both short term and long term. Talk to your child about the future and plans for high school, technical school or college. Tell your child you hope they will be successful in school.
A short-term goal may be finishing a writing assignment by Sunday night.
A long-term goal could be attending a trade school, the local community college or a university after high school.
Talk to your child about what they are learning at school.From kindergartner to high school senior, it’s important to ask students about their school subjects. Ask open-ended questions about their class work —questions that can’t be answered with a “yes” or ‘no.” Share any knowledge you have, and if you are curious, read the textbook!
Help your child get organized to do homework. Create a study area or corner for homework. You can start this as early as first grade, and it becomes more important as homework is assigned. Have a table and chair in a quiet place away from the TV, perhaps in the corner of a bedroom. Add a lamp, if needed. Add a box for books and supplies. Make a special trip to the store to buy supplies such as paper, pencils, and colored pens. As your child gets older, add a clock. Help keep this area tidy and ready for use.
Have a place to keep all communications from school. All schools are making an effort to keep in better touch with parents. Most communication is on paper and is sent home with your child. This includes reports on your child’s grades, lunch menus, coming events, newsletters, requests for materials from home, and so on. After you have read them, save them all in a box, basket, or easy-to-find location. This system will save the day over and over when a form needs to be read or returned to the school and your child is hurrying out the door. It takes some effort to make this plan work, but it also lets your student know that these communications from school are important to you.
Make rules about homework. Decide with your child on a good time to do homework and stick to that schedule as much as possible. Try to keep noise down during study times.
Ask what homework your child has been assigned and look it over when it is finished. Don’t be a tyrant about homework, though. The goal is for the student to be responsible for getting it done without excessive nagging. If homework isn’t getting done, talk to the teacher about ways to help your child. A joint effort may work better than “laying down the law.” Some schools post assignments and grades online or record homework assignments on telephone voice mail.
Help with assignments if you are asked, but don’t feel bad if you are unfamiliar with a subject. School has changed since you attended! The teacher is always there for additional help.
References
What you can do at home to help your child succeed at school. (n.d.). In Helping your child succeed at school. Retrieved March 8, 2012, from http://learningtogive.org/parents/helping/1_what_you_can_do.asp.
I hope you find this information helpful. I want to see your children have success at school, and I know you have a very important part in it. I encourage you to offer feedback on my weekly postings. You can create an account with Blogger and make comments or let me know in any other way you would like. I will be posting every weekend since I know most of you are busy during the week. Check back next weekend for more tips!
Kelsey Atkinson
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