How can you help your child?

  1. Make reading your first priority. Read aloud to your child (all ages – through high school). Fathers should make a special effort to read to children, since boys often see reading as a “girl” activity.

Encourage your child to read. Have them bring a book everywhere and read when they are waiting. Make sure your child is reading for at least 20 minutes everyday including weekends for homework. Share a book with them. Read the same book separately and talk about what you thought (this is a great opportunity to talk about difficult situations and “right” choices).

Let them see you read for pleasure. Research shows that children who see their parents read and read for pleasure will read themselves. ATTEND A READING WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS!

  1. Ask your kids what they learned in school. This helps recall information and helps them remember!
  1. Provide time and a good work place for homework to be done –awayfrom the TV. Check to see that they are writing down their homework and doing it. Do not correct homework. Offer guidance not answers.
  1. Check the Friday Folder carefully and read all notices sent home.
  1. Encourage them to keep their materials neat and organized.
  1. Do not allow unsupervised time on the Internet. Keep kids from Myspace and AOL Instant Messenger until they are older. Keep computer time limited.
  1. Practice addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts everyday for 5 minutes. This will help them from becoming frustrated in math! Most often kids struggle with the basic facts not the concept or content. (see packet)
  1. Have your child packhimself/herself a healthy snack, and make sure your child has age-appropriate responsibilities at home – selecting their own clothes to wear,taking laundry to laundry room, feeding a pet, etc.
  1. Provide time and opportunities to play outside.
  1. Go to museums, read a map together, analyze movies and stories (characters, plot, setting), calculate change together, read recipes, etc.
  1. Volunteer to help in the classroom, on trips, or for parties. Become involved in the PTA.
  1. Be supportive and understanding. Encourage your child. Reward effort and improvement not grades. Tell them you are proud of them!
  1. Contact the teacher when there is a concern.