School Series: Be actively involved in your child’s education.

Get to know your child’s teachers. Go to school meetings and special events like plays and holiday shows. Know when a test is coming up or a report is due. Here are some other ways you can be actively involved:
• Walk or drive your child to school when you can. If you drive your child, every now and then park the car and take a minute to go in if you can. Getting to know teachers and staff will help you and your child connect with school, especially in the elementary years.

• Find out about school and become familiar with your child’s schedule. It’s easier to have conversations about school if you know the names of all your child’s teachers and what’s going on in the classroom and at school. That way you can ask specific questions. “I heard you’re taking a trip to the town library next week. What are you studying?” “Are you going to enter a project in the upcoming science fair?” “Is your music class working on anything to perform for the holiday concert?”



• Talk about school every day. Try to ask open-ended questions rather than questions that can be answered with a one-word response. Instead of asking, “How was school?”—which is likely to produce a response like “OK”—you might ask, “What do you think of the new art teacher?” Ask specific questions. “What did your teacher say about the math homework?” Avoid focusing too much on grades and test scores, which may cause your child to feel stressed and anxious. You’ll learn more about your child’s school life if you ask questions that focus on learning instead of grades. Instead of asking, “What did you get on the test?” try asking, “What did you think of the test?”

• Make school a part of your family life. When your child does well, celebrate her success as a family. Encourage everyone in the family to attend a child’s concert, game, or performance. Make a special meal to celebrate, or all go out together for an ice cream. When your child has a school project, invite relatives and friends to share their knowledge. Remember that no one succeeds in school without the help of many other people—teachers, parents, and caring adults in the community.

• Notice when your child needs help. Watch for signs that your child may be having difficulty with schoolwork, teachers, or friends. Here are some things to watch for: a dramatic change in behavior (such as when a very talkative child becomes very quiet), a sudden drop in grades, your child saying day after day, “I don’t have any homework,” not wanting to go to school. If your child is having a difficult time, there are many ways to work with teachers and the school to find solutions and support. These are described later in this booklet.

• Help your child find positive friendships. Your child will turn to peers for acceptance, support, and approval throughout all his years in school. Healthy friendships can have a positive influence on your child’s personality and schoolwork. Get to know your child’s friends. Invite them to your home. Make a list of friends’ names, phone numbers, and their parents’ names. Find opportunities to talk to the parents of new friends. Encourage friendships that promote learning and a positive attitude toward school.

Source : Barney J Brawer & Elizabeth Dore Ed. Ceridian Corporation.2005