As a parent, you are your child's first and most important
teacher. When parents and families are involved in their children's schools,
the children do better and have better feelings about going to school. In fact,
many studies show that what the family does is more important to a child's
school success than how much money the family makes or how much education the
parents have. There are many ways that parents can support their children's
learning at home and throughout the school year. Here are some ideas to get you
started!
Meet your child's teacher. As soon as the school year
starts, try to find a way to meet your child's teacher. Let the teacher know
you want to help your child learn. Make it clear that you want the teacher to
contact you if any problems develop with your child. Talk with your child's
teacher offers some great tips for developing a partnership with your child's
teacher.
If you feel uncomfortable speaking English, don't let a
language barrier stop you. What you have to say is more important than the
language you say it in! Ask the school to find someone who can interpret for
you. There may be a teacher or parent liaison who can help. Or you can bring a
bilingual friend or relative with you.
Get to know who's who at your child's school. There are many
people at your child's school who are there to help your child learn, grow
socially and emotionally, and navigate the school environment. Who's Who at
Your Child's School describes the responsibilities of teachers, administrators,
and district staff.
Attend parent-teacher conferences and keep in touch with
your child's teacher. Schools usually have one or two parent-teacher
conferences each year. You can bring a friend to interpret for you or ask the
school to provide an interpreter. You can also ask to meet with your child's
teacher any time during the year. If you have a concern and can't meet
face-to-face, send the teacher a short note or set up a time to talk on the
phone. For more ideas about how to prepare for parent-teacher conferences, see
Tips for Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences at Your Child's School.
Support your child academically
Find out how your child is doing. Ask the teacher how well
your child is doing in class compared to other students. If your child is not
keeping up, especially when it comes to reading, ask what you or the school can
do to help. It's important to act early before your child gets too far behind.
Also be sure to review your child's report card each time it comes out.
Apply for special services if you think your child may need
it. If your child is having problems with learning, ask the school to evaluate
your child in his or her strongest language. The teacher might be able to
provide accommodations for your child in class. If the school finds out your
child has a learning disability, he can receive extra help at no cost.
Make sure that your child gets homework done. Let your child
know that you think education is important and that homework needs to be done
each day. You can help your child with homework by setting aside a special
place to study, establishing a regular time for homework, and removing
distractions such as the television and social phone calls during homework
time. Helping Your Child with Homework offers some great ideas for ensuring
that your child gets homework done.
If you are reluctant to help your child with homework
because you feel that you don't know the subject well enough or because you
don't speak or read English, you can help by showing that you are interested,
helping your child get organized, providing the necessary materials, asking
your child about daily assignments, monitoring work to make sure that it is
completed, and praising all of your child's efforts. Remember that doing your
child's homework for him won't help him in the long run.
SOURCE: www.colorincolorado.org