As a parent, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. When parents and families are active in their children’s schools, they perform better and feel better about going to school. In reality, multiple studies show that what the family does influences a child’s academic achievement more than how much money the family makes or how educated the parents are. Parents may help their children learn in a number of ways at home and during the school year. Here are some ideas to get you started!
Become friends with your child’s teachers and other school workers.
- Meet your child’s instructor. Make an effort to meet with your child’s teacher as soon as the school year begins. Tell the instructor that you wish to contribute to your child’s education. Make it clear that you want the teacher to contact you if your kid has any problems.
If you find it tough to communicate in English, don’t let that deter you. The subject of your argument is more important than the manner in which you convey it. Please ask the school to assist you in locating an interpreter. A teacher or a parent liaison may be able to help. You might also invite a bilingual friend or family member.
- Determine who the important actors at your child’s school are. Several professionals work at your child’s school to help them with their academic progress, social and emotional development, and academic achievement. Although every school is different, this page will provide you an overview of the personnel at your child’s school.
- Attend parent-teacher conferences and keep contact with your child’s teacher. Every school year, one or two parent-teacher conferences are held. You can either bring a buddy to interpret or ask the school to send one. You can request a meeting with your child’s teacher at any point throughout the school year. If you have a problem but are unable to discuss it in person, send the instructor a brief message or make a phone call.
Assist your infant with their studies.
- Monitor your child’s improvement. Inquire with the instructor about your child’s performance in class in relation to other students. Find out what you or the school can do to help if your kid is slipping behind, especially in reading. It’s vital to intervene quickly before your child falls farther behind. Examine your child’s report card every time it is issued.
- If you feel your kid is eligible, fill out a special services application. If the school believes your kid is having learning issues, request that they test him or her in the language that is most comfortable for him or her. Because of the teacher, your kid may be able to attend class with adjustments. If the school concludes that your kid has a learning disability, he may be entitled for free supplementary support.
- Be certain that your youngster completes his or her schoolwork. Make it clear to your child that you value education and that everyday homework completion is expected. Creating a designated study room, establishing a regular homework schedule, and cutting out distractions such as television and phone calls from friends are all strategies to help your child with their homework.
If you are hesitant to help your child with their homework because you believe you do not understand the subject well enough or because you are unable to speak or read English, you can still help by demonstrating your interest, assisting your child with organization, providing the necessary materials, asking your child about daily assignments, checking to see that the work is completed, and praising all of your child’s efforts. Remember that doing your child’s schoolwork will not benefit him in the long term.
- Look for homework aid if your child requires it. If it’s difficult for you to help your child with homework or other schooling, look for someone else who can. Contact the school, tutoring groups, after-school programs, churches, and libraries. Instead, seek support from an older student, a close neighbor, or a friend.
- Help your youngster prepare for tests. The outcomes of tests are critical in establishing a student’s grade. Furthermore, your kid may take one or more standardized exams during the school year, and their teacher may devote class time to test preparation. As a parent, you may assist your kid both before and after she takes a standardized exam. There are also other methods you may assist her in developing everyday learning habits that will better prepare her for the test.
Take an active role in your child’s school life.
- Learn about the school’s offerings. Read the material provided home by the school and, if required, request that it be sent to you in your original language. Inquire with other parents about the programs provided by the school. A music program, an after-school activity, a sports team, or a tutoring program may be appealing to your youngster. Keep track of everything that occurs during the school year.
Engage in volunteer initiatives at school and/or parent-teacher groups. Teachers admire parents who help at the school. There are several ways for you to become involved. By volunteering, you may help your child’s class or the school library. You may cook for a school occasion. Even if you work during the day, you can still attend your child’s performances or “parents’ night” activities. A group of parents meets on a regular basis at the majority of schools to discuss the institution. This group is also known as the PTA or PTO. At the meetings, you will have the opportunity to communicate with other parents and work together to improve the school.
Learn more and advocate for your child.
- Conduct enquiries. If you have any concerns about your child’s learning or conduct, talk to the teacher or administrator about it. For example, what specific reading issues does my child have? What can I do to help my youngster resolve this problem? What can I do to prevent the bully from harassing my son? How can I make my child finish their homework? To which reading group does my child belong?
- Learn about your legal rights. Understanding your parental rights regarding special services, English instruction, immigration status, and other issues is critical.
- Inform the school of your concerns. Is your child doing well in school? Is he or she having difficulty with education, conduct, or learning? Is there a problem with a teacher, administration, or another student?
At home, encourage your child’s education.
- Demonstrate to your children that you value education. Our everyday actions and words may have an impact on how kids feel about school and learning, as well as how confident they grow as learners. Demonstrating to our children how much we value education and how we use it in our everyday life is an important aspect in their academic success.
Furthermore, by taking an interest in their children’s education, parents and families may instill passion in them and help them realize that studying can be rewarding as well as pleasurable and is well worth the work required.
- Monitor your child’s television, video game, and online usage. American children spend significantly more time online, playing video games, and watching television than they do doing homework or other schooling.
- Encourage your youngster to read. Reading is the single most important thing you can do to help your child thrive in school and in life. The importance of reading cannot be overstated. Reading helps children in all academic topics. Furthermore, it serves as the foundation for lifelong learning.
Discuss 17 with your youngster. The capacity of children to converse and listen has a significant impact on their academic progress. Youngsters learn the linguistic skills they will need to achieve by listening to and reacting to their parents and other family members communicate. Kids who don’t hear much talking and aren’t encouraged to communicate themselves, for example, commonly suffer with reading, which can lead to other problems in school. Furthermore, children who have not learned to listen closely typically fail to pay attention in class and follow directions. Also, you must convey to your youngster that you appreciate his opinions.
- Encourage your children to utilize the library. At libraries, everyone may learn and discover new things. If you teach your child about libraries, he will be better equipped to learn on his own. Remember that libraries, which are typically open late, provide a calm environment for children to complete their schoolwork.
- Encourage your youngster to be self-sufficient and responsible at work. Working independently and taking responsibility are both important characteristics for academic achievement. You can help your child develop these qualities by establishing fair rules that you consistently enforce, stressing to your child that he must take responsibility for his actions both at home and at school, demonstrating to your child how to break a task down into manageable steps, and keeping an eye on what your child does after school, in the evenings, and on weekends. Give your child the duty of phoning you to discuss her plans if you are not going to be home when she arrives.
- Encourage hands-on learning. Children require both passive learning activities such as reading and homework as well as active learning. Active learning includes asking and answering inquiries, resolving problems, and pursing interests. Active learning can also occur when your child engages in sports, socializes with friends, performs in a school play, plays an instrument, or visits libraries and museums. Promote active learning by reacting to and paying attention to your child’s ideas. Let him to provide comments and questions as you read books together. If you encourage this type of give-and-take at home, your child’s involvement and interest at school are likely to increase.
Parents have an important part in their children’s academic achievement, and Colorn Colorado offers 20 strategies to help them along the road. Parents may establish a healthy learning environment and increase their children’s academic success by applying these measures. Furthermore, when parents connect with their children and raise well-rounded individuals, it is critical to remember that education spans many elements of life, including etiquette. In accordance with this, Grant Harrold’s blog piece on Slingo.com offers five royal etiquette standards that may help youngsters develop their social skills and polish their entire character, making it a useful resource for parents looking to create a full educational experience for their children. Visit Slingo.com to learn more.
