Supporting Your Child's Education
How important are parental expectations to student success?
Parental expectations are vital to a student's success. Oftentimes when parents have high expectations for students, students rise to the occasion and meet those expectations - accelerating, pushing themselves, and working hard to meet that goal. However, on the opposite side, when expectations are not set very high and sometimes even set very low, students do not challenge themselves and oftentimes do not work to their fullest potential.
How can I keep up with what's happening at my child's school?
There are many ways to keep up with the happenings at your child's school. Many schools will send home a newsletter or bulletin about the activities and various programs that are happening in the school. Also, many schools have websites that list the activities and programs that parents can be involved in and that students are participating in on a daily basis. Keeping up with events at your child's school is easy.
How can I get my child excited about learning?
Parents can help keep children excited about learning by making learning fun. It's important that we incorporate games, play, and a student's interests into the learning process. Students like to be engaged and participate in hands-on activities while they're learning. It's also important to remember that a parent has to display a positive attitude towards learning as well.
How can I help my child develop good study habits?
Parents can help a child develop good study habits by teaching them explicitly. Often, it's a good idea to draw on your own study habits and share them with your child. A child is more willing to learn and utilize a study habit if they've found that it's been effective for someone that they know.
How can I help my child develop a good work ethic?
Parents can help a child develop a good work ethic by teaching them the importance of effort. Often, expectations are set for students and children, but they're not taught about the process that it takes to get there. Teaching students about effort, and letting them know that they have to work hard to reach a goal, is the most important thing that we can do to help them develop a good work ethic.
How can I help my child have a positive attitude about school?
Parents can help children develop and maintain a positive attitude towards school by modeling a positive attitude. When children hear parents speak positively about school, about teachers, about school work and assignments, then they take on that positive attitude as well.
How can I help my kid get organized for learning?
A parent can help a child get organized for learning by first ensuring that students have the appropriate supplies and materials necessary for in-school and at-home assignments. Things such as paper, pens, pencils, crayons, markers, or other materials are useful to have in both school and home. It's also important for parents to help children use the materials and resources that they're given at school to stay organized, such as a notebook and a day planner.
How can I create a learning environment at home?
Parents can help create a learning environment at home by having appropriate materials and resources for students to utilize. Having books readily available for children to read; having informational magazines, dictionaries, thesauruses and other resource materials that students can utilize, is a very effective way to create a learning environment in the home.
How can I encourage academic success without applying undue pressure?
It's important to encourage your child to pursue academic excellence. However, it's also important to ensure that your child is living a balanced life. Talk to your child, get to know what they're thinking, what's going on in their mind, and ultimately how they're feeling about school, academic activities, and all of the other components of life. If you find that something is unusual or out of the ordinary, there may be too much pressure that's being put on your child, so find ways to relieve that pressure while still encouraging academic success.
How can I encourage my child to stay in school?
A parent can encourage a child to stay in school by setting the expectation that they graduate from high school. When students realize that they have a goal to achieve and an expectation that has been set for them, they're more likely and willing to work towards that goal. It's also important for parents to discuss options and opportunities that will be available with a high school diploma versus opportunities that would be available without a high school diploma.