You are your child’s first and most crucial teacher as a parent. Children perform better and feel better about going to school when parents and families are involved in their schools. In fact, numerous studies indicate that a child’s academic success is more influenced by what the family does than by how much money the family earns or how educated the parents are. Parents can assist their kids’ learning at home and throughout the school year in a variety of ways. Here are some suggestions to get you going!
Build a relationship with your child’s teachers and other school personnel.
- Get to know your kid’s teacher. Aim to meet your child’s teacher as soon as the school year begins. Inform the teacher that you want to support your child’s education. Make it clear that you want the teacher to get in touch with you if your child ever has any issues.
Don’t let the inability to speak English stop you if you find it difficult. The content of your argument is more crucial than the language you use to express it. Request that the school assist you in finding an interpreter. A teacher or parent liaison might be able to assist. Alternatively, you could bring a bilingual friend or family member.
- Find out who the key players are at your child’s school. Many people work at your child’s school to support their academic progress, social and emotional development, and success in the classroom. Although each school is unique, this article will provide a general overview of the staff at your child’s school.
- Participate in parent-teacher conferences and maintain communication with your kid’s teacher. Every year, schools typically hold one or two parent-teacher conferences. You can either bring a friend to translate for you or request that the school send one. Anytime during the school year, you can request a meeting with your child’s teacher. Send the teacher a quick note or schedule a phone call if you have a concern but are unable to discuss it in person.
Help your child with their academics.
- Ascertain your child’s progress. Find out from the teacher how your child is performing in class in comparison to other pupils. If your child is falling behind, particularly in reading, find out what you or the school can do to help. Before your child falls too far behind, it’s critical to take early action. Review your child’s report card each time it is released as well.
- Submit a special services application if you believe your child qualifies. Ask the school to assess your child in the language that is most comfortable for him or her if they believe they are having learning difficulties. Your child may be able to attend class with accommodations thanks to the teacher. Your child may be eligible for free additional assistance if the school determines that he has a learning disability.
- Ensure that your child completes their homework. Let your child know that you value education and that daily homework completion is required. Establishing a dedicated study space, a regular homework period, and blocking out distractions like the television and phone calls from friends are all ways to assist your child with their homework.
If you are hesitant to assist your child with their homework because you believe you don’t understand the subject matter well enough or you are unable to speak or read English, you can still be of assistance 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 finished, and praising all of your child’s efforts. Always keep in mind that doing your child’s homework won’t benefit him in the long run.
- If your child needs it, look for homework assistance. If it’s challenging for you to assist your child with homework or other schoolwork, try to find someone else who can. Get in touch with the school, tutoring organizations, after-school activities, churches, and libraries. Or ask an older student, a nearby neighbor, or a friend for assistance.
- Assist your child with test preparation. Test results are crucial in determining a student’s grade. Additionally, your child might take one or more standardized tests throughout the academic year, and their teacher might allot class time to test preparation. There are many ways you, as a parent, can help your child before and after she takes a standardized test. There are also many ways you can help her develop daily learning habits that will make her better prepared for the test.
Participate in your child’s school life.
- Find out what the school has to offer. Read the information the school sends home, and if necessary, ask for information to be sent to you in your native tongue. To learn about the programs the school offers, ask other parents. Your child might enjoy a music program, an after-school activity, a sports team, or a tutoring program. Keep a record of everything that happens during the academic year.
- Participate in school volunteer programs and/or parent-teacher organizations. Parents who volunteer at the school are appreciated by the teachers. There are numerous ways for you to participate. You can assist in your child’s class or the school library by volunteering. You could prepare food for a school function. If you have a day job, you can still go to your child’s performances or “parents’ night” events. In the majority of schools, a group of parents meets frequently to discuss the institution. The PTA or PTO are common names for this organization. You have a good opportunity to interact with other parents at the meetings and collaborate to enhance the school.
Learn more and speak up for your child.
- Make inquiries. Ask the teacher or principal about it and seek their advice if you have any concerns about your child’s learning or behavior. What specific reading difficulties is my child experiencing, for example? What can I do to assist my child in resolving this issue? What can I do to stop the bully from bullying my son? How do I make my child complete their homework? What reading group does my kid belong to?
- Become aware of your rights. Knowing your parental rights with regard to things like special services, English instruction, immigration status, and more is crucial.
- Express your concerns to the school. Is your child succeeding academically? Is he or she struggling with schoolwork, behavior, or learning? Is there an issue with one of the teachers, administrators, or other students?
Encourage your child’s education at home.
- Show your kids that you have a positive outlook on education. Our actions and words in daily life can influence how they feel about school and learning as well as how confident they become as learners. A key factor in our children’s academic success is demonstrating to them how much we value education and how we apply it in our daily lives.
Additionally, by taking an interest in their kids’ education, parents and families can incite their enthusiasm and help them come to the very important realization that learning can be rewarding as well as enjoyable and is well worth the effort needed.
- Keep an eye on your child’s TV, video game, and online activity. On average, American kids spend far more time online, playing video games, and watching TV than they do doing their homework or other schoolwork.
- Promote reading to your child. The single most crucial thing you can do to help your child succeed in school and in life is to encourage reading in them. It is impossible to overstate the value of reading. Reading benefits kids in all academic subjects. What’s more, it is the foundation for lifelong learning.
Talk to your child about 17. Children’s success in school is greatly influenced by their ability to talk and listen. Children learn the language skills they will require to succeed by listening to their parents and other family members talk and by responding to that talk. For instance, kids who don’t hear much talking and aren’t encouraged to talk themselves frequently struggle with reading, which can cause other issues in school. Additionally, kids who haven’t learned to listen intently frequently struggle with paying attention in class and following instructions. Additionally, it’s critical that you demonstrate to your child that you value his opinions.
- Promote library use among your kids. Everyone can learn and discover new things in libraries. Your child will be better prepared to learn independently if you help him learn about libraries. Keep in mind that libraries, which are frequently open late, provide a quiet setting for students to finish their homework.
- Encourage your child to work independently and responsibly. Working independently and accepting responsibility are crucial traits for academic success. 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 the weekends, you can aid in the development of these qualities in your child. Give your child the responsibility of calling you to discuss her plans if you won’t be home when she gets home.
- Promote hands-on learning. Both quiet learning activities like reading and doing homework and active learning are necessary for children. Asking and answering questions, resolving issues, and pursuing interests are all part of active learning. Active learning can also occur when your child participates in sports, hangs out with friends, participates in a school play, plays an instrument, or visits libraries and museums. Encourage active learning by responding to your child’s ideas and paying attention to them. When you read books together, let him weigh in with comments and questions. Your child’s participation and interest in school are likely to rise if you foster this kind of give-and-take at home.
Parents play a vital role in their children’s success in school, and Colorín Colorado offers 20 ways to support their educational journey. By implementing these strategies, parents can foster a positive learning environment and boost their children’s academic achievements. Additionally, as parents engage with their kids and cultivate well-rounded individuals, it’s important to remember that education encompasses various aspects of life, including etiquette. In line with this, Slingo.com’s blog post by Grant Harrold highlights five royal etiquette rules that can further refine children’s social skills and polish their overall character, making it a complementary resource for parents seeking to provide a comprehensive educational experience for their children. Check it out on Slingo.com.