More Back to School Tips for Parents

 

Q. I like the tips listed in #4, Parental Involvement, www.ShowandTellforParents.com, but those are pretty "macro." I only have time to advocate for my own two kids. What are some back-to-school tips for parents who just want to zero in on helping their own children progress individually this school year?

 

Here are some great tips from a Canadian teacher with 35 years' experience. She's Freda Lewkowicz of Rosemere, Quebec. These are condensed from an article published on Aug. 14, 2009, in Canada's Globe and Mail:

 

1.        Be a hands-on parent. Buy a large calendar to keep track of school events, tests and school projects. Check your child's agenda book daily. If the school doesn't provide an agenda book, buy one. Make sure your student writes down homework assignments and test dates. Keep your own agenda book, on paper, and let your child "catch" you using it.

 

2.        Get a routine going for after-school and weekends and stick to it like glue. Maybe you could allow healthy snacks and relaxation or outdoor play for an hour after school, and then either make it time to tackle homework, or allow your child to do a creative project from www.AfterSchoolTreats.com  Whatever you decide, remain faithful to the formula.

 

3.        Home sweet home and homework: Clear the clutter and set a permanent scene. Your child needs a comfortable place to complete homework so offer the best seat in the house. While some kids prefer to work at a table for one, or at the kitchen table, others prefer the floor or even a bed. Allow your child some freedom in selecting the modus operandi of homework.

 

4.        Keep a positive attitude. Don't refer to homework as "Homework Hell," no matter how stressful, family-unfriendly and time-consuming it is. Children are always listening, and the homework debate should not rage within the home. Parents are authority figures; use your authority.

 

5.        To listen or not to listen? Some kids like to complete homework and even study with music. Let it be. This may be one battle you don't need to engage in just yet. But don't allow the TV to be on, and if your child isn't doing well in school, then "multi-tasking" might be too mentally confusing and you probably should ban the iPod or stereo to help that young mind focus.

 

6.        Get your child's teachers' school e-mail addresses. This is the best way to contact many teachers, as phone messages are rarely delivered promptly to teachers' mailboxes. If there's a need, e-mail questions and concerns often. (But remember, etiquette really counts here! Respect teacher time and remember how many other kids there are in that class.)

 

7.        If your child has academic problems, you cannot ever relax. Inform the school. Request testing. Be prepared for triage with a long list of recommended tutors and learning centers. Unfortunately, there's no way to magically erase academic problems. Doing nothing is not an option. Be an advocate for your child.

 

8.        What can you do to help your child with reading and writing? Encourage your child to read daily. Parents of the best readers read nightly to them for a half-hour through sixth or seventh grade!

 

9.        Never miss Curriculum Night at school, which usually takes place at the very beginning of the school year. This night prepares you for the entire year and it's an opportunity to ask general questions about objectives and expectations. (Feel free to ask questions focused on the curriculum, but don't be the parent who selfishly asks personal questions and inquires about her child's progress. This is not a parent-teacher interview; it's a group meeting for all parents to understand what's being taught and how.)

 

10.     Check the school board and school websites frequently to know what's going on. Stay informed.

 

11.     Does your child's school have a monthly newsletter? Urge your child to bring this important notice, and all notices, home or make sure to read them online.

 

12.     Are there any upheavals taking place in your child's life? Let the school know. School counselors and psychologists are there for a reason, and in most states, to be certified, teachers are supposed to have had classroom management, child development and behavior training.

 

13.     Family meals: The benefits of family meals stretch from academic superiority to healthy eating and good communication skills. Shared homemade family meals also are positively associated with young people who avoid teenage promiscuity, probably because they feel more valued and listened-to. Shoot for at least one quiet, sit-down meal together per day; depending on schedules, it might have to be breakfast.

 

14.     At times, your child might face failure and disappointment in school. Follow Scotland's lead with their program called Bounce Back, and teach your child how to bounce back and deal with disappointment. Teach coping skills and problem-solving when failure is an uninvited guest.

 

15.     Read the school discipline code or code of conduct and make sure your child has read it, too. Back up the school in a disciplinary infraction 99% of the time. On rare occasions, you should take your child's side against the adults in the school if they've gotten something wrong, but the majority of the time, trust their experience in dealing with kids, and reinforce the discipline they set.

 

16.     Only a laissez-faire parent would allow a child access to his cell phone and computer when completing homework (unless, of course, research is involved). It's a given that kids are texting and chatting when they should be focused on homework. Remove temptations.

 

17.     These strategies and techniques will lead your child toward excellence. It's a sad fact that too many children have parents who have prematurely walked out of their childhood and, as a result, throwaway children populate our classrooms. Be there for your child. Do your homework (not your child's) for the new school year.

 

 

Homework: Your child's teacher or teachers might have a handout with more tips. You could print this out and exchange it with them to compare notes. If there's one more thing to remember this school year, it's this: keep your sense of humor!