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Step Up This School Year!
Parental Involvement for the New School Year
By Raymond and Eileen Huntington
Be sure to have materials such as paper, pencils and pens, a dictionary, a thesaurus and a calculator readily at hand. The seating area should be moderately comfortable – with a straight-backed chair that will keep your child relaxed but alert as opposed to soft upholstery, which can encourage drowsiness. It's also a good idea to have enough space to read and write in the same area.
The beginning of the school year is also a good time to set aside a designated period of time after school that is to be used only for schoolwork. Some children may complete homework more successfully right after school, leaving the rest of the late afternoon and evening for other activities. Others may need time to "wind down" before they're relaxed and focused enough to complete homework successfully.
Keeping in mind the significant amount of study time most children need to make good grades, take a look at all of the other activities that your child wants to fit into his or her day. Have a frank discussion to determine which activities are most important to your child, and see if you can arrive collaboratively at a decision about which should be pursued.
Finally, make sure you take time to establish a collaborative relationship with your child's teacher. By establishing the right environment at home and a strong, positive connection to what's happening at school, you can give your child a head start that will drive success all year long.
