Tips for Parents Helping your child succeed

Introduction Parental involvement is the number-one determinant of how well all children -- regardless of their background or age-- do in school. Here are some ways you can help your kids succeed in the classroom -- and beyond.

Encourage Learning Create an environment in your home that encourages learning. This will influence how well your children do in school. The more children are exposed to learning tools and information the more they will absorb. Provide them with many different opportunities to become excited about learning. Make sure that appropriate materials from books to puzzles to paints to computers are available to stimulate their curiosity.

Steady Study Spot Help put students in control of work and to feel sure that they can master what they need to learn and do. Parents can, for example, help students find a "steady study spot" with the materials they need at hand. Help put students in control of work and to feel sure that they can master what they need to learn and do. Parents can, for example, help students find a "steady study spot" with the materials they need at hand.

Reading Opens the Mind Set aside a regular time to read to your children every day. Set aside a regular time to read to your children every day. Establish a daily 15 to 30 minute time when everyone in the family reads together silently. Seeing you read will inspire your children to read and daily practice will increase their reading fluency. Establish a daily 15 to 30 minute time when everyone in the family reads together silently. Seeing you read will inspire your children to read and daily practice will increase their reading fluency. Tempt your kids to read by having a large supply of appealing books and magazines at their reading level. Tempt your kids to read by having a large supply of appealing books and magazines at their reading level. Show enthusiasm for your children's reading. Your reaction has a great influence on how hard they will try to become good readers. Be sure to give them genuine praise for their efforts. Show enthusiasm for your children's reading. Your reaction has a great influence on how hard they will try to become good readers. Be sure to give them genuine praise for their efforts.

Organizational Skills and Time Management Show your children how to be organized and how to manage their time and schedule. Children who are organized and know how to prioritize find it much easier to succeed in school. One of the best ways to teach these skills is through example. Show your children how to use specific tools such as assignment pads, calendars, notebooks, calendars, and schedules.

Homework Helpers When possible, be available to answer questions. Try doing a problem or two together, then watch as the child tries the next one. When possible, be available to answer questions. Try doing a problem or two together, then watch as the child tries the next one. Avoid simply giving an answer. Instead, ask questions that let your child see the problem in smaller, sequential steps. Avoid simply giving an answer. Instead, ask questions that let your child see the problem in smaller, sequential steps. Provide your kids with a notebook for writing down assignments. When they're finished, compare the homework and the notebook to make sure everything is done. Provide your kids with a notebook for writing down assignments. When they're finished, compare the homework and the notebook to make sure everything is done. See if the school has a website where homework is listed. See if the school has a website where homework is listed. Review completed and graded assignments. Discuss errors to be sure your child understands the material. Review completed and graded assignments. Discuss errors to be sure your child understands the material. Share any concerns with your children's teachers about the amount or type of homework assigned. Be sure to let them know if your children are having difficulty or are unable to do most of it by themselves. Share any concerns with your children's teachers about the amount or type of homework assigned. Be sure to let them know if your children are having difficulty or are unable to do most of it by themselves.

Talk to your children about school Your children spend many hours in school every day. A lot can happen during that time. Show that you are genuinely interested in their day by asking questions about what they did and talking with them about the papers they bring home. When problems occur, work with your kids to find solutions.

Parent Teacher Teams Good communication between home and school helps children do well in school and makes it easier to address problems. Use notes, , telephone calls. Be sure to attend parent-teacher conferences, visit your kids' classrooms, and volunteer to help their teachers. Children need to know that their parents and teachers are working together to give them the best learning experiences!

Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers Children's questions arc unending, and you could use those questions to teach your children how to go about examining something. The children thus do: define a problem and then figure out how to solve it. Ask your children what they would do, give them chances to explore, and decide what is the best path to follow.

Children and the Internet The Librarian’s Guide to Great Web Sites for Kids available at es/greatsitesbrochure.pdf es/greatsitesbrochure.pdf is a very detailed brochure prepared by the American Library Association that gives you a broad view of what the Internet is all about, the effects on children, ways to monitor your child’s use of this powerful tool, and more.