How to help your Kindergardener (or any age school child)

I have taught K-5 at a local private Academy for 8 years. I love every "painful??" minute of it. While you read this keep in mind I teach a phonic intensive curriclum and my students can read very well at the end of the school year.

Below

are some things you can do to help your child be a success in the early years of school. I like to tell my parents that "Habits started early will continue through the school years". In other words if they can't complete H.W. now they won't later, if you have them to school late all the time it will continue through school.

1. READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY!!!!!!! Sorry for yelling but you would be amazed at how many people plop their child in front of the T.V. and NEVER read to them. Even with all the electronic equiptment we have to help "teach"  your  child this is still the #1 way to  help  your child succeed in school. Even when your child knows how to read they will still enjoy being read to at night before bed.

2. BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE SCHOOL. Attend meeting for parents, ask questions, help with fundraisers, fill in when the school needs help with anything, go on field trips. Active parents will always have better children, your  child will see that you want to be involved. I see many families who are invovled in the elementary years and then stop when their child reaches junior high school. The older your child gets the more you should be involved to help them be successful.

3. TOUCH BASE WITH THEIR TEACHER OFTEN. Sometimes the adage "The squeaky wheel gets the oil" is true. Voice your opinion, be willing to maybe hear an answer you don't want to hear, or not get you way, remember it is the teachers classroom and they must keep in mind all of the students when amking decisions.By comminicating with the teacher often and asking questions about things you don't understand the teacher will be more open with you to discuss problems or difficulties your child may have. When you work together you can accomplish more. I will say, trying to "bully" the teaching into doing something your way will not work at all. Remeber, they have many students and must make many decisions based on what is best for the class as a whole.  

4. DON'T TAKE SUMMERS OFF". Now I don't mean make your child work every day of the summer and never have fun. About 6 weeks at the beginning of every school year is spent reviewing what a child "forgot" over the summer. If you keep your child brushed up over the summer they will do much better at the beginning of the year and throughout when new material is introduced.

5. CHECK H.W. Make sure it is done neatly and  properly and turned in on time. This will help develop good habits for life. Would you turn in a project late at work and think it is acceptable???? Why do sooo many think it is o.k. at school?????

6. EVEN WHEN UPSET WITH THE TEACHER/SCHOOL DON'T DISCUSS IT IN FRONT OF YOUR CHILD. We can always tell when the teacher has "been eaten for dinner" at home. It greatly affects the child at school. The older the student the more it affects their reactions at school. I know it may be hard but....... always try to support the teacher. If you are not getting anyewhere with the teacher feel free to go to the pricipal and make your complaints known. Especially if you are not getting any where with the teacher. Believe me, I know some teacher's will not budge on anything. Remember to try to keep your cool, getting upset and yelling won't get you anywhere. (Believe me I have been yelled at more than I can count.)  Stay calm, work throough problmes to get the best results for your child.

I know there are many more things you can do to help your child succeed but this is just a few.

Hope these are helpful to many of you.