5. Encourage reading
Research has shown that one of the greatest predictors of academic success is the amount of time a student reads. When asked by the parents of my students what they should do to help their child learn, I always answer, ?Get them to read.? Books not only open new worlds and ideas for children, they build their vocabulary, improve their memory, grow their imagination and teach them valuable thinking skills. Time spent reading is an investment in your child?s future.
6. Support your child's teacher
It is an unfortunate fact of modern day society that teachers feel less support from parents, administrations and governments than ever before. This is a shame, not only for the hard working teachers who deserve to feel respected as professionals, but for the students they teach.
Students receive the best education when they are part of a committed triumvirate. For a child to truly learn in school, all three members of the team need to work together. The teacher, student and parents need to be all working toward the same goal with commitment and help from one another. All parts of the triangle must be connected for the goal to be met. Go against the tide - give your child?s teacher the respect she deserves and the support she requires. Your child will thank you.
7. Enlist support
It truly does take a village to raise a child. Too often these days, however, parents find themselves struggling to do it all with very little support. If you live near grandparents, aunts or uncles, ask if they can occasionally go to the soccer game, or pick up the art materials or buy the new notebook.
Very often it is the little tasks that combine to make parents feel overwhelmed. Spreading the small tasks around to willing volunteers may give you more time to focus on the important aspects of the school year. If family members aren?t available to help, then exchange help with neighbors and friends.
8. Practice what you preach
To make the school year go more smoothly, it is important that your child is responsible, timely and well-behaved. You are far more likely to have a child who behaves this way, if you model appropriate behavior for them.
If you are frequently late, often forget important items, and are stressed and irritable most of the time, you are far more likely to have chronic problems with your children - especially during the school year when time is tight. Give your child the skills to succeed by working on them yourself. Nobody?s perfect, but if you show that you ask of yourself the same things you ask of them, then you are more likely to garner their cooperation.
9. Plan ahead
If you fail to plan, then plan to fail. Harsh though that statement may be, it often happens that you?d experience more success at school if you?d take the time to plan ahead. If you know that your daughter is going to appear in a play during the month of November, and that it will require lots of rehearsals after school, don?t enroll her in tap class and swimming.
When you know that time will be tight, it also makes sense to speak to your child?s teacher to advise her of the situation and to get her help with scheduling homework. Always keep in mind what is coming up next week and what may be required due to the seasons. Getting to school in September may not be much of an issue, but what will you do when the snow flies?
10. Keep your eye on the prize
Being committed to managing the school year well takes effort. Keeping your family balanced despite all of the demands on everyone?s time can be difficult. All of it can be managed better if you always stay focused on your purpose.
Your purpose as a parent is to raise well-adjusted children who can enter society and forge a good life on their own. They need a good education to do this. How to ensure that your child receives the best education possible ought to be the first thing you think about in the morning and the thoughts you keep as you close your eyes at night.
Knowing that you?ve arranged your life around the essentials, despite how hectic life can be, will greatly enhance your sense of satisfaction. After all, as parents, it is rare that we receive kudos for a job well done, so we must learn to put first things first and then congratulate ourselves on our success.
