Research shows that one of the most important factors that affects a child's performance in school is parental involvement. All too often, parents assume that just sending their children to school and looking at their report cards is enough. Not true! If you want to be involved, if you want to actively participate in the relationship between your child and the school, there are some things you can do to make this relationship positive and productive.

Methods for Parents to Get to Know Their Child's School Better

• First of all, don't just show up at the school; make an appointment to visit.
• After you've made an appointment, go to the school; look around, talk to people.
• As appropriate, call or write to your child's teachers.
• Talk to other parents about their experiences.
• Be sure to read the minutes of the school board, which are usually summarized in The Mountain Press.
• Take time to read the notes from your child’s teacher(s) and the school newsletter, if available.
• It may not always be convenient, but try to attend school functions, such as open houses and parent/teacher meetings.

How Parents can Help with their Children's Homework

There are things you can do that will help your child succeed at assigned schoolwork or activities and that result in learning, which, after all, is the reason for being in school.

• Communicate with your child about school. This includes talking to him or her about friends, activities, teachers, and assignments, or simply interacting with him or her when school is out each day.
• Show enthusiasm about school and schoolwork.
• Set realistic goals for your child, and then focus on one at a time.
• Help your child get organized. Break down assignments into smaller, more manageable parts. Set out needed items (clothes, homework, permission slips, etc.) the night before to avoid last minute rushing around in the morning.
• Provide a quiet study area in your home complete with paper, markers, a ruler, pencils and a dictionary.
• Never do your child's homework!
• Check with your child's teacher about correcting homework.
• Expect, and praise genuine progress and effort. An opinion: don't praise or otherwise reward your child for doing what you and he know is expected. This practice leads you down a slippery slope, often with really bad consequences for you and your child.
• Be specific when you do praise something.
• Focus on your child's strengths in school.
• Build associations between what is taught and what your child already knows and understands.
• Incorporate concrete materials and examples whenever possible, especially with younger children. Try to help your child learn about the subject in more than one way, using as many senses as possible.
• Separate your child's school weaknesses from your child. If your child fails a test, that is all the child fails.
• He or she is not a failure.
• One more thing: Never do your child's homework! (Intentionally repeated!)

QUESTIONS TO ASK AT PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

• Is my child performing at his or her expected level in basic skills? Is he or she above or below the target goals?
• What are the objectives my child is supposed to attain? How do these objectives lead to the overall goal? What is the length of time my child will be working toward these objectives and goal(s)?
• What achievement, intelligence, or vocational aptitude tests have been given to my child in the past year?
• What do the scores mean? (Be very specific and be sure you understand completely what the reported scores mean).
• What are my child's strengths and weaknesses in major areas? How can we address those areas?
• What subjects or activities does my child enjoy most?
• Can we go over some examples of my child's work?
• Does my child need additional or special help in any area?
• Who are my child's friends and how does he or she interact with other children?
• Has my child regularly completed scheduled assignments or activities?
• Have you observed any changes in learning progress during the year? Has learning improved or declined during the year? Has behavior improved or declined? Would you give me examples.