Parent Power - Build the Bridge to Success by U.S. Department of Education - HTML preview

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Lead Your Child on the Path to Success Before the school year begins, find out about the school your child will attend.

Communicate with teachers.

•  Find out the best time to contact them by telephone.
•  Ask for the teacher’s e-mail address.
•  Find out about Web sites where teachers may list class notes and homework assignments.

Parent-teacher conferences are important.

•  Be prepared to listen, talk and take notes.
•  Write out your questions before you meet with the teacher.
•  Ask for specific information about your child’s work and progress. 
•  Review what the teacher has told you and follow up by talking with your child.
•  Check back with the teacher regularly to see how things are going as the year progresses.

Know that counselors:

•  Can help if there are problems at home, such as divorce or illness, which could affect your child’s schoolwork;
•  Have information about achievement tests and can explain what the results mean; and
•  Can tell you what tutoring services are available.

Make sure your child continues to read.

•  Set a special time each day for reading aloud together.
•  Encourage your child to read to you when he or she is ready.
•  Let your child see you enjoying reading.
•  Use audio books that you and your child can listen to together and have your child follow along with the written words in the printed book.
•  Play communication games with your child, such as Scrabble or Pictionary, which involve words and explaining what they mean.
•  Practice day-to-day reading and writing, such as following a recipe or writing a note.
•  Continue to check with the teacher and the pediatrician about your child’s language development.