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.
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Find out the best time to contact them by telephone.
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Ask for the teacher’s e-mail address.
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Find out about Web sites where teachers may list class notes and homework assignments.
Parent-teacher conferences are important.
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Be prepared to listen, talk and take notes.
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Write out your questions before you meet with the teacher.
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Ask for specific information about your child’s work and progress.
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Review what the teacher has told you and follow up by talking with your child.
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Check back with the teacher regularly to see how things are going as the year progresses.
Know that counselors:
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Can help if there are problems at home, such as divorce or illness, which could affect your child’s schoolwork;
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Have information about achievement tests and can explain what the results mean; and
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Can tell you what tutoring services are available.
Make sure your child continues to read.
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Set a special time each day for reading aloud together.
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Encourage your child to read to you when he or she is ready.
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Let your child see you enjoying reading.
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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.
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Play communication games with your child, such as Scrabble or Pictionary, which involve words and explaining what they mean.
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Practice day-to-day reading and writing, such as following a recipe or writing a note.
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Continue to check with the teacher and the pediatrician about your child’s language development.
