Ten Ways to Get Involved in Your Child's Education

Temperatures are cooling, leaves will be changing, and school buses are rolling. While some parents might breathe a sigh of relief, others are sad that summer is over. 

My daughters are in fifth and second grades this year, and in some ways, I feel like I am reliving my own school years.  When I was growing up, there was more of a hands-off attitude on the part of the school district I attended: Teachers would teach and parents would parent. 

Not so anymore. School is a joint effort among teachers, students and parents.

With that in mind, here are some ways to stay on top of your child’s education.

• Read with your child, or at the very least, encourage reading, even books that are not assigned in class.  Our children mimic our behavior, so show them that you are a reader, too.  A lifetime of reading prepares a child not only for college entrance exams but also to become a well-rounded person.

• Communicate with your child’s teacher and the school district. If you have questions or concerns or even just want to check in occasionally beyond parent-teacher conferences, most teachers welcome parental interest and are more than willing to give feedback. Remember that you and your child’s teacher are on the same team and have a common goal: to ensure the best education possible for your child.

• Volunteer in the classroom. More often, these types of opportunities will exist for the elementary set -- such as reading to the class or helping with special projects. Your child will appreciate your involvement, even if he can’t show it in front of his friends.  You don’t have to be a weekly volunteer; even once or twice a year will make your child feel special, or send in supplies or other requested items.

• Volunteer outside the classroom. This might include chaperoning a field trip or something as simple as stuffing envelopes for the parent-teacher association. Either way, you will feel a connection to your child’s school, and your child will know that you care about his life outside his home environment.

• Keep up with your child’s homework, even if you are not smarter than a fifth-grader. While it’s ultimately your child’s responsibility to complete her homework, it’s important that you, as a parent, know what she is learning, when assignments are due, and if she is having problems with any subjects.

• If you have a special skill, offer it to the school. This could include teaching an after-school class, tutoring students in a particular subject, or coming in to talk to the class about your talent or your job. You can even include family members, as we did when my father-in-law talked to my daughter’s third-grade class about architecture. You’ll never know whom you might inspire.

• Talk to your children about their school day. Even if it feels like pulling teeth to get them to open up, be persistent. No one has the inside scoop on how the school day went like your child does, and you want her to feel comfortable talking to you about anything, from homework to social issues to upcoming programs. Ask more than just, “How was your day?”  Get specific.  “What were some of the questions on your science test?”  “Who did you sit with at lunch?”  “What was your favorite part of the day?”

• Get to know your children’s classmates and, if possible, their parents. Encourage your children to invite their school friends over on occasion. The more familiar you are with their peers and their parents, the easier it will be to help your children solve any social issues that might arise. 

• Make sure conditions at home are amenable to good classroom performance. Establish a regular schedule of good nutrition, sleep habits and a limit on screen time. Make sure your child has a homework routine, including a regular time and place to do homework, and that the area is always quiet and clutter-free. 

• Attend school programs, open houses, parent meetings, etc. Your physical presence in “their” environment gives them a sense of pride. It also sends a message that success in school is something to be valued.