Stay in touch with your child’s teacher by following six steps

What’s the best gift you can give your child? No, it’s not a video game or expensive sneakers. It’s building a strong relationship with your child’s teacher.

When you and the teacher are on the same team, you can build up the support your child needs to learn more, take positive risks, and do his best in school. But when both parents and teachers are busy, how can you stay in touch? Here are six easy ways:

Don’t wait. Get to know the teacher early in the year.
Use technology. Email is a great help for busy parents—and busy teachers. Be aware that email is best for getting short answers. If you want to talk about a big problem, a conference might be better.
Read. If the teacher sends home a “Take-Home” folder, read what’s enclosed. That way, you’ll know that there’s a field trip on Tuesday and a science fair next month. Always ask your child, “Did you bring home anything for me today?”
Look at your child’s homework. The best way to learn what your child is doing in school is to look over the work he brings home.
Have patience. Teachers work long hours. Even the most dedicated teacher may take awhile to get back to you.
Say “thank you.” One of the best ways to build a strong relationship is by thanking teachers for what they do.

Reprinted with permission from the October 2006 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2006 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: “Staying in Touch,” National School Boards Assocation, www.nsba.org/site/doc.asp?TRACKID=&VID=2&CID=780&DID=10852.

Building Respect

Encourage your child to use respectful behavior at school

Ask most teachers … and most parents … and they’ll tell you that rudeness in school is becoming a bigger problem each year. In fact, nine out of 10 parents think that kids need to practice better manners when they’re in school.

Children today see example after example of bad manners in action. Adults yell at clerks in stores. They make rude gestures when they’re driving. And athletes? There’s a new story of poor behavior nearly every day.

The truth is that most parents want their children to learn and practice respectful behavior. Here are guidelines for promoting the “school manners” you should be teaching your child:

Don’t check your manners at the school door. If your child says “please” and “thank you” at home, remind her to use the same words at school.
Pay attention. At home, help your child listen to instructions and focus on what you are saying.
Do as the teacher says. Your child may not always want to follow the teacher’s instructions. But she needs to know that the teacher is in charge.
Put things away. Your child must take care of her belongings. This is a task she may work on at home, but it will also help the teacher at school.
Come on time. Promptness is a skill your child will need for the rest of her life.

Reprinted with permission from the October 2006 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2006 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Peggy Post and Cindy Post Senning, Emily Post’s The Gift of Good Manners: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Respectful, Kind, Considerate Children, ISBN: 0-060-18549-X (HarperCollins, 1-800-242-7737, www.harpercollins.com/hc ).

Homework/Study Skills

Guide your child through this year’s first book report

Teachers assign book reports to encourage students to read more outside the classroom.

Elementary students often need lots of parent support to complete book reports. While you shouldn’t actually do the book report for your child, you should be involved. And the greater your involvement, the more your child will learn.

What should you do? Follow these eight steps:

Make sure your child understands the teacher’s guidelines. What type of book should it be? Storybook? Chapter book? Historical fiction? Adventure? A book that hasn’t been made into a movie? If he is unsure, have him ask his teacher to clarify.
Help your child choose a book at the bookstore or library. Have him read a few pages before he takes it home to ensure it’s not too hard or too easy.
Figure out how long it will take him to read the book. Allow sufficient time before the due date for reading and preparing the report. Have your child write the date he should be finished reading on a calendar for motivation.
Read the book—along with or separate from your child’s reading. Having an understanding of what your child is reading will be helpful.
Talk about the book with your child—like you would a TV program or movie. This makes his reading interesting. Plus it will help him think about what he’s going to write or say.
Go over the parts of a book report with your child. These include plot, characters and setting. The teacher may also ask for his opinion of the book, theme or lesson learned.
Suggest that your child add drawings, magazine photos or other artwork to illustrate the report.
Make the report special. Buy a report cover. Clear plastic allows your child to use clip art or draw a picture for the cover.

Remember that this is your child’s book report, not yours. Your job is to provide support and guidance.

Reprinted with permission from the October 2006 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2006 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Tiffani Chin, School Sense: How To Help Your Child Succeed in Elementary School, ISBN: 1-891661-40-X (Santa Monica Press, 1-800-784-9553, www.santamonicapress.com).