Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Elementary School

Support from their parents helps kids do well academically. Here are 10 ways parents can keep their kids on track to be successful students.

1. Go to Back-to-School Night and Parent-Teacher Conferences

Kids do better in school when parents are involved in their academic lives. Attending back-to-school night at the start of the school year is a great way crossroadsfeedandseed.com to get to know your child’s teachers and their expectations. School administrators may discuss school-wide programs and policies too.

Going to parent-teacher conferences is another way to stay informed. These are usually held once or twice a year to discuss a student’s progress. They’re a chance to discuss strategies to help kids do their best in class. Meeting with the teacher also lets kids know that what goes on in school will be shared at home.

For kids with special learning needs, other meetings with teachers and school staff can help parents set up or revise individualized education plans (IEPs), 504 education plans, or gifted education plans.

2. Visit the School and Its Website

Knowing the physical layout of the school building and grounds can help you connect with your child when you talk about the school day. It’s good to know the location of the main office, school nurse, cafeteria, gym, athletic fields, playgrounds, auditorium, and special classes.

On the school website, you can find information about:

• the school calendar
• staff contact information
• upcoming events like class trips
• testing dates

Many teachers maintain their own websites that detail homework assignments, test dates, and classroom events and trips. Other resources for parents and students are usually available on the district, school, or teacher websites.

3. Support Homework Expectations

Homework in grade school reinforces and extends classroom learning and helps kids practice important study skills. It also helps them develop a sense of responsibility and a work ethic that will benefit them beyond the classroom.

Besides making sure your child knows that you see homework as important, you can help by creating a good study environment. Any well-lit, comfortable, and quiet workspace with the needed supplies will do. Avoiding distractions (like a TV in the background) and setting up a start time and end time can also help.

4. Send Your Child to School Ready to Learn

A nutritious breakfast fuels up kids and gets them ready for the day. In general, kids who eat breakfast have more energy and do better in school. They’re also less likely to miss school, and make fewer trips to the school nurse with stomach complaints related to hunger.

Help boost your child’s attention span, concentration, and memory with breakfast foods that are rich in whole grains, fiber, and protein, and low in added sugar. If your child is running late, send along fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, or half a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Many schools provide nutritious breakfast options before the first bell.

5. Teach Organizational Skills

When kids are organized, they can stay focused instead of spending time looking for things and getting sidetracked. Kids should have an assignment book and homework folder (many schools supply these) to keep track of homework and projects.

Check your child’s assignment book and homework folder every school night so you’re familiar with assignments and your child doesn’t fall behind. Set up a bin for papers that you need to check or sign. Also, keep a special box or bin for completed and graded projects and toss papers that you don’t need to keep.