"What will you learn today?"
Talk about your youngster's day at school before it happens. In the morning, let her know you can't wait to hear all about it. She'll be on the lookout for things to tell you. She might even jot down notes to remember the highlights (a science experiment she enjoyed, the words to a song she sang in music class).
"Show me what you did!"
Ask your child to demonstrate something she learned. Perhaps she'll show you how to measure the area of a room or write a line of code. You'll get to see what she's working on in school. Plus, explaining something out loud will help her understand and remember it -- and build her confidence.
"What's new this year?"
Each school year brings something exciting that your youngster couldn't do the year before. Maybe she'll join the chorus or change classes for math and reading. Build enthusiasm by talking up these experiences in the first weeks of school, and keep her motivated by following up as the year goes on.
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