- Foster a positive attitude.If you’re enthusiastic about school, your youngster is likely to be as well. Ask him about projects he’s working on or topics he’s studying. Be sure to listen closely, and follow up with questions or comments. Also, you can influence his attitude toward teachers by being positive. (“Mrs. Reeves picked a really cool field trip for your class. I can’t wait to hear about it.”)
- Tie learning to his world. Show your child how what he learns is useful outside of school. If he’s studying clouds, ask him to identify types you see in the sky and try to predict whether you’ll need an umbrella. Or challenge him to spot vocabulary words on window signs or package labels, and talk about how they’re used in different ways.
- Stay up to date. Be aware of what’s happening in your youngster’s classroom, school, and district. Subscribe to email lists, read newsletters, and check websites. Mention upcoming activities to your youngster (school carnival, class play) that you might attend together. Also, put important dates (book fair, math night) on your calendar. It will show your youngster that his school is a priority.
- Connect at conferences. Fall parent-teacher conferences are the perfect opportunity to strengthen the bridge between home and school. Watch for notices and sign up for a time slot. Also, prepare ahead of time by looking over your child’s work and listing questions you want to ask. Listen to the teacher’s feedback on how your youngster is doing, then ask your questions. Be sure to have the teacher explain anything you don’t understand. Afterwards, talk with your child about the conference. Point out what she’s doing well (reading more challenging books, finishing classwork) and areas that need improvement (writing legibly, taking turns).♥
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