Helping Your Child Succeed in School

Author: U.S. Department of Education
Publisher: U.S. Department of Education
Publication Date: 2002, September
Publication City: Washington
Publication State: DC
Full text available online at: http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/succeed/index.html

Abstract (written by WestEd)

Part of the U.S. Department of Education's "Helping Your Child" free booklet series, this pamphlet is designed to help parents become more involved with their children's learning and schools by answering the question "How can we help our children succeed?"

The Basics chapter provides multiple tips on:

• Encouraging your child to read
  
• Talking with your child to develop their language skills
  
• Monitoring homework
  
• Monitoring TV viewing and video game playing
  
• Encouraging your child to use the library
  
• Helping your child to use the Internet properly and effectively
  
• Encouraging your child to take responsibility and work independently
  
• Encouraging active learning

The Activities chapter supplies 18 activities designed to spark enthusiasm and skills for learning for students ages 5-7, 7-9, and 9-11. Each activity starter targets a particular age and skill, provides several approaches in the "What To Do" section, and explains how these skills apply to school learning.

Written in a question-and-answer format, the chapter on Working with Teachers and Schools provides straightforward answers for parents who may not be familiar or comfortable with the education system. The pamphlet closes with a chapter on test-taking and provides additional print and online resources.