Tips for Parents
General Information
- Make school a priority.
- Don't put too much pressure on your child.
- Praise your child. Judge success by the efforts being made more so than the grades being earned.
- Build your child's confidence.
- Maintain a routine.
- Set an example.
- Reward orderliness.
- Show interest in your child's life. Reach out to teachers; ask your child questions about school and maybe even stressors; keep the school informed of things you may see in your child
- Set clear expectations.
- Give extra incentives when necessary. This works especially well for students who need help in developing good school habits.
Homework Information
- Create a routine - Make a schedule for after school including homework, sports, other activities, and household responsibilities.
- Set goals and time limits, allowing your child to take breaks.
- Set up a quiet and comfortable area to study - This area should be where the child does his/her work, but is not too comfortable that it will be distracting.
- Make sure to check your child's Agenda to ensure he/she is completing homework.
- Help your child plan for long term projects - Set up a calendar to help space out the completion of the project.
- If you are struggling to get your child to complete homework, a warning/incentive system may be appropriate to put in place.
- Reward orderliness.
Testing Information
- Make sure your child is reviewing every day when a test is approaching.
- Have your child study in a quiet and comfortable place.
- Allow times for breaks in order to prevent your child from burning out.
- Help your child study by reviewing and or quizzing them on the material. Go through notes, flash cards, spelling words, etc.
The Parent Institute, 1999, http://www.parent-institute.com