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Six Ways for Parents to Get Involved This School Year

Published August 2, 2013

Looking to get more involved in your child's education this school year? Here's a few ways parents can stay active in the learning process.

  1. Partner with your child's teacher. Show up to parent-teacher conferences and back to school events. Maintain communication with the teacher and ask how you can help at home. Stay connected! Don't let that report card surprise you. Know what your child is doing.
  2. Show daily interest. Whether it's on the way home from school, over a family dinner or before your child goes to bed, discuss their day at school. Ask how they did and if they confronted any challenges they may need help overcoming.
  3. Support your child's participation in activities. Studies show that students who feel connected to their school are more likely to have better grades and graduate. Encourage your child to participate in an activity they find interesting, and cheer them on as they go.
  4. Stay involved from the start! Know what's going on in your child's school and classroom. Read the school newsletters, regularly check IN FOCUS and attend school events when possible. Parents who have the time may also want to consider becoming a school volunteer. CLICK HERE to learn how to become a school volunteer.
  5. Applaud effort! Acknowledge hard work and persistence instead of the grade or the outcome. Be specific so your child knows what they did right to help stretch their motivation. Emphasize the effort!
  6. Be a role model. Read in front of your kids, check out books from the library and demonstrate a healthy curiosity for life. Let your children see that you aren't derailed by a mistake and emphasize hard work and problem-solving in a way that they can utilize in the classroom.