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Development Topics
Inside the Mind of a Child
Ten Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in School
1. Get to know your child’s teachers. Go to parent-teacher conferences and back-to-school nights.
2. Keep track of homework. Help your child organize himself by keeping a calendar and notebook for each class.
3. Be available to help. Be home while your child is doing schoolwork. If needed, help out, but don’t do the work for him.
4. Provide a quiet place to do homework. Your child should use the same area every day and at the same time. The area should be free of distractions and have plenty of space to spread out books and papers.
5. Ask your child what he is learning. He will remember more about what he learns if he repeats it back to you.
6. Encourage strengths. Praise him for areas in which he is doing well and find ways for him to use those strengths. For example: a good reader can help read streets signs while in the car.
7. Be aware of areas of struggle. Don’t overlook areas in which your child is not doing as well. With proper intervention, your child can succeed, even if he is struggling with a learning disability.
8. Request help if needed. You can request tutors, homework help or even an academic evaluation from your local school district.
9. Encourage reading daily. Reading regularly will improve overall language and reading skills.
10. Encourage use of academic skills in everyday life. Be creative. You can teach math while you’re cooking and using measuring cups or you can teach spelling while playing Scrabble.
Last updated: May 2005
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