How Can I Help My Child Be a Better Student?

Help Your Child Be a Better Student

Expectations and Goals

To help your child in school, it's beneficial to establish expectations and goals. Talk to him about the importance of achieving and maintaining good grades for his future. Let him know what you expect and help him create his own expectations. When you set high expectations, your child will try harder to reach the goal.

Attend Class

For your child to have the best chance of success in school, she needs to be there. Consistent absences can cause her to fall behind because she will have missed important instruction. Much of the material students learn in class each year builds on the material they've learned in past years. As a result, the more your child attend class, the better she'll usually do in school.

Communicate with Teachers

You'll be able to help your child better if you're in constant communication with his teachers. Schools give out progress reports and report cards, these reports usually only give overall grades. Additionally, by the time you receive the report, it may be too late for your child to improve low grades. Communicating with teachers will help you find out what's being taught in class and keep a tab on how your child is progressing.

Help with Homework

Not only does homework usually count as a grade, but it's also a tool to help students practice what they've learned in class. Homework also helps teachers find out if students fully understand the material. If your child has problems, you may be able to assist her and explain what she's supposed to do, especially if you've been talking with the teacher about the work.

Award Success

When your child is successful in school, acknowledge and reward him. The rewards don't have to be large. In fact, most of the time, tangible items are not needed at all. Many children just want to know that their hard work, efforts and improvements have been noticed and appreciated by someone they care about. When they receive this, children will usually continue doing the things they need to do to be successful.