Ideas to Improve Student Achievement

How to Help Your Child Improve in School

Where Should I Start?

In order to understand your child's development, it can be helpful to understand what your child's school is attempting to accomplish. Improving student achievement is a constant challenge to most schools because students learn differently and come to school with a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. For this reason, it's important that schools implement several learning strategies to improve student achievement in order to reach all students.

The kind of school that your child attends will greatly affect what's expected of him or her. Most public schools and many private schools have curriculums based on the education standards mandated by your state's Department of Education. Get in touch with your child's school to gain a better understanding of what you can expect from your child's teacher and what you can do at home to help.

What Can Be Done at School?

When students develop one-on-one relationships with teachers, they are often more motivated to achieve in school. Because they work with your child on a daily basis, teachers can keep a close eye on your student and catch problems early.

An environment in which student achievement is celebrated can also provide motivation. Many schools frequently acknowledging students' growth and success through honor rolls and school assemblies.

What Can Be Done at Home?

Create an area free of clutter, noise and distractions, including television, computers and cell phones, where your child can do homework and study. Make sure that your child studies and does homework at the same time every day in order to maintain a structured environment conducive to learning.

Keep in close contact with your child's teacher and any other learning professionals working with your child. Find out what you can do to help and go over your child's schoolwork on a regular basis. When your child has a test coming up, standardized or otherwise, you can administer practice exams to your child at home to help ensure that he or she is prepared.

What Other Resources Can Be Useful?

After-school or weekend clubs sometimes have academic activities that will probably boost your child's academic skills while still having fun. There are also many websites offering homework help, practice tests, study guides, educational games, worksheets and activities. If your child is struggling to achieve, you can always take him or her to a learning facility or else hire a one-on-one tutor. There are also many companies that will provide your child with online tutoring services that he or she can access from your home.