Parent Involvement: Key to Academic Success
2007-01-29
By D. E. Herrod, B.Ed.E, M.Div
One of the most important things you can do is to be informed and involved in the educational process. For home schooling families parental involvement is the key to a successful experience. As a teacher I have encountered many students who where homeschooled. Most where well educated due to hard work and commitment by the parents. The homeschooled students I encountered that made little or no progress had very little parental involvement. If your child attends a public or private school stay informed about assignments, tests, school events and your child’s progress.
Established and enforce a daily routine that includes how schoolwork/homework, getting ready for school, bed time and other activities are handled. Teach your child to prepare for school the night before. Be sure that backpacks, clothing and if possible lunches are ready the night before. This will help make mornings easier. It also teaches your child responsibility and how to be independent. Also be sure that your child eats a well balanced breakfast each morning.
Establish a system for rewards and consequences to help reinforce responsibility for schoolwork and chores. Rewards do not need to be expensive or extravagant. Keep consequences fair and avoid extremes. Many times I have had students whose parents grounded them for an entire six weeks or more for failing a class or even a single test. This can cause a child to loose hope. Have a way to earn back lost privileges.
Provide extra help for you child with needed subjects. This may be something you do yourself or you may want to hire a tutor. Even if your child is slacking off be supportive of any progress that is made. If your child is really trying and still cannot grasp the subject there may be a learning problem or other things interfering with the learning process.
Praise is a wonderful motivator. If you child is genuinely trying but still not making top marks reward the effort. Let them know you are still proud of them.
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