Get involved in your child's school

Your involvement is very important in your child’s school experience. When parents like you are active and involved in school, students do better in school and the school itself gets better. Here are some ways you can help:

• Meet the teacher. Meet with your child’s teacher during the first few weeks of school. At this meeting, ask how your child is doing at school, and share goals for your child and any individual needs he or she may have. This meeting also will make you feel more comfortable speaking to the teacher about things that come up during the year.
  
• Get to know the school principal. By meeting the principal you can find out the opportunities you may have to get involved and what recommendations he gives teachers about keeping parents informed.
  
• Attend back-to-school night. Most schools host this event about a month into the new academic year.
  
• Find out the best way to keep in touch. Some teachers like e-mails or phone calls, while others preferface-to-face meetings. Ask your child’s teacher the best way to contact her.
• Volunteer in the classroom if you can . Kindergarten classrooms usually offer many ways for parents to lend a helping hand.
• Join the PTA or PTO. Not all parents can help out during the school day. You can still make a difference by becoming a member of the PTA or PTO and participating in school committees.
• Continue the learning at home. Do activities and projects at home that will build on the reading and math skills your child is learning at school. Teachers often provide materials for this.

Source: Scholastic “Parent Guides”