A Parent's Role in Education

							A Parent's Role in
Education



  Parents have a vital role in their
  child's education.
Parent’s role
 Nothing helps a child succeed like an
  involved parent. A little willingness
  from a child's parents can work
  wonders in the classroom.
Parent’s role
 In school as in life, consistent support
  from parents is crucial to sustaining a
  student's confidence and sense of
  achievement
Parents play four distinct roles
in their child's education:
 Cheerleader
 Friend
 Teacher
 Enforcer.
An understanding of these roles can
  help you help your child step up to
  the challenges of learning.
Cheer leader
 Children thrive on encouragement.
 It's just as important to support a child who
  doesn't perform well well as it is to
  congratulate them for success.
 Real learning is not based on reward, but
  on the value your child places on the
  process itself.
 Ask your child what they do when they fail
  at something they're good at - a missed
  tackle on the football field for example, or a
  missed key on the piano. This will help
  them to see how important it is to keep
  trying
Be a friend
 Learning about math and reading isn't the only
  struggle your child faces in school. Maybe they're
  having problems with a teacher, a group of friends, or
  a bully on the playground. Sometimes what they
  really need is someone who is willing to hear what
  they're thinking--and that someone should be you.
 With nobody to confide in, your child will have extra
  stress in their life, which can decrease self-esteem
  and motivation.
 Listening respectfully to your child's concerns can be a
  major confidence booster all by itself. If you take your
  child seriously he's more likely to do the same for
  their education.
Be a teacher
   You can't just leave it all up to the teacher.
   Children still need personal attention, so it's the role of the
    parent to make sure they get it.
   Stay in touch with your child's assignments, tests and
    ongoing projects.
   Set aside time each day to offer help.
   Be available and enthusiastic; your child needs to feel like
    you want to be there and that helping them isn't a chore.
   Connect with their teachers regularly to keep up with how
    things are going in the classroom.
   If you find your child needs extra help, be active in getting
    it, or better yet, work with them yourself.
   Tutoring your own children can be rewarding for both of
    you.
Be an Enforcer
 sometimes you've go to be tough.
 Enforce in advance by helping your child
  set and keep schedules, reach goals and
  complete assignments on time.
 Be patient but unwavering with the basics
  and your student will catch on. Sometimes
  you'll have to be strict, but a little firmness
  each day will teach your child vital time
  management skills.
 Be willing to be the bad guy, but don't
  make school or homework seem like a
  punishment.
Creating a Positive Home
Learning Environment

 Your child needs a special place to call their
  own. Setting aside a room or nook in your
  home dedicated to your child's education
  will show him or her that your are serious
  about their education.
 A good, study desk, a comfortable chair
  and a clear, bright lamp are essential.
 Location is important. keep it well separate
  from distractions like games, music and
  other hobbies not related to studying.
 A child who learns to organize their space
  will carry organization into every corner of
  their life
Home environment
 A supportive home environment will
  help enable your child to excel by
  making study and productivity part of
  daily life. Organizing and running
  your home with your child's
  developing life skills in mind will
  provide the supportive structure and
  atmosphere needed for success in the
  classroom.
Improving Your Child's Grades


 Skill gaps lead to discouragement,
  which shows up as low self-
  confidence, self-defeating behavior,
  poor grades and even behavioral
  problems
School is important
 Talk about how valuable education is and
  how it can benefit your child's future.
 Make homework a family activity and
  participate by checking in and helping out.
 When a family member's grades are
  suffering, show them that the whole family
  cares and wants them to feel good about
  their schoolwork
 When your child succeeds make sure they
  are congratulated.
Set Realistic Goals

 Academic progress is a slow but steady
  process.
 Help your child understand what they're
  trying to accomplish and that there are no
  shortcuts.
 Improving their grades is a goal worth
  reaching, not a punishment.
 Allow your child to suggest solutions to the
  problem.
 This will empower them and give them a
  say in their educational destiny.
Be a Mentor

 Be available for your child.
 If you're willing to sit down and help them
  get through a tough assignment, they'll be
  more willing, too.
 Remember that learning is about
  encountering what you don't already know.
  That can be scary!
 Be patient and responsive in helping your
  child master new skills
 Your child will be receptive to learning more
  quickly if they can count on you to help no
  matter what the problem.
Make Learning Fun!


 Your child might be bored.
 Turn homework and study into a
  game.
 Make some flash cards or purchase
  age appropriate knowledge
  educational games.
 Get everyone in the family involved.
Know When to Ask for Help

 Some children just don't respond well when
  mom and dad try to help with school.
 Know when to turn to a tutor
 Many children suffer from learning
  disabilities. Consider seeking professional
  help.
 A counselor should be able to identify
  problems and give suggestions for how to
  help a child learn at full potential.
Improving your Child's Study
Habits

 Learning skills need to be fostered at
  home
 Parents need to be as active in their
  child's education as any teacher or
  tutor.
 You can help your children excel in
  school. All it takes is a little creativity
  and some cooperation from your
  family.
Turn off the TV!

 The television is a huge distraction.
 No matter what channel is on, it will grab
  your child's attention, especially if their
  homework assignment is especially
  challenging or boring.
 Even just hearing the TV, knowing others
  are watching can create problems for a
  child trying to concentrate.
 Make it a house rule that the TV is off
  during study time.
 That goes for mom and dad, too. No
  exceptions!
You Study Too!


 Set a good example for your children.
 Start a project of personal study,
  complete with writing projects and
  reading assignments, so you can
  participate in study time along with
  your children.
 Let your kids see that you are serious
  about learning new things.
A Place of Their Own

 Set up a study space for your child.
 Make it a permanent area where they
  can leave their books and papers
  when they aren't using them.
 Give them a desk and a chair, a
  bright, clear lamp
 Make sure they have everything they
  need to study efficiently and
  comfortably.
Time is of the Essence

   Show your child how to use a planner.
   Walk them through the process every day until they're
    doing it on their own and then check in a couple of times a
    week.
   Time management is a critical life skill that should not be
    taken for granted.
   Maintaining direct involvement in your child's education is
    crucial to his academic success.
   The ability to plan, organize and manage time will benefit
    your child in every area of life.
   Create a home environment where good study habits are
    primary and appreciated.
   Your child will develop vital skills and confidence they will
    need to face the challenges of life in the classroom and
    beyond.
Bridging the Gap Between
School and Home


 Homework is a vital tool for
  enhancing a child's grasp of the
  coursework. It's an opportunity for
  review, assimilation and preparation
  for upcoming material.
Home work
 Homework is a way of integrating the
  support structure of home with the
  support structure of school.
 The support of the adults in a
  student's life is crucial to his
  educational success.
Communicating with your
Child's Teacher

 Opening a line of communication with
  your child's teacher is essential for
  your child's education as well as your
  state of mind.
 Keeping in touch with the teacher is
  vital. Having his perspective on your
  child's learning process is a vital tool
  to ensuring your child gets what he
  needs to succeed in school.
Make Contact

 Get in touch with the teacher during within
  the first two weeks of school.
 Learn about the homework policy, study
  expectations and any opportunities for how
  you might become involved in the life of
  the classroom.
 Get recommendations for learning activities
  you can do at home.
 Be sure the teacher knows the best way to
  reach you and how you can most easily
  contact him.
Communicate


 Use a notebook/diary, carried to and
  from school by your child, to
  communicate with his teachers.
Ask Questions

 Come up with a list of questions to
  ask the teacher at the very first
  parent/teacher conference.
 Ask about what your child should be
  learning, where he's strong and
  where he needs work.
 Find out what to make of test results
  and whether your child is completing
  his assignments as expected.
Give Your Child his Say

 Be sure to ask your child how she thinks
  she is doing in school.
 Find out what she thinks of her teacher,
  what she likes and doesn't like.
 You need to be impartial and understand
  that although the teacher is in charge, your
  child may have legitimate difficulties
  dealing with him.
 If possible, arrange to meet with your child
  and the teacher together.
Learning Environment

   It's important to learn about how your child's school
    handles different learning styles.
   Ask about additional resources, tutoring, and any programs
    that might be of use to a child.
   Pay attention to what your child needs, understand that the
    school she is in may not be able to provide it and that you
    might be able to implement appropriate changes if you
    know who to talk to.
   Clear communication with your child's teacher can smooth
    out many unnecessary bumps in your child's education.
    It can prevent misunderstanding and it keeps you informed
    about the daily life of your child's classroom.
   You are just as important to his education as his teacher is.
   Even if you can't be present, you can still be directly
    involved.
Television Can Effect the
Learning of a Child


 Monitoring what your child watches
  and how much time he spends at it
  will enable you to make appropriate
  use of television.
Unmonitored and excessive
viewing poses various threats:

 Exposure to sex and violence
 Unhealthy influence of junk food and toy
  commercials
 Create confusion about what good behavior
  looks like (it can contradict what you've
  taught them!)
 Hinder a healthy differentiation between
  reality and make believe
 Passive viewing for extended periods can
  hinder social and intellectual development
Set Standards

 These dangers are only a threat if you
  aren't involved and active.
 There are lots of ways to regulate your
  child's TV intake.
 Try keeping a log of how many hours of
  television your child watches in a day, a
  week and a month.
 Take careful note of what they watch.
 As a rule of thumb, keep the time to less
  than two hours a day.
Get Informed


 Learn about the current TV programs
  and choose the very best, the ones
  that best suit your child's taste and
  will be most meaningful for your
  family.
Be There for TV Time

 Participate in your child's TV time.
 Make a plan for what you will watch together.
 By being present, you'll teach your child how to
  watch TV while being considerate of other viewers and
  you'll be there to answer the questions any good show
  will inevitably bring up.
 Pay attention to how your child responds so you can
  offer guidance at those times when he doesn't think
  to ask for it.
 Discuss the program with your child when it's over
  and include your whole family in the conversation.
T.V

 Be sure to keep the TV turned off until it's
  time to start watching, then turn it off
  again when your show is over.
 It's important not to let the TV baby sit
  your child or become your child's best
  friend.
 Carefully monitored television viewing can
  add value to your child's exploration of life,
  but too much TV and the wrong kind can
  hinder that exploration.
 It's a delicate balance, but it's not difficult
  to maintain, all it takes is awareness and
  attention.