Elementary School

• Encourage independence by expecting more from your child.
• Resist doing for them when they can do for themselves. Allow them to do simple things like dress themselves or clean up after meals.
• Praise their efforts, even if their bed is not made perfect or their clothing choices are not the same as yours.
• Encourage friendships through social, recreational and sports activities.
• Develop predictable routines so that your child knows what to expect each day.
• Don’t ignore misbehavior and poor conduct at preschool. Work with the school to develop a plan to encourage positive behaviors.
• Read to your child and with your child. Encourage their interest in books.
• Provide opportunities to play games, sing songs, and engage in science, math, art and writing activities.
• Encourage your child to experiment and discover, within limits.
• Establish a communication system with the preschool so that you know what is happening on a daily basis with your child.
• Speak in positive ways about school, teachers and classmates.
• Talk to your child and find out what they are doing in school. Ask about friends and activities.
• Attend and volunteer at school activities. These are good ways to support your child’s efforts.
• Be aware of signs of bullying, learning disabilities, or health concerns which might be the reason for your child’s poor performance or unhappiness at school.

Credits: National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET), PACER Center, US Department of Education (Ed.gov), Parent to Parent of Georgia

• Encourage learning by communicating high, yet reasonable, expectations for your child’s education.
• Be involved in your child’s education by assisting with homework and knowing the curriculum.
• Make sure your child has regular attendance and is on time and in school every day. 
• Don’t ignore misbehavior and poor conduct as these can be signals that your child is having learning difficulties.Work with teachers/administrators to develop a plan to encourage positive behaviors. 
• Monitor reading,writing and math skills. Set high expectations but be aware that some children will need special interventions to develop these skills. 
• Attend parent-teacher conferences and work with teachers to understand and support goals and expectations for your child. 
• Talk to your child and find out what they are doing in school and discuss what they are learning on a daily basis. 
• Stay involved by attending school activities and volunteering as these are good ways to get know your child and their school. 
• Seek academic help for your child if needed, as some students benefit from tutoring and extra academic assistance. 
• Beware of signs of bullying, learning disabilities, or health concerns which might be the reason for your child’s poor performance or unhappiness at school. 
• If your child has an IEP, make sure they are included with their typical peers in all areas of the school. 
• Make sure your child with an IEP has academic goals that are inline with the general curriculum and is keeping pace with others in their grade level. 
• Confirm your child with an IEP has access to and is using the necessary accommodations to be successful. 
• Make sure your child takes medications that are prescribed, and lives a healthy lifestyle that includes a healthy diet, plenty of exercise and sleep.

Credits: National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET), PACER Center, US Department of Education (Ed.gov), Parent to Parent of Georgia