Tips for Parents

It may take a little extra time for you to become more involved with your child's school, but there are simple things you can do to create a more secure and rich learning environment for him or her.

These are some of the things you can do to become more involved with your child's school:

Call ahead before you visit. Make sure your child's teachers or another school staff person has adequate time to spend with you.
Visit your child's classroom. Focus on an activity which your child has told you will be happening.
Volunteer. Volunteers are always needed for field trips, playground activities, inter-school sports, club activities, booster clubs, the Parent/Community Networking Center, the Parent/Teacher/Student Association, recycling, etc.
Join your child for lunch in the cafeteria. Not only will this give you a feel for the school, it will make your child feel special as well.
Attend school programs. Don't be shy about getting involved with the activity, either behind the scenes or participating as a leader.
Communicate with your child. Have your child share daily, something special that happened in class.
Be a part of School/Community Based Management at your school.
Give input for the school newsletter or bulletin.
Organize a group of volunteers to do painting/cleaning/carpentry at school.
Offer to show slides/videos to your child's class of family trips which have educational value. For example, a family trip to the Statue of Liberty, or a visit to historical sites in Washington D.C.
Become a volunteer tutor.
Keep a school calendar of activities and events posted at home.

Resources

Want more information about how to encourage a child's success in school? These practical guides were developed though a joint effort between the National Education Association and National Parent Teacher Association. Click on any of the images or text links to download a PDF.

	A Parent's Guide to Preparing Your Child for School Download ( 395 KB, 2pp, 8½ x 11)
	A Parent's Guide to a Successful Kindergarten Transition Download ( 384 KB, 2pp, 8½ x 11)
	A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Teen Get the Most Out of High School Download ( 275 KB, 2pp, 8½ x 11)
	A Parent's Guide to Raising Ready Readers—and Keeping Them That Way Download ( 299 KB, 2pp, 8½ x 11)
	A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Child Learn to Read Download ( 287 KB, 2pp, 8½ x 11)
	A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Child with Today's Math Download ( 285 KB, 2pp, 8½ x 11)
	A Parent's Guide to Raising Scientifically Literate Children Download ( 285 KB, 2pp, 8½ x 11)
	A Parent's Guide: Hey Mom, I Want To Be An Engineer! Download ( 256 KB, 2pp, 8½ x 14)
	A Parent's Guide to Testing at Your Child's School Download ( 278 KB, 2pp, 8½ x 11)
	A Parent's Guide to Choosing Supplemental Education Service Providers Download ( 296 KB, 2pp, 8½ x 11)