Principally Speaking

Imagine your child’s education is a skyscraper. Each year, with every new subject mastered, she adds a floor, making the building a little taller. Without a solid foundation, the whole structure will topple. When it comes to your child’s education, reading is that foundation. Reading and study smarts are skills that parents can help students with at home. Read to your child, have your child read to you. Actively ask them questions about the material. For example, “Wow, why do you think Edward left the group crying?”

Students need study skills throughout their years of school. Help your child study effectively. Treat studying as a daily assignment, not just something your child does before a spelling test. After he finishes his regular homework, spend a little more time reviewing notes, looking up a topic on the Internet, reading about the state, country or other subject matter being taught. Help your child “preview” the chapter in the book he is studying to increase understanding by glancing over the headings, graphics or photos. Look up boldfaced words in the glossary. If the material is difficult, find a picture book at the library or information on-line to help her comprehend the text.

If your child reviews information several ways, she’ll be more likely to remember it. Use colored pencils to copy each spelling word or math fact onto a separate index card. Shuffle the cards and study in a different order.

There are several ways to support your child’s learning and school:

Spend a few minutes every night going through backpacks and looking over handouts and class work. Ask your child about the best thing that happened that day. If they say lunch, or recess, go with it and wind it back to the classroom. “Lunch” was the answer I received from my eight year old grand daughter one day last week. From there, the discussion eventually made it back to class and I learned she wrote a poem about her dog and read it to the class. Read to your child. Even sixth graders will enjoy a story. Check out a book you think they will like and surprise them one evening by saying, “Listen to this!” Read a couple of paragraphs and say, “Doesn’t this sound like a good story?” Or pick up their book and say, “Mind if I read the next chapter?” It really is not hard to get into the habit and your child will love you for it.