The Top Ten Ways to Positively Impact Your Child’s Education

1.                   Pay attention to homework and progress.  Regularly check the grades online and discuss the successes with your student.  Communicate regularly with your students' teachers malmch@riverview.wednet.edu and baughns@riverview.wednet.edu

2.                 Set a scheduled time that everyone in the house uses to do “homework”.  For adults that can be reading the newspaper, mail, paying bills, journaling, letter writing, or internet use.

3.                 Minimize distraction by turning off the TV during homework time.

4.                 Help your student to use their planner to effectively schedule appointments, due dates, personal appointments and let them see you use a calendar.

5.               Set up a dedicated space for homework.

6.                 Ask open ended questions ie How is that done, Explain that problem to me, What’s the next step?

7.                 Compare the work they’re doing to the issues in your life or the world. 

8.                 Talk about the training and classes that you take for work.  Make sure that the student understands the value of ongoing education.

9.                 Talk about the math behind the household budgeting, the taxes taken out of your paycheck, important news events, a book or magazine that you’re reading, anything that will show your child how to use critical thinking skills outside of the classroom.  Let your child see you doing the “business of living”.

10.            Treat learning as part of life and not something isolated to school.