You need to school yourself about school. 49.4 million students attended public schools in fall 2020. 34.1 million of these students attended prekindergarten to grade 8, making elementary schools the most popular schools in the country.
Elementary education has gotten more complicated since you went to school. There’s a lot you need to understand so your child gets the most out of it.
How should you be involved in your child’s learning? What sort of environment should you create for your child? How can you foster healthy habits?
Answer these questions and your child can pass their tests with flying colors. Here is your quick guide.
Be Involved in Your Child’s Elementary Education
You should get involved with your child’s primary education in a few different ways. You should attend parent-teacher conferences at the start of the year and stay in touch with your child’s teachers. Whenever you have concerns about your child’s school performance, you should talk with their teachers.
Prior to the school year, you should visit the school and tour the grounds. You should know where the main office, school nurse, and classrooms are located.
You should visit the website for your child’s primary school, as they may have resources you can use to help your child. If their teachers have websites, you should visit them and tell your child about them.
You can also try volunteering at your child’s school. Every elementary school looks for parents to get involved with reading stories, organizing field trips, and planning special events. Help out however you can, even for events that your child is not attending.
At the end of every day, you should ask your child about how school was. Learn about what books they are reading and who they are studying. This gives them validation and lets them know you are engaged with them.
Create a Good Environment for Studying
Your child’s education doesn’t end with the school day. At home, they need to do homework and study for upcoming tests.
Your child can study wherever they feel comfortable. But you should help them create an environment where they can focus on what they need to do. They should sit in a chair that supports their back and have a desk where they can complete their assignments.
Many people use calendars or checklists so they stay organized. Your child can prepare their own list and go through each item one by one. Even a basic list of bullet points can help your child get everything done.
Studying for tests can feel overwhelming, especially at the end of the year. Your child can use materials like study guides and flashcards to break the material down.
Short breaks can help them wind down and process new information. Feel free to give them a five-minute break after 45 minutes of studying. They can play a game, have a conversation with you, or get a snack.
Your child may need a computer in order to do their work. ICT support in schools can help you set up a computer for your child.
Know What to Expect With Homework
During your initial parent-teacher conference, you should talk to your child’s teacher about homework. You should understand how much work your child will receive and what tips they should follow for getting their work done.
Kindergarten and first-grade students receive very few homework assignments if any. As a child gets older, they may receive a little more homework.
But your child should never have more than one hour of work every night. You should talk to the teacher if you feel they are assigning too much work. You should also talk to them if your child is taking too long to complete assignments.
You can help your child with small tasks. If they’re struggling to complete a math problem, you can hand them a calculator.
For big projects like papers, let them take the initiative. Never write papers for them, but instead give them suggestions so they can get their work done.
Support Healthy Habits
If your child is not well, they will not perform well. Enforce a strict bedtime so they get at least eight hours of sleep every night. Younger children may need even more sleep, as they are developing quickly.
Give your child a healthy breakfast with whole grains and natural carbohydrates. Their lunches should contain a lot of protein, which will give them energy and help them stay focused.
Your child should arrive at school on time every day. Tardiness is never acceptable unless you are encountering an emergency.
However, you should keep them home from school if they are very sick or in pain. You should touch base with their teacher so they can complete the work they missed.
Children of any age can experience bullying and harassment. Talk to your child about it and tell them to go to a teacher if they are encountering mean students. If the teacher doesn’t do something, you should go to school administrators and talk with them.
Get the Most Out of Elementary Education
Elementary education can make or break your child. You need to be involved. Talk to your teacher and your child about how things are going and take the initiative if things are bad.
Give your child a good space to study in. Help them out with their homework, but let them develop skills on their own.
Nurture healthy habits with them. Eat and sleep well, and teach them how to handle stressful things like bullying.
There are so many elementary education tips you can learn. Read more elementary school guides by following our coverage.
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