Help Your Daughter Succeed in School

September 3, 2009 by Administrator
Filed under Education

By: Michele Boom

Elementary School Girl

As parents, we all want our daughters to succeed in school. Children need their parents support and encouragement along the way in order to realize their educational goals. Studies have shown that the more passionate a child is about learning, the more education she will seek. And, we all know that the more education a woman has, the more she will succeed in life.

Children typically decide whether or not they are good students by the time they enter third grade, so it’s important that parents ignite their child’s interest in learning early on.

Try these tips to help motivate and enlighten your daughter’s views on education and school.

• Get involved in her Education. When a parent is not involved with a child’s education, they are disconnected from a child’s world including her friends, her work, and her community.

• Meet her teacher. A friendly 2 minute introduction in September will make a world of difference.

• Communicate. Touch base with your daughter’s teacher throughout the year. Call. Email. Write a friendly note. The more you communicate before there is a problem, the easier it will be when there is a problem. It takes only a moment to send an occasional “Just checking in” email or note.

• Get familiar with the curriculum. Be aware of what your daughter is learning. Ask her questions. Check out books and movies to support her interests and the academic subjects she’s learning in school.

• Attend school functions. Try to attend important school functions such as Open House, Meet Your Teacher Nights, Back to School Nights, and Talent Nights. Most of these are usually held in the evenings so working parents can come. If not, call the administrator to complain. Schools usually try to do their best to accommodate scheduling for parents. Also, be aware that the law requires an employer to give an employee time off to attend regular parent conferences during the day. And, most teachers will conduct a phone conference if your schedule does not allow you to attend a conference.

• Know your rights. If your child is falling behind, you have the right to request an evaluation.

• Stay Positive. It’s true that there are a few bad teachers and bad schools. But, keep in mind education can be a separate entity from school. Encourage a love of learning by beginning at home. Read to her, take her to museums, and talk with her about what’s going on in the world. These seemingly small gestures will help create a lifelong learner. It’s equally important to try not to complain about your daughter’s teacher in front of her. A child’s relationship with her teacher is very important. What she hears you say can often serve to undermine it.

And remember it’s important to continually support your daughter, especially if she is experiencing difficulty in school. Seek extra help, like a tutor or peer mentor if she needs it. Our daughters need our help to succeed and realize their dreams; it’s never too late to help her become an excited learner!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michele Boom worked as an elementary teacher for ten years. After becoming a mother, she shelved her teaching career to be at home with her three daughters. A huge advocate of community building among mothers, Michele helps run various mother community groups.

Michele is also a freelance writer and spends much of her time penning her successful mommy blog, Mammatalk.