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6. Find out about grading policies.
Grading policies can differ from
teacher to teacher, so check the
class syllabus or the teachers'
blogs for grading percentages. Find out how much tests, quizzes, homework and other assignmnets are weighted. Do the teachers accept late work? Can your child re-test if they fails a test? If the information is not posted, contact the teacher. Get this information on the front end to avoid surprises later.
8. Be open to support from the school.
If teachers express concern
about your child's progress,
listen. Be open to the suggestions they give you and to the class- room interventions they want to implement. Most schools use a process called RTI (Response to Intervention) to
Your child is one of a hundred plus students for each teacher, so establishing good communication is a must!
7. Get access to your child's grades.
Most middle and high schools
use electronic gradebooks that
parents have accesst to. Get
your account set up ASAP so
you can keep track of how your child is performing. Teachers won't ask for your signature on failing tests anymore or contact you when there's a missing assignment, but you can see your child's grades online. Opt into having grades sent to you weekly via email when grades fall below a certain
average.
9. Plan ahead to attend school events.
Schools plan events at the start of the year. Find out what's
on the calendar and plan ahead so you can attend the events that are most important to your child or impact them the most. Ask for days off in advance or arrange for chilcare so you'll be available. Even if your child acts like it doesn't matter, they really do want you at school events.
match effective strategies to student defecits. Teachers take data for 4-6 weeks to see if the stategy is working and make adjustments if necessary. Ask lots of questions and ask get frequent updates.
10. Know who your child's freinds are.
Freinds are the most
important thing in your
child's social life. Friends have alot of influence, so you want to be sure they're a positive one. Invite the girls over for movies and pizza, a sleepover or drive them to the mall. You don't have to actually hang out with them (your daughter would be mortified if you tried) but the interactions you do have will tell you alot about them.
by Angela Whitehead