Enriching the school experience

It may take a little extra time for you to become more involved with your child’s school, but there are simple things you can do to create a more secure and rich learning environment for him or her.

GET INVOLVED IN YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL
We're all pressed for time. Find something that can fit your time constraints.

Call ahead before you visit.
Make sure your child’s teachers or another school staff person has adequate time to spend with you.

Visit your child’s classroom.
Focus on an activity that your child has told you will be happening (like guest readers or a field trip).

Volunteer.
Volunteers are always needed for field trips, playground activities, inter-school sports, club activities, booster clubs, the Parent/Community Networking Center, the Parent/Teacher/Student Association, etc.

Join your child for lunch in the cafeteria.
Not only will this give you a feel for the school, it’ll make your child feel special as well.

Attend school programs.
Don't be shy about getting involved with the activity, either behind the scenes or participating as a leader.

Communicate with your child.
Have your child share with you daily something special that happened in class.

Give input for the school newsletter or bulletin.
Organize a group of volunteers to do painting/cleaning/carpentry at school.

Offer to show slides/videos to your child’s class that have educational value.
For example, a family trip to the Statue of Liberty, or a visit to historical sites in Washington, DC.

Become a volunteer tutor.

Keep a school calendar of activities and events posted at home.


Form a partnership with your child's teacher

By creating an alliance, you send a message to your child that you care what goes on in his or her daily life and that you are concerned with his or her well being.

Use these guidelines to evaluate school elements
Communicate, communicate, communicate.
• Read all communication from your child’s teachers and school.
• Communicate frequently with your child’s teacher(s) and keep them informed of things happening at home (i.e., divorce, illness, death) that may affect your child’s performance or attitude at school

Volunteer.
It’s not as hard as you think. Volunteer to listen to students read, chaperone, tutor, talk to classes, etc. Ask the teacher how you can help.

Be a "do-er".
Attend as many school activities, plays, and sports as you can.

Make visits.
Attend open houses at your child’s school. While there, get a feel for the school, the teachers, and use it as an opportunity to create a bond with your child’s teachers.

Attend conferences.
Attend parent/teacher conferences, or schedule conferences with your child’s teacher(s) to chart your child’s progress.

Homework.
Make sure your child is doing his or her homework regularly. Ask your child to see assignments before they are turned in. Things to look for: neatness, accuracy, spelling, and grammatical errors.


What to look for when visiting your child's school

The learning atmosphere is one of the most important factors in your child's life. By taking a little time to "scout" a current or potential school, you can form a solid foundation for quality learning.

Use these guidelines to evaluate school elements

The Physical Setting
• The campus should be neat and orderly.
• Are there enough trash bins?
• Are the environmentally conscious? Do they recycle?
• How are the facilities maintained? Is there graffiti on the walls? Are the restrooms clean and sanitary?

The Classroom
Are the students’ works displayed on the bulletin boards?
Are the upcoming events posted (i.e., lunch menus, sports, events)?
How are the desks arranged? Will this configuration enrich learning? (If you don’t know….ask!)

The Playground
Is there an adequate amount of playground equipment?
Is it a safe and fun area?
Is it adequately supervised during recess?

Children
Do they appear happy to be there?
Do they appear challenged and motivated?
Do they understand and follow school rules?

Teachers
Do they appear happy and motivated?
Can you tell if their morale is high, medium, or low?
How do they interact with students?
What are their classroom expectations and disciplinary procedures?

Staff
Do they work as a team and support one another?
How do they communicate with one another?

Other
Does the school have adequate enrichment programs such as sports, events, music, etc.?
Is the library an active learning place? Does it appear fully stocked?
Are excursions planned out?

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