Team up with the teacher to tackle problems

By now, you are probably aware of any issues your child is having with school and learning. But you may not always know how to address them. Her teacher is ready to help. Ask for a conference, in person, online or over the phone. Share your concerns and ask what the teacher has observed. Together, plan what you and the school can do to help. If necessary, meet again. Never give up on your child.

Trade places to promote understanding

The next time you and your child have a disagreement, try switching roles. After things calm down, ask your child to pretend he's the parent and you're the child. Then act the way your child was acting, and have your "parent" explain why you should behave differently. Try to convince him why he should let you do as you want. You'll have some fun and each get a better idea of the other's point of view.

Give younger siblings 'schoolwork' too

How can you supervise your child's study sessions when a younger sibling has nothing to occupy her time and demands attention? Try filling a "schoolwork" box with items for activities your preschooler can do on her own, such as drawing or putting together puzzles. She'll get in the habit of doing "schoolwork" before she gets to elementary school, and your older child will be able to concentrate on studying.

Enjoy a holiday word game

Make learning the secret ingredient in your holiday feast. Entertain your child (and the rest of the family, too) with this age-old game. Pass out pencils and paper and ask people to make as many words as they can from the word "celebration." Or try a hands-on variation: Spell out a word with Scrabble tiles (or cardboard tiles you make yourself), and let your child rearrange the letters into new words.

Let your child learn from schoolwork choices

Offering some choices about how to do assignments can reduce friction over schoolwork. Doing the work isn't optional, but you can let your child decide things like: whether to work alone or near others, whether to start right after classes or after relaxing a bit, and whether to start with math or reading. Experiencing the consequences of a poor choice will help your child learn to make a better one next time.

How to help when your child is frustrated

Statements like, "I hate school!" or "I'm dumb!" are often signs that a child is frustrated with schoolwork. To help your child in this situation, share a story of how you struggled with something when you were young. Explain how you worked through it. Ask guiding questions to help him come up with strategies he could use. Then encourage him to try again. If frustration persists, let the teacher know.

Show your child what subtraction looks like

If your child is having difficulty with subtraction basics, try using paper clips to show her what subtraction looks like. Suppose she must subtract 8 from 16. Make a chain of 16 paper clips. Have your child count them. Then she can count again as you remove eight clips, one at a time. Finally, have her count the remaining clips. Visual aids like this can help kids get a clearer idea of math concepts.

Help your child check for writing quality

Before your child hands in a writing assignment, help him review it. Give him this checklist of questions to ask himself: 1. Does his writing make sense? Are the facts correct? 2. Does each paragraph connect logically to the ones before and after? 3. Are his sentences complete? Do subjects and verbs agree? 4. Are all the words spelled correctly? Are any overused? 5. Is his final draft neat and legible?

With your help, your child can do great things

Research makes it clear: All parents, no matter their own level of education, can help their children succeed academically. To do it, set high (but still realistic) goals for your child. Then stress the importance of persistence, and praise her effort and progress. Be firm about limits and enthusiastic about school. Show respect for your child's ideas, and share your family's values.

Predictable books help kids connect with reading

Children who are just learning to read need books that help them along. When you choose books for your child, look for text with rhythm and rhyme, and repeated words and sentences. Predictable plots and events that follow a natural time sequence make it easier for young readers to follow the story. So do pictures that provide clues to what is happening. A plot or character your child can relate to will boost interest.