1. Read to your child everyday or let him read to you. In addition to reading, discuss the storyline with your child and what it means. This discussion will show you that your child understands what he has read and will help him develop analytic skills.
  2. Encourage your child to read – just for fun. Help your child discover the joy of reading. It doesn’t really matter what the tool is: newspapers, magazines, novels, biographies, graphic novels or internet sources. One way to encourage your child is to let him see you reading on a regular basis.
  3. Talk to your child about school. Not just “How was your day?” but ask specific questions about the classes he had and the type of work he did in class. If he had a test, ask him how he thought he did on it and why? Ask him if he felt prepared and how he thinks he could be better prepared next time.
  4. Get to know your child’s teachers. Teachers welcome involvement from parents so getting to know your child’s teacher will open the door to a beneficial relationship. Ask your child’s teacher for specific ways to encourage your child and how you can bolster his particular learning style.
  5. If your child’s teacher has a web site, visit it regularly. Find out what projects or homework assignments your child has and make sure he is on track to complete them on time.
  6. Review your child’s homework daily. You might have to brush up on your skills if it’s been awhile since you did a particular arithmetic problem or conjugated a verb. Your child’s teacher might even be willing to give you some guidance if you ask.
  7. Explain to your child in real world terms about why he needs a good education. Find ways to show your child how he will use math or English after he gets out of school. When you go to the grocery store and see something on sale, show your child how you use math to determine if the sale price is a good one or not.
  8. Make sure your child is ready for school. Ensuring your child gets plenty of rest, has a balanced diet and is physically active will help with his academic life. Proper nutrition and sleep feed the brain and help children, as well as adults, function better.
  9. Find teachable moments in everyday life. When you are outside raking the leaves up, explain to your child about the process of leaves turning from their summer greens to the bright displays of the fall palette. Lots of resources, particularly on the internet, exist to help you find some of these opportunities.
  10. Encourage your child to ask questions. Lively discussions about a variety of topics can help develop your child’s interest in the world around him. Your own community probably provides a lot of opportunities for this type of discussion.