Taking responsibility, working independently, and engaging in active learning are important qualities for your child’s school success.  Here are some suggestions from the U.S. Department of Education (2005) for parents to consider when helping children develop these qualities:

Help Your Child Be Responsible and to Work Independently

• Establish rules. Every home needs reasonable rules that children know and can depend on. Have your child help you to set rules, then make sure that you enforce the rules consistently.
• Make it clear to your child that they have to take responsibility for what they do, both at home and at school. For example, don't automatically defend your child if the teacher tells you that they are often late to class or are disruptive when in class. Ask for their side of the story. If it is true, let your child take the consequence.
• Work with your child to develop a reasonable, consistent schedule of jobs to do around the house. List them on a calendar. Younger children can help set the table or put away their toys and clothes. Older children can help prepare meals and clean up afterwards.
• Show your child how to break a job down into small steps. Teach your child how to do the job one step at a time. This works for everything — getting dressed, cleaning a room, or doing a big homework assignment.
• Make your child responsible for getting ready to go to school each morning. Help them get used to getting up on time, making sure that they have everything needed for the school day and so forth. If necessary, make a checklist to help them remember what they have to do.
• Monitor what your child does after school, in the evenings, and on weekends. If you can't be there when your child gets home, give them the responsibility of checking in with you by phone to discuss their day.

Encourage Active Learning

• Children need active learning as well as quiet learning such as reading and doing homework. Active learning involves asking and answering questions, solving problems and exploring interests. Active learning also can take place when your child plays sports, spends time with friends, acts in a school play, plays a musical instrument, or visits museums and bookstores.
• To promote active learning, listen to your child's ideas and respond to them. Let them jump in with questions and opinions when you read books together. When you encourage this type of give-and-take at home, your child's participation and interest in school is likely to increase.

Your involvement is key to your child’s success.  Thank you for your continued support in helping your child come to school ready to learn.