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Have you ever stayed up until the wee hours of the morning completing a special project for your child? You know exactly what I mean, one of those school projects that an overzealous teacher gave your child. There you are at midnight, long after you sent your elementary student to bed, trying to figure out how to make a basketball look the map of the United States.

By the way, after all the work my husband and I did on that basketball to try to make it look like the map of the United States without the aid of a computer, WE only received a D. When my son brought home the basketball with a piece of paper that had a huge D displayed on it and the reason why, I was fit to be tied. I almost dragged my fourth grader back to the school to yell at that teacher.

Just about everytime one of my children has to do a special school project, I want to find a place to hide. Usually my kids don't tell me that they have a school project due until the night before it is actually due. So, you can see my apprehension when I finally find out about a school project.

How can you help your child with a special school project?

Here are TEN ways to help your child get a really good grade.

1. When you have a child that doesn't tell you or show you his homework every night, be a pest. Ask every day after school exactly what homework he has. Ask if he has any projects due in the near future, say tomorrow. Ask to see his planner if he has one. You may have to go down a list of every class he has to find out exactly what homework he has.

2. Once you have jogged your child's memory, and found out that he has a special project due in two weeks, write it down in red marker on a calendar. You will need to have this calendar prominently displayed where you will see it everyday.

3. As soon as you find out that there is a special project hovering inthe horizon, buy all the necessary materials you will need. When your child gets a list of materials try to take him with you, so he can be a part of the process. This will help later on when he has other projects, so that he knows what goes into doing one.

4. If you don't have enough information about the project send a note in with your child to the teacher. You can also e-mail the teacher for more info. Call another parent for help also. You may find that the other parent is as lost as you are, or she may have a child that is super organized. Have your child buddy up with this child!

5. Start working with your child on the project as soon as possible. When

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