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When your first child begins to bring homework to you, it is usually in the first kindergarten. There are pictures to color, underline, cut out, and draw circles around. You are to spend time helping your young student to complete these delightfully easy projects and return them to his/her teacher in the envelope provided.

But suddenly, and without warning, your child graduates from color and paste to projects and tests. How ever did this happen and what do you do now? You always dreamed that homework time would be a fun way for you and your child to bond. After all, you hated homework time and your parents never took interest. You were determined to do this differently. So you thought.

First, do not let this happen to you. As your child gets closer and closer to real homework, you will hopefully be ready. If you have paid attention so far, you will see it progress into real work and not just coloring. If you know it is coming you'll prepare:

1. Choose a quiet homework spot

2. Have plenty of supplies including resource materials, study guides, plenty of scratch paper, craft supplies for projects, and blank index cards

3. Plan for a set time each afternoon or evening to develop a consistent study habit

4. Learn about new resources available to you and your child(either materials from teacher or online sites such as homeworkspot.com). These things are used by many and can be very useful when you are choosing a subject for a report or don't have the math textbook at home and need to view a new concept.

5. Have a library card and be familiar with your neighborhood library.

6. Have a list of at least five other students and their phone numbers just in case you missed a day or are in need of important information.

7. Use your school district website for grading policies, links, and your class schedules.

8. Brush up on your study skills so that not only can you help your child, but you can teach him/her how to study. How to study is not often taught in school, yet every student needs to know.

9. Be patient at all times, no matter what.

10. Learn when to allow your child the room to be left alone and when your child needs help.

The above list is a great way to prepare. The items on it are guaranteed to come up during the corse of your child's time as a student. Good communication with his/her teacher will keep you enlightened about crucial information your child may neglect to mention. Attending parent/teacher meetings usually ensures that ongoing communication will likely take place. Also important to note is the proactive parent versus the reactive parent. The difference is simple and yet can completely change the way your child feels about school in general. You will set your child up for failure if you are reactive. This meaning that you punish your child for low grades, yet you did nothing to assist your child in achieving higher ones. A proactive parent sets his/her child up for success by minimizing the chances of a low grade ever making it to a report card. Thus, making for a much happier student.

Learn more about this author, Sharon Jenson.
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