Want to help your kid succeed in school? Here’s 10 things you need to know

*Sponsored Post*

Research shows that students with involved parents are more likely to earn higher grades, pass their classes, and have future success in life.

Since the studies are clear, it is crucial that we do whatever we can to increase and promote parental involvement.

It is for this reason that I’m very excited to announce the creation of my new District 2 Parent Advisory Council. I’ve asked two parent leaders from each of the 15 schools in my district to join me for periodic meetings as part of this council. I am very grateful to the 30 parents who are taking time out of their busy schedules to serve.
The objectives of the council are to:

Build ties between the various schools in District 2 and share best practices in parental involvement;
Ensure that I am well informed about the successes and challenges at each school;
Give parents an efficient way to work through any issues they encounter by having me match them with the best person in the Dallas ISD administration to address the issue.

It’s been a privilege to meet and talk with so many incredible parents across District 2 this school year. When talking with parents, they often ask me how they can help their child succeed in school. With that in mind, I wanted to share this helpful list from the U.S. Department of Education on 10 homework tips for parents.

Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework. Avoid having your child do homework with the television on or in places with other distractions.
Watch your child for signs of failure and frustration. Let your child take a short break if he or she is having trouble keeping their mind on an assignment.
Reward progress in homework. If your child has been successful in homework completion and is working hard, celebrate that success with a special event.
Make sure the materials your child needs, such as paper, pencils and a dictionary, are available. Ask your child if special materials will be needed for some projects and get them in advance.
Help your child with time management. Establish a set time each day for doing homework.
Be positive about homework. Tell your child how important school is. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires.
When your child does homework, you do homework. Show your child that the skills they are learning are related to things you do as an adult.
When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers. Too much help teaches your child that when the going gets rough, someone will do the work for him or her.
When the teacher asks that you play a role in homework, do it. Cooperate with the teacher. It shows your child that the school and home are a team.
If homework is meant to be done by your child alone, stay away. Too much parent involvement can prevent homework from having some positive effects.

I can’t thank the parents of District 2 enough for everything they do in helping prepare their kids for success. And, as a reminder, please reach out and sign up for my frequent “office hours” if you want to meet and talk in-person about any issue related to District 2 and DISD.

Also, mark your calendar for the Discover Dallas ISD Fair happening Dec. 3, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., at the Ellis Davis Field House. The districtwide showcase of school offerings will have representatives from all 228 schools, including those in District 2, to talk about the many choices available for families in DISD.