And your child should be responsible for helping you.

Talk with your child about what goes on in school. Don't just ask, "What did you do in school today?" (You'll probably get the standard answer, "Nothing.") So ask, "What was the most interesting thing you did today?" "What did you do best today?"

Tell your children you want to see their schoolwork everyday. Ask them to be responsible for showing it to you. Then make sure you really take time to review it. That way, you can spot trouble early. And you can get started working on a solution.

Stay in touch with your child's teacher. Know what's expected of your child. If you can, volunteer in school. You'll help the teacher and the students.

You'll probably learn something about your child. And you'll know who your child means when she talks about the people who make up such a big part of her day.

You can stay in touch, help your child in school and help your child learn responsibility at the same time.

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