They wanted to

tell parents how to make school easier and more rewarding for everyone—including parents!

One of their chief recommendations was having these family routines:

• Create a morning routine. Follow a regular schedule for everything that your child needs to do—from getting up, eating and making the bed, to walking out the door.

• Send your child off on a positive note. Say, “Have a great day. I love you!”

• Don’t interrupt school time. Schedule doctor and other appointments during non-school hours.

• Ask every day, “How did your day go?” Ask specific questions about school.

• Check your child’s schoolwork daily. Praise good work and review mistakes as well.

• Set a consistent homework time. Make sure this time is free of phone calls and TV.

• Look through your child’s backpack every night. Check for notes from the teacher.

• Check your child’s assignment list every day. Make sure your child is writing down all assignments.

• Remind your child to take care of daily chores.

• Set aside a time for your child to read. A half hour before bed is often good.

• Establish a bedtime for your child. Stick to it—even in the spring when daylight lasts longer.

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