In classrooms all over the nation, elementary school students will soon be celebrating the 100th Day of School! By the 100th day of school, students are 100 days smarter, 100 days older and have learned (hopefully) more than 100 new things. As parents, here are 10 things you should have done within the first 100 days of school.
- Asked your children how they feel the school year is going. Hold an intentional conversation on the “State of the School Year” and listen to your child talk about how the year has been so far. Ask if they have any concerns about things coming up or even if they want to explain something that happened earlier in the year.
- Reached out to your child’s teacher just because. Sent an email or made a phone call and asked how things are going with your child. Remind the teacher that you are a member of your child’s academic team and that you’re always available to connect with them, not just at conference time.
- Joined the school PTA. The PTA is a partnership between parents and schools but they need your support to be successful. Many PTAs provide supplies to teachers and schools to help supplement shrinking budgets.
- Assigned your child one learning assignment outside of the school curriculum. It doesn’t matter if they’re in a gifted program or a special education program, your child should understand the concept of lifelong learning.
- Turned off the TV for a family reading night. Visit your local library and everyone should find a book that appeals to their interests. Introducing your children to the joy of reading can have an impact in every subject area.
- Visited your local school boards website at least once. The local school board offers a wealth of information about new policies, curriculum and testing updates, opportunities and more. Make it a practice to just check in to see what the most current news is for your school.
- Offered to volunteer at your child’s school. Volunteering doesn’t only have to occur during the day. Most schools have things that can be done offsite (like cutting out letters or making copies), in the evenings or on weekends.
- Attended a school spirit event. Try making a sports event, a concert, the book fair, a fundraiser night or any other event at their school. Making their school events a priority shows your child that you value their school.
- Thought about where your child is going to school next year. If this year hasn’t been the best for your child, you may want to consider your options for next year. If your school hasn’t made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals under No Child Left Behind, you have the option to transfer to a school that is making progress.
- Finally, made a deposit into a 529 or other savings plan for your child’s college tuition. It’s okay to start small but the idea of paying for college should be on your mind because it will be a pressing concern much sooner rather than later.