After-school Chats

         ©  Set aside time each day to go through your child's papers.  Try to do it first thing after school when her day is fresh in her mind. 

       ©  Look over your youngster's work together.  Help him feel proud by making a specific comment about something he's done.  For instance, if he shows you a picture he drew in class,           you might say, "The gray sky and big waves look just like our rainy day at the beach."

         ©  Have her talk through math problems or science experiments to show you what she's learned.  She might explain how she finds the perimeter of a triangle or why ants dig tunnels,             for example.