10 Things your child's teacher needs to know

Make it easier for her teacher to foster a positive relationship with your child by giving him the inside scoop on her likes, dislikes, and special needs. Write down the following information and send it to the teacher.

1. Favorite Subjects: Point out the subjects that set your child's brain on fire so her teacher knows how to engage her mind and keep her challenged in those areas.
2. Difficult Subjects: Knowing beforehand what subjects give your child trouble allows his teacher to pay special attention to those areas and look for ways to improve comprehension.
3. Allergies: It's essential for your child's teacher to know about any food or other allergies and how serious they are.
4. Medical Conditions: Inform your child's teacher if your child has a medical condition that might require special attention, such as asthma or diabetes, or if he takes medication for behavioral or physical conditions.
5. After-school Activities: Explain the kinds of things your child is involved in when school lets out so the teacher understands all that goes on in your child's daily life.
6. Religion: If your family practices a religion that requires your child to miss school, dress a certain way, or not eat particular foods, make sure to inform the teacher.
7. Family Issues: If there's a new baby, death in the family, or divorce, it may affect your child in the classroom, so keep the teacher updated about what's going on at home.
8. Sensitive Areas: Alert the teacher if your child is self-conscious about her weight or appearance, if she's shy or stutters, or is particularly afraid of something, so he can be aware and avoid potential trouble.
9. Hobbies & Interests: If your child is mad about music, loves llamas, or has a passion for pro basketball, the teacher may be able to tap into that interest in the classroom.
10. Temperament: Let the teacher know if your child tends to be cranky in the afternoon, get frustrated by art projects, or hates to take naps. Mention any tried-and-true methods you've already discovered for dealing with less-than-ideal behavior.

 Partner With Your Child's Teacher

 *Team up with teachers to assure that kids become accomplished readers and writers. 

Your job now is to be a book buddy. As your child learns to read, she needs plenty of practice — with you and teachers by her side.

• Connect With the Teacher
  Attend open-house events to learn class goals and policies, and communicate regularly through notes, phone calls, and conferences. If your child suddenly seems stressed or loses enthusiasm for school, he could be struggling with class work. The teacher can suggest games to reinforce weak skills.
  
  It's essential to catch reading problems in the early grades, before kids fail. According to the National Institutes of Health, 95 percent of poor readers can catch up to grade level if helped before 2nd grade.
  
  Questions to ask:
• Has my kindergartener been assessed for knowledge of letter sounds, rhyming, and other reading readiness skills? Are her skills on track?
• How does my child's reading and writing compare to those of her classmates?

• What level books should she be reading? Can you send home samples or titles of what's read in class?
• What words should my child know by sight?
• What resources are available for advanced readers?
• Is there a reading specialist for children who struggle?

What to do if there's a problem:

• First have your pediatrician do a thorough medical checkup to rule out hearing or vision problems or other health-related issues that could be impacting learning.
• If your kindergartner or 1st grader is having difficulty rhyming; recognizing letters; identifying sounds at the beginning, middle, and end of words; breaking words into sounds; or blending sounds together to form words, he will need extra instruction in letter sounds. Ask that the teacher or school reading specialist work with your child individually or in a small group.
• Monitor your child carefully in 1st grade. If you don’t see substantial improvement after remediation, you should have her fully evaluated for a learning disability. You can arrange this through the school’s child-study team or committee on special education.
• Get Involved in School
  Ask if you can donate a book to the class in your child's honor. Or, if your school has a publishing center, volunteer to help produce students' books or offer to help with book-binding at home in the evenings.
• Things to Do at Home
• Play word games: Have a race to make up words with magnetic refrigerator letters. You could start with the word "dog" and see how many new words you can make by substituting different consonants at the beginning.
• Be a writing coach: Encourage your child to write letters, stories, thank-you notes, and shopping lists.
• Keep reading aloud: Include non-illustrated chapter books to challenge children to visualize what's happening.
• Listen to your child read: If she stumbles on a word, help her sound it out, but don't let her struggle too much. Tell the child to tap you when she's ready for you to provide the word. If your child is reluctant to read alone, read along with her, or take turns reading a sentence or paragraph at a time. Start with simple preschool favorites, such as Dr. Seuss' Hop on Pop, and move on to easy readers and simple chapter books as your child gains confidence and competence.