How to Help Your Child Succeed at School

The biggest influence on a child’s achievement at school is often the support, interest and guidance of their parents. A positive and supportive home life can benefit a child’s achievement at school by up to 80%. But where can parents turn for practical, well-researched and honest advice on how they can support and nurture their child through their school years, whilst understanding and maximising their child’s abilities toward helping them achieve their full potential? Written by educational specialist Dominic Wyse (How to Help you Child Read and Write), this new book will help parents navigate their way through their child’s education. It will guide them on the best and most appropriate ways they can offer help and support their child throughout their school career. With separate chapters for pre-school, primary, secondary and advanced level-aged children offering detailed advice on what to expect and concentrate on at each stage, it will be simple to navigate and easy to access. Practical and supportive, the book will set out all the basics with detailed help on creating routines, developing communication and engaging with children to encourage discussion about goals and aspirations. Checklists and troubleshooting exercises will help parents focus on the key issues and illustrate ways through sensitive circumstances such as bullying, special needs and exams. The book will also cover the important aspects of how parents can get more involved with their child’s school and how they can get the best out of events such as sports days and parents’ evenings.

Table of Contents:
The Basics for any age q       Being a parent o       Creating the right environment §         What is the right environment? §         Why does it matter? §         How can you do it? o       Being interested o       Engaging with children o       Maintaining boundaries o       Creating routines o       Activities that help children be in the best place to learn §         In the home, for example reading to your child from the start, drawing, painting, jigsaws, activities to help children develop their hand eye coordination. §         Outside the home: places to visit and things to do. o       Encouraging ambitions: help children focus on the future o       Encouraging risk taking o       Build experiences and understanding o       Using incentives     Primary 5-11 q       What are the main points that I should be focusing on now and why? q       What should I do? q       How to do it q       Checklists to remind me, which I can tick off q       Tips q       Troubleshooting, for example q       Difficulties with reading/writing/spelling q       Special needs Bullying       Secondary 11-16 q       What are the main points that I should be focusing on now and why? o         For example, how will my child becoming a teenager affect their view of learning? o         How can I support my child develop their study skills, etc? q       What should I do? q       How to do it q       Checklists to remind me, which I can tick off q       Tips q       Focus on exams o         How can my child best prepare to succeed? o         Revision plans q       Next steps – college? o         When to apply? q       Troubleshooting, for example    o         Disaffection Peer pressure Learning difficulties Bullying   A-Levels, 16-18 q       What are the main points that I should be focusing on now and why? q       What should I do? q       How to do it q       Checklists to remind me, which I can tick off q       Tips q       Focus on A-levels o         How can my child best approach them to succeed? o         Revision plans q       Focus on other qualifications/vocational post-16 courses that can be studied q       Next steps – university or vocational studies? o         What are the opportunities? q       Troubleshooting   Parents and schools q       How to choose schools q       How to interact with the school o       Ways to get involved that will benefit your child o       Useful questions to ask o       How to approach problems o       How to negotiate with teachers o       Parents evenings – How to make the most of them   Other resources

About the Author :
Dominic Wyse has a strong international reputation in the field of the teaching and learning of reading and writing. He is a Lecturer in Primary and Early Years Education at the University of Cambridge. His main research interests include the teaching of English; creativity; and the study of childhood. He has appeared recently on BBC Newsnight, the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and BBC News 24 to offer academic comment on government proposals for the teaching of reading and the National Literacy Strategy.

Review :
"Every parent can help their child make the most of their time in education, this book gives a step by step guide through stages at school... It gives valuable advice" Headteacher Update, February 2008