How Much of Your Child's Education Happens at Home?

My child's education happens at home, at school, everywhere she is. Learning happens all the time. Her dad and I are constant learners. We read every day. We answer every question she asks with as much detail as she can absorb. We find shows / movies / books on a wide variety of topics. We use the Internet as a research and learning tool. She takes part in activities and she plays, the best way for a child to learn.

We've been lucky to have an excellent public magnet school for her elementary years, one that challenged her in her strong areas, and remediated in others, at the same time. She is now in the G&T program and is excelling and learning in all subjects. We aren't a family that stresses about getting "all As" or doing every bit of homework exactly right. Instead, we learn in all sorts of ways.

Example: when my brother was diagnosed with a disease I hadn't heard of, I looked it up on the Mayo Clinic's website. She read it with me and we talked about it. Seeing that they had diseases listed alphabetically, she asked if we could have a "disease of the day" so that she could learn about them all. So we did.

Ultimately, I believe I am responsible for my child's education. So I supplement where I believe the school is falling short. ( My oldest daughter has a math tutor for 2 years now... Algebra and geometry.)
We also visit various museums throughout the year. We used to go to the library frequently but now my kids have kindles. My youngest still takes piano lessons. My oldest gave it up:(. Both my girls are very involved in drama.
Now if my kids had IEPs I would push to get as many services as I could. My one daughter does have a GIEP but it is pretty lame. I have very low expectations.

I take it upon myself to get my child ready for kindergarten.
I try & teach letters, sounds, numbers, colors, time, basic addition etc.
Do I expect the teachers to do the majority?
Yes, because they are the trained professionals that studyied & have a
syllabus to follow (a lot went into thinking up the cirriculum).
I constantly continue to teach my child every day & will do so throughought his growing years in school.
I feel it is important to supplement all learning & teaching.
Right now I am w/my child 24/7 so IT IS ALL ME. Realizing this, I try to
do "my job" in teaching anything & everything that I can.
I am not equipped to teach my child everything (ex. physics, biology etc.).
When he was a baby, I tried to teach sign language.
As the grows, I try to teach him 2 languages other than English.
I taught him letters, how to recognize words & how to write his name.
All of this is elementary & basic but it's a beginning. Hopefully it will give
him a "leg up".
I teach morals, manners, kindness, responsibilty etc at home.
I will help him w/homework when he's in gradeschool.
I hope it will be all encompassing.

I'm a teacher and a mom and I wish my students' parents were more aware and involved in their education. I love when parents visit my website, ask me questions, etc. That way, I know that my students are also being engaged in learning at home, not just in my classroom. There's a lot of research out there that say kids need multiple exposures to a topic for it to stick. For example, if my daughter at her preschool is learning about frogs this week or the letter R, then I try to select bedtime stories with frogs in them or point out R is letters or signs. Kids so benefit from that!

I provide the learning and open mind.

They provide some of the content.

While I depend on the school system to provide the basics - English, Math, etc. as a parent it is my responsibility to...

1. support my child in his educational endeavors - by being aware of the current curriculum, and the state educational requirements and ensuring homework time, assisting (tutoring really) him if needed, and instilling a sense of value and pride for academic success.

2. keeping an open line of communication with the school - more important to do when he was in elementary - attending open houses, developing a dialogue with his teachers about how he learns, and what he learns, and what can I bring to the table to help him learn. I find in high school that he can plan his own schedules and we have more printed resources available from the school, and much less interaction with the teachers.

3. Filling in the gaps that school does not, and can not provide- social awareness, current events (on an age appropriate level), local politics, art and music, cultural diversity. These are all things that I have mostly taught my son. Our schools' resources for arts, music, and cultural learning beyond the basics have been reduced to almost nil. So I fill it with music, and museums, local art/music events, community service, outside sports, news articles, presidential debates. All the things that broaden him as person and citizen.

I have found, over the past decade of structured school environments that it was easiest in elementary to gain additional support for my son when he was struggling in the classroom environment. It may have been the school, but his teachers and administrators worked with me to find a balance between his learning style and the classroom instruction.

Middle school was harder - teachers had more students per class, more pressure to have those students perform to testing standards, and less time to individually structure for each student. I found myself teaching more at home - i.e. reviewing class work - asking for him to be allowed to bring text books home (his schools never have enough for each student, so books stay at the school) and becoming the "squeaky wheel" in order to have my child "heard". I developed a good rapport with the Middle School principal - whose son had some of the same learning issues mine did - and I was fortunate to have her support.

High school has been, yet again, another huge adjustment for us both. This is the time he prepares for independence and college. So I have stepped back in this, the 10th year of his education, to allow him the freedom to soar or fail, to help him to understand that his education is now, in a large part, up to him to achieve. This year has been, academically, a bad year. But maturity wise, I am getting glimmers of his getting it - a blossoming understanding that he is able to be responsible for his academic success without my hand holding and, as he puts it, "nagging".

My son struggles to learn the things that he sees no need for, struggles to learn from teachers who are un-imaginative and teach by rote, remains afraid to ask questions in class for fear of seeming stupid, forms quick opinions of his teachers, and lets those opinions influence how he performs in the class. All of these, I believe are more maturity issues, than learning issues. So now I work on those, at home, through conversation, gentle encouragement, and sometimes punishment by taking away a gadget or two. He is 16, and still I employ the behavior modification tactics learned when he was a toddler :)

It has been an ever evolving journey, educating this child of mine. You will find it the same with yours Ephie Dear. What works one year, will not the next. You see moments of genius in your child, followed sharply by days when you think he has been replaced by a pod person.

Through it all, the most important thing for me, to teach, and continue to teach my son, is that even if he fails, he can still be a success. To try again - in his case, that meant taking a class again - to understand that, ultimately, all the school and I can do is to give him the tools he needs to learn.

Mine is evolving into an eclectic mixture of rote learning to pass classes, and free thinking to see answers to the bigger picture. He prefers the bigger picture - the amorphous future to the everyday drudgery of filling in a map or a graph. Many of his teachers don't understand him. He is a polite, below the radar teen, with some ADD and ODD, which he has chosen to not medicate this year. Again, part of my stepping back to allow him to learn his needs. Yesterday, he was toying with the idea of resuming his ADD medication in our conversation about what he can do to improve in school and looking towards college in 1.5 years.

It was, for me, easier when he in elementary and middle. I could play the heavy handed parent and lay down educational edicts. As he matures, he chafes against edicts and wants to find his own path. That is what, I hope, that I am teaching him at home.

My kids do very little school learning at home. They do any mandatory homework assignments (which is not very much) and daily home reading. My younger son had a little trouble with reading in the beginning, so I worked on the dolche sight words for a few months. Our schools here are very good at providing additional supports when needed, such as speech therapy, reading recovery etc. Children receive Adapted Learning Plans or Individual Education Plans when necessary. I know that they are learning based on their report cards, student developed portfolios and student led conferences. Outside of school I provide enriching experiences such as library trips, museums, art galleries, zoos, nature reserves and concerts.
My kids are in grades 2 and 5, and we are in Canada.

My son learns a lot at home. While the majority of it comes from school, we go over it and get him excited to talk to us about it that way it reinforces his knowledge and then questions come up that we can address. We are also highly involved in cub scouts which furthers learning at home. We do reading and science experiments etc at home and we all love to learn. Dont get me wrong I am not that mom, but when hes learning multiplication I have him help me at the grocery store. This is $2.00 I need 3 of them.. How much money am I a spending?

I guess I feel like it's MY job to create kids who are capable of learning academics in a widely varied and ever changing group setting.

So far, so good.

:)

My husband is one of those people where he is almost always the smartest man in every room he walks into. His whole family just have really good brains, where not only are they interested in learning but they retain information really, really well. So, with that being said, my kids are still little (3rd, 1st grade and almost K) and they have gotten *most* of their education thus far at home. Both boys knew their ABC's and could read before entering K. Both boys are very interested in Math, youngest son is WICKED smart, just like his daddy and has taught himself multiplication with only a few questions to us.

I know as they get older and start learning about world history and literature and science they will receive a big portion of their knowledge from their father!

I do know that the schools will teach them a lot too///but that they will most likely to continue to come home and talk to us about what they have learned and that their dad will expand on it and go further and onto the next thing/part that goes with it.

I have always believed that my children's education was just as much my responsibility, if not more, than that of the public school system.

Such a good question.

I feel like my children's education is my responsibility, but I am so so grateful that they attend a great public school. My experience has been to be as engaged and active as possible in knowing what the kids are learning and how they are performing and then supplementing when needed. I don't depend on the school to "do it all" because they can't and they aren't going to have the same values as I do all the time.

I try to volunteer where possible, I check in with my kids daily on what they are learning, I check off their homework. Some years, I have felt like the teacher or school is falling short (some examples would be, focusing all on reading/math and not any on science, geography, art, not teaching cursive, etc) when that happens, I do step in and take some time to teach my kids. We might do a "unit" where we go to a museum or check out some library books. Also I try to supplement by watching educational shows or reading books as a family based on what the kids are currently focusing on in school.

I wish that I could do more than I already am doing...there are so many things to learn! So much I would like the kids to know. I do my best and try to cut myself some slack, after all I am a working mom. I have felt very relieved and impressed with their current school. A few years ago I was strongly considering homeschooling because it seemed like there was SO MUCH they were not learning, it was all focused on testing and meeting state regulations. The last few years have been much better and I feel like they get more from their teachers than I could provide, so I just try to fill in the gaps the best I can if that makes sense.

I have always felt the school and parents are Partners in their children's educations.I have thanked her teachers over and over for their dedication to our daughter and all of their students. You can drive by late at night and see teachers working in their classrooms.

Here at home we always had tons of books, lots of art supplies, lots of interaction with our child. If our child showed an interest.. we went for it.

We did not even realize she could read aby the age of 4. I asked her, "why did you not tell us you could read?" She said "because I was afraid you would not read to me anymore!".. We told her, "we will always read to you and now you can read to us too!"..

We were able to take her to museums, performances, concerts. She attended an exceptional day care. I had studied child development and was not afraid to ask for help or suggestions if I felt like I could not handle a situation.. .

We spoke with her from the moment she was born.. we treated almost everything as something to teach and share with her. We would say, "That is the cat". That is the Tree.. I remember at about 9 months, she used to point and ask "Dat?" or Say "Dat!" And we would tell her. what she was pointing at.

While I shopped at the grocery store, even before she could talk I would ask her, Do we want carrots? Or do we want squash.. Holding them up to her.

I remember she asked at about 4 "how does school work? So I told her,

"right now you are in day care. Then you will go to elementary school, you will learn how to read and write.. Then middle school You will write stories and do science experiments, then High School. you will learn to drive, how to read big books, how to be like a grown up.. . But you know what is really exciting? Then you get to go to College! You can even live at the school!

Her eyes got real big and she said. "Ooooo.. I want to go to college where it snows!" I was shocked. we live in Central Texas and have never seen real snow.. I said, well, you know what, mom and dad do not have much money, so to go to a school with a lot of snow, you need to work real hard, make good grades, so you can get scholarships and grants.

Then I told her there are a lot of good colleges here in Texas, even here in Austin at UT.. It does snow at Texas Tech.. And guess what? She did it..She attended and graduated from an amazing college up north.

The schools in our area are excellent. I tried to be very active as a parent volunteer, even through middle and High school. Our children attend college all of the place.. They are successful young people.

She knew that school was her priority. It came first. But she also loved school. Loved her teachers.. She was a natural student. She knew if she needed help we would help in any way, even if it meant getting a Tutor (hello Higher level Math)

My part was joining the PTA, sitting on the board of directors for the City wide PTA, to make sure all of the schools were getting the support they needed.

Our elementary school, every teacher on campus teaches through the Gifted Program. If you were a new teacher and did not have this training, we (PTA) paid for the training. This meant no one was excluded from being held to a high standard. Most of the teachers on this campus had Master degrees.. Same in Middle and High School.

Every year we sent out questioners asking parents and teachers what it was they felt needed improvement and what they were pleased with on each campus..

We actually read each and every one. Then helped the campus make plans etc..

What I am saying is, children need to know that Everyone in their lives are interested in their education. They are there to cheer on and assist the child. The expectation is to do your best. My part was to get her there ready to learn.On time and to back up her teachers.

You cannot just drop off your kids in the morning and think.. Oh good.. They will teach my child, everything..

It needs to be Oh, good, my child is learning and I am going to enhance this education as much as possible. Look at the homework. Ask the teacher what would help your child succeed. Also listen with an open brain and heart when the teacher tells you what needs improvement or what the teacher is concerned about. This is an opportunity to fill in what is missing in your child's education.

All of those tests the kids are given? Yes, they are a pain, but if used correctly they can let the schools and teachers see what concepts the students missed and what they got right. What needs improvement and how does it compare form the year before.

We were all tested, back in the day.. I know the state required tests are a pain and freak people out, but I have witnessed all sorts of reassurance our kids were way above the curve on learning when compared to others around the state and nation..

i've always felt that reading was mine. not sure if it's civic responsibility, or just loving having little people to whom to read!
and so much of the basics is easy and natural to work on and reinforce at home. counting, measuring, money, current events, historical references, geography- SO much can be worked into the regular flow of events and conversation that kids are steeped in learning all the time.
but the school has its own responsibilities. if they're working on a particular subject and send homework home, it's up the parents to make sure the homework gets done, but not to teach the subject to the kids. the school should make sure the homework is proportionate to what's been covered in school, and that the child has access to research material if necessary (don't expect them to write a report on an upcoming chapter, eg.)
some parents feel responsible to actually teach their kids subjects that the schools aren't covering adequately. i don't think kids should go to school all day and then come home and get schooled again. in an immersion setting like unschooling it works, but for traditionally educated kids it just burns their brains out.
for a struggling child, i'd first work within the school system to get support, as well as trying to help the child out myself, being sensitive to frustration and learning issues. a good school will meet you in the middle.
but there's no single easy answer, is there?
khairete
S.

I do a lot of augmenting in regard to what's taught in my son's kindergarten class. By this, I mean that I work with my son on his writing and review what he is doing at school with him at home, helping him to better grasp concepts introduced at school.

And we do some supplemental stuff which *he* is interested in. Because I volunteer in his library, I can cherry-pick books on different topics I think he's ready for. We've explored how-to art books (working with different mediums, he loves art), what 'zero' is, a small independent study on Louis Armstrong, exploring the diversity of peoples around the world.

He has some vision disabilities, so I have worked with the teacher on placing him where he can best see the instruction given. I offer some helpful tools for my son and the teacher accommodates this easily. (For example, earlier in the year, they sent home writing work without the lines needed for him to understand *where* the parts of each letter were supposed to go, so I got him some primary writing paper and pasted it over the space for writing.)

I gauge his knowledge by talking to him about the work he brings home as well as having him help me in daily tasks, as well as having him read to me regularly. If I am concerned about 'where he is' academically, I ask the teacher for materials which help me do just that. Maybe I'm lucky to have a great teacher for my son right to begin with....

This summer we will still do a lot of 'learn through play' to keep his knowledge fresh. I believe that it's a partnership between the teachers and the parents to ensure the children learn.

It varies from child to child (and of course, family to family) and from school to school as well.

For us, when they were younger, we did a lot at home... as in, before they even went to school they knew how to read. We also did some basic math with them before they started school --not with a book, but at dinner or whatever... (you know, counting bites of food left, or how many peas and how many bites of meat, is how many pieces, etc)...
And then looking over homework assignments when they started school. Ensuring they did it and understood what they were doing. Doing a bit of (don't lose what you know) bridge work over the summers...
Reading, reading, reading, reading... every night at bedtime, plus any other time I felt I wouldn't scream to do it.. (when they were preschool we'd read throughout the day at nap time, etc, but once they hit school... the after school times weren't so relaxed anymore).

The older they get, there is a bigger variation between the kids. In elementary school (1st and 2nd grades maybe) part of their homework was to read TO a PARENT... so you have to be involved with that. And when they hit certain concepts in math, some kids need a parent sitting there at homework time to get them through it... (fractions, volume, etc --usually encased in word problems)..
Around middle school, it seems to really drop off though --- at least for us. Son still needed occasional help with the math, but daughter doesn't.
One they hit high school, they pretty much know what needs doing, and how to do it, and as a parent you just enforce no electronics until it is done... and try to provide them a workspace they can work in as happily as possible and praise them for staying on top of things and getting it done.

But, again, all kids are different and require different amounts of looking over the shoulder by the parents. And some kids don't need the help, but the insistence to DO it by the parents, because the kids are content to pass, and are unconcerned with excelling. And then some kids only need you to take them to Walmart to get posterboard and 17 colors of duck tape to make so they have all they want to get their projects done, and done early. :)

-------
But none of the above means that we don't have conversations that teach them valuable concepts at home (outside of school). ALL of their theological learning didn't happen at school--it happened/s at church, at catechism classes, and at home. And when we drive out of the neighborhood and see the pink sunrise glowing over the marsh, we talk about the atmosphere and the science, etc. And when we drive into town and there are unusually shaped clouds we discuss them, (daughter loves the science of clouds). And when we discuss politics and the stories we hear/see in the news, we discuss economics and how things play out on a bigger stage than just one person and their job.
When they complain about this or that with the bus, we talk about why it is done the way it is--not just to make them miserable.
When the subject of retirement comes up, we discuss how it is a relatively new concept.
Learning doesn't stop outside the classroom. The schools should (eventually... as the kids age and mature) be teaching the basic information. But you really, as a parent, need to discuss with them how to USE that information. Sometimes you will find that the way the information is presented skews it in a certain way, even unintentionally.
Much like when the schools send home the forms for families to fill out to qualify for free/reduced lunches... the schools don't just encourage, but PUSH the kids to fill them out in the hopes that they will have more kids enroll, so the school qualifies for more Title I money (I think that is the right "title"). Encouraging the students that they get free breakfast at school every day, even without being able to receive reduced/free lunch. Just BRING THOSE FORMS IN.
Well, we don't qualify. I don't need to send in the form to know this. There isn't a chance of it. But the kids get pushed and pushed and pushed to bring those forms in EVERY. YEAR. I explained to our kids why they push the forms. And the kids said, yeah and then our school gets more money and our breakfast can be free. And I had to explain that No. Our tax money has to pay for it. It means higher taxes for us when we pay our property taxes on our home. A higher millage rate locally, and potentially higher state taxes as they get state money also. So the schools hand it out with the right hand, and take it out of our back pocket with the left.... The schools will not educate your child fully---only with what they want them to know.

Just don't "drill" your child. Keep it fun and stop when they are done. Kids are naturally inquisitive. Keep the information at their level and no more/longer than they can listen... and they will learn. Just keep providing opportunities to explore new things and ideas.
Piano lessons are taken care of by us (privately, not through school). Karate classes, too (outside of school). Band, is something the school can offer and our daughter does.
You have to be involved and you can make it work together. It isn't either or, for sure.

My kids learn much at school and home.
They are science nuts and the school doesn't provide the acceleration science curriculum they need. ex.when my son was 4 he decided he had to learn all he could about black holes. He likely knows more than his teachers.

We have worked with the school when my son struggled. We met several times a year and discussed what they where doing and what we could do to help and worked along with the school. He did not have an IEP but that may be something you can check into if your school has those. I don't honestly know what that stands for I just know I have friends that their kids have one. If you don't work with them it will be hard. Granted we have a wonderful school here.

Educating a child, takes the parent's involvement.
It is not just a hands off thing, and just SOLELY leaving it to whatever school your child attends.
It is a parent's responsibility, to stay in tune with your child, knowing where they are academically lacking or need help with, and supporting them and their learning. Be that in school or at home.
If a Teacher signals you that your child is lagging in anything, then good, it is then up to the parent to find out more. And to see what can be done to help, their child.

Each year, the classroom environment changes. It is never static. Hence, learning is never static or only one way.
The Teacher changes each grade level, the student dynamics changes, the students in the class changes, the learning per grade level changes etc. So, at no time, will it ever be, perfect.
As a parent, I, always know what is going on in my kids' classes. I also, initiate contact and a "relationship" with their teacher.
Me and my Husband also supplement our kids' learning at home, in many ways. And also help them, with what they may be having trouble with. No, we don't DO their work for them, nor do we correct it. BUT, we help them when they need help or clarification or do not understand something.
I don't push, the school or Teacher to adapt to my child... but my kids adapt each year just fine. To their class/teacher/grade level curriculum.
IF a teacher is a "problem", then sure, I will address that. Not in an attack form, but in a query manner and respectfully.
But I have not had, problem Teachers, per my kids.
But each teacher, varies in their approach. Some hard-lined, some more nurturing. Many different styles. Of teaching. Which my kids, understand that. I also support my kids' Teachers, for what they are trying to instill in their students. Because, it is not, bad things the teachers are doing. Per my kids. It is, life lessons.
And my kids also tell me, what is going on in school.
And I also work there.
I do what I need to do, but do not push or interfere.

My kids learn at school.
Sure all kids learn differently.
But, school is not a customized thing, for each child.
I know that. My kids know that.
And if I want customization for my kids' learning, I do that at home.

Hi ephie-

When my kids were younger (pre school age) I felt my obligation was to provide a safe AND inviting environment for them to 'learn through play'...(lots of hands on stuff that they could taste...touch...see...hear...and smell - all 5 senses).

When they were early school age...I waited for the first half of kindergarten to give each of them a chance to experience a more structured school environment. THEN, it became a situation of 'individual' concerns for each kiddo. I made it MY business to look at the school evaluation for each kiddo...and then a quest to make sure that each kiddos needs were met.

As you may recollect, I have a boatload of kids...ALL over the spectrum in terms of 'needs'. I fought just as hard for my 'gifted' kiddos as I did/do for those with special needs.

I also supplemented at home where appropriate.

I have tried to make ALL kiddos responsible for 'their' grades. I help when I can (some are WAY smarter than me...lol)...but ultimately, THEY take credit for their achievements.

So, I guess, to answer your question, I did both...supplementing at home...and pressing the school system (and working WITH them) to get individual kiddos needs met.

Hope this helps!
feline stroller

My daughter was able to learn everything quickly and easily at school. She also learned a lot on her own. My oldest son was very quick in math, though he liked being challenged at home and needed help with reading and writing. so math 100% school, reading 60 school-40(home) My youngest I feel like it's 40% school, 60% home learning. He has difficulty learning in a group.

Ultimately I believe that school SHOULD be 100% responsible for providing a globally competitive education. I grew up in a working class/poor family. My parents both worked full time. I learned all of my academics at school and all my parents had to do was make sure I did my homework-and often they weren't home to do that.

THAT SAID. I homeschool because schools no longer teach nearly the amount of curriculum they did then-especially not our lowly rated local school. My first grade daughter reads 4th-5th grade level books and is excelling in her advanced materials ready to move into 2nd and third grade work in some subjects. Most of our lessons with younger sibs too come from hands on activities with homeschool group, travel and daily experiences and lots and lots fo reading. My daughter prints and writes cursive beautifully an they don't even teach cursive in PA schools anymore. She has also been playing the piano, the violin and taking Tae Kwon Do for a few years which would be excessive if she had long school hours, but is fine with homeschool hours. Her brother is five and reading with good grasp of early math, grammar and history lessons he has been hearing-he also does extra activities.

It TOTALLY depends on YOUR local school as to how much you need to supplement. Some schools are GREAT and thorough, and you can rest easy knowing that if homework is done, subjects are mastered at a level that will have your child testing well and ready for college. In other districts-your child isn't learning much of anything at school so you should get some top rated curriculums and put in overtime at home. Lots of good resources are available.

All of my children's education happens at home. The school was over crowded and unable to meet their needs and I wasn't thrilled with the amount of waisted time.

In the early years, K - 2, I think a LOT of the education happens at home. Sure, they teach the alphabet, spelling, reading, writing, etc., but if you don't supplement by working on it at home every night, your child will fall behind.

I believe the majority of the educating should be done in school. That's what teachers get paid for. And I believe that back in my day, that's the way it was. But we didn't have our teachers sressed out about losing their jobs over the school's poor performance on a test. Now, the teachers skim over so much of what the kids need to learn so that they have more time to work on the things that are going to be on that stupid test. I believe they are really falling down on the job.

Also, back in my day, if a student was having trouble with a particular subject, the teacher would happily stay late and give that student extra help. You won't find that happening anymore. Now, it is up to the parent to teach what the kids can't master through the instruction provided by the teacher. And believe me, the teacher will let you know if he/she feels you are falling down on the job. They don't want to hear that they're failing and they wouldn't believe it anyway. As far as they are concerned, it is you and I who are failing our children.

well... my kids go to a wonderful school district.. with caring teachers and a very hard curriculum.. for the average student the curriculum is very hard.

but my kids are both bright.. and I teach them at home .. my daughter often tells me that everything they learn at school she already learned at home..

So.. I feel I am responsible for 100% of my kids education. I hope the school does a good job.. but it is ultimately my job.

My child does not learn much in school. They have become better writers at school as the school does have a very intensive writing program.//

40 percent--mostly values

I think a lot of it depends on the kid.

My sister was behind when we moved school districts, so Mom tutored her through 2 reading levels. But in later years, she learned all that at school.

We didn't have to do a lot with SD with reading, but there were times when we had to focus heavily on math.

And when SS had a rotten Calc teacher in HS, he got outside tutoring.

I feel that if I'm choosing to send my child to a school (public or private) most of the basics is their job. If I wanted it to be my job, I'd homeschool. But that doesn't mean I'm not finding out what they did, what they are learning, where they need help...

And then there's also nothing preventing me from taking DD to events, to parks, to museums and science exhibits and shows and whatever else she needs or I want to expose her to outside the classroom.

I believe that it has to be a partnership. I feel that it is my responsibility to be involved and aware of what my children are learning. We absolutely check and discuss homework every night. I make sure to reiterate how important we think school is at our house. I always tell my kids that everyone in this house has a job and their job is to go to school and learn. If my son seems to be struggling with a concept, I have a really great rapport with his teacher and can inform her. For instance, he was really struggling on math tests earlier this year. I contacted her and she really believed that he had some test anxiety since he did well with homework and classwork. We have worked together with the teacher to try different things. His test grades on math have now improved by 30+ points and he is now at the top of the class.

It is my job to help with my child's behavior. If he is bad in class, he knows there will be consequences and he will have to write the teacher an apology letter.

It is also my job to back the teacher in her lessons and provide extra supplies as needed.

We also try to read a lot at home. There are only so many hours in the day and teachers cannot do everything.

The main thing is that I believe that parents need to be involved in their children's education and make sure they know that it IS a priority. The teachers need to know that they can approach you as a parent with any issues that they have with your child.