Moving to the Head of the Class:
Simple Things You Can Do

What You As Parents Can Do

Expect Everyone to Read

• HAVE OLDER CHILDREN READ AT LEAST 20 MINUTES A DAY, ENCOURAGING THEM TO READ SOME ALOUD TO YOU.
  Make reading a natural part of their daily routine.

• KEEP GOOD BOOKS, MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS IN THE HOUSE. Make it easy--both for adults and children--to find something interesting to read.

• ADD TO YOUR CHILDREN'S ENJOYMENT OF READING BY DISCUSSING EACH BOOK THEY READ. It helps them learn to express themselves. You'll enjoy the conversations, too.

• MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN SEE YOU READ FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES A DAY. Remember, you're their primary role model.

• IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY READING, TELL YOUR CHILDREN STORIES. Hearing about their grandparents, your family history and your own experiences will be interesting and rewarding for your children, and will help them develop an appreciation of language, storytelling and the past.

• LIMIT YOUR KIDS' TV VIEWING TO NO MORE THAN TWO HOURS A DAY. Studies show that while a little bit of television viewing every day is okay, excessive time at the set is directly linked to poor school performance.

Expect Hard Work

• KNOW WHAT KIND OF HOMEWORK IS EXPECTED, AND MAKE SURE CHILDREN COMPLETE IT. The more involved you are, the more involved your children will be.

• PROVIDE YOUR CHILDREN WITH A REGULAR, QUIET PLACE WHERE THEY CAN DO HOMEWORK. Don't make it hard for them to find a place to work. Set up a place with few distractions, but close enough so they can ask you questions.

• EXPECT EVERY CHILD--NOT JUST THOSE CONSIDERED BRIGHT-- TO TAKE CHALLENGING ACADEMIC RISKS. In an increasingly complex world, all our children should be prepared to meet the challenges they will encounter. 

• DEMONSTRATE YOUR OWN COMMITMENT TO HIGH STANDARDS. DON'T ASK TEACHERS TO GIVE YOURS KIDS GRADES OR PROMOTIONS THEY HAVEN'T EARNED. The goal is a good education, not a good report card.

• SUPPORT SCHOOL EFFORTS TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN RULES FOR STUDENT DISCIPLINE. Children thrive in an environment where they know what is expected of them.

Expect More

• HELP YOUR CHILD BE AT SCHOOL EACH DAY AND ON TIME. School is your child's first job in life. If they are not at school, they cannot learn.

• FIND OUT WHETHER YOUR SCHOOL HAS STANDARDS OR CLEAR EXPECTATIONS FOR ITS STUDENTS. Ask what children should know by the fourth grade in math. By the eighth grade. And by graduation. What about in history? English? Science? Make sure your children are acquiring the skills and knowledge they need.

• CHALLENGE THE NOTION THAT YOUR SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE "BETTER" ONES. CHANCES ARE IT'S STILL ACADEMICALLY INFERIOR TO THE SCHOOLS OF MANY OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS. Support teachers, principals and superintendents who want to make improvements.

• UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO MAKE SOME SACRIFICES IN YOUR EFFORT TO IMPROVE YOUR SCHOOL. Show the school faculty and administration that you're willing to put your time into meetings, research, discussions--whatever it takes to improve your school. Join the Parent Teacher Association.

• DON'T ACCEPT HEARSAY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM. Ask for real data and information about student performance and progress. Find out if students have additional learning opportunities before and after school and during summers. Look for signs that the community supports the school district.

Expect Learning to be an
Around-The-Clock Endeavor

• HELP INTEREST YOUR CHILD IN LEARNING OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL DAY. Find out about after-school and summer programs in your community. If they don't exist, help start them.

• ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO WANT OR NEED MORE LEARNING TIME BEYOND THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY AND YEAR. There may not be enough hours in the average school day to support excellence. Setting up additional time for structured learning can give students more opportunities to master tough subjects.

• FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF MANY EXPERTS AND LIMIT THE HOURS SPENT IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. Recognize that study time and homework will result in far greater success in school than excessive time spent on the ball field.

What We As Teachers Can Do

Expect More of Ourselves

• TALK TO OUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT GOALS AND ACADEMIC STANDARDS. A vision becomes powerful when it is shared. We can make a valuable contribution to our school improvement effort simply by sharing our ideas.

• DISCUSS THE REASONS WE NEED HIGHER ACADEMIC STANDARDS WITH OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS. Make them a part of this ongoing effort. Parents need to understand our commitment. Students who feel they have a stake in the new academic standards will work harder, perform better.

• SET HIGH STANDARDS FOR OURSELVES. Continue to develop professionally throughout our career. Our attitude and example will speak volumes.

• MAKE THE SUCCESS OF EVERY STUDENT A TOP PRIORITY. The quiet child in the back of the room may be the one who needs us the most.

• NETWORK WITH OTHER TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS IN THE DISTRICT AND ELSEWHERE ABOUT HOW TO TEACH DIVERSE STUDENTS. Finding out what works for other teachers can help you be more effective.

Expect Everyone Get Into The Act

• WORK WITH COLLEAGUES TO ASSESS WHETHER YOUR SCHOOL'S CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES MEET WORLD-CLASS STANDARDS. Standards of comparable rigor are routinely met and exceeded by the schools of other industrialized nations.

• WORK WITH PARENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO DEVELOP PLANS AND BUILD SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS. Try to be specific about how they can help.

• HELP STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT ALL STUDENTS BE CHALLENGED IN THE CLASSROOM.  Be sure they know that children who successfully tackle tough academics have far greater success throughout their lives.

Be a Part of a Teaching
and Learning Community

• WORK WITH OTHERS IN THE SCHOOL AND DISTRICT TO CONSIDER HOW BEST TO USE EXISTING RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS MEET HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS. Make it a priority. And if the existing resources aren't enough, start looking into innovative ways to improve the situation.

• SEEK TO MAKE YOUR SCHOOL A FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER. Work with your local colleges, universities, businesses, and arts or nonprofit organizations to develop before-and after-school programs for students and families.

What Grandparents, Neighborhoods And
Concerned Citizens Can Do

Raise the Expectations of Children,
Parents, and School Officials

• KEEP UP WITH THE EDUCATION NEWS IN YOUR LOCAL PAPER. It's an important way to stay involved, and it requires very little time.

• VOLUNTEER TO WORK IN YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL AS A TUTOR OR MENTOR. You'll be surprised how satisfying it can be.

• HELP GIVE CHILDREN THE RIGHT START. Support social services like school breakfast programs and outreach programs that increase the likelihood that all children will arrive at school ready to learn.

• BECOME A CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN AND FOR EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT. Set an example. Then prod neighbors, friends and family to get into the act with you.

• EVALUATE EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL'S TRACK RECORD IN SUPPORT OF HIGHER STANDARDS AND BETTER SCHOOLS. Make political leaders keep their promises about improving education.

• DON'T STOP SUPPORTING YOUR SCHOOLS WHEN YOUR CHILDREN ARE FINISHED WITH THEIR EDUCATION. The future of your community and your nation depends on people like you.

• TAKE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN THE SCHOOLWORK OF CHILDREN YOU KNOW. You can be a significant source of encouragement and support to nieces, nephews, grandchildren...even neighbors.

• OUR NATION IS FULL OF RESOURCES. HELP CHILDREN LEARN HOW TO USE THEM EFFECTIVELY. Get children in touch with community youth groups, mentors, libraries, colleges and school clubs. Let them know about organized recreation and arts and science programs. If they don't exist, help set up after-school and summer tutoring centers.

• ATTEND YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. Don't assume that others know more about how to run a school. Find out for yourself what's going on.

• BE SUPPORTIVE OF LOCAL SCHOOL, COMMUNITY AND STATE EFFORTS TO MEET HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND THE EIGHT NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS. Only an aroused and active citizenry can overcome the obstacles to education reform.

-- Keep The Promise --