Education is truly a partnership between schools and families. Extensive research shows students achieve more in school when their parents are involved in their education.
Thankfully, there are simple ways every parent can help their student succeed – and they don't require understanding how to do homework! Taking a few basic steps on a regular basis will make all the difference for your child. As a parent, you are not alone in figuring out how to help. District 7 has resources in all our schools, and your child's teacher is eager to talk with you about the simple ways you can offer support.
What are the most important things a parent can do?
1.If a parent does only one thing, the most important one is to let your child know their success in school is important to you (both their academic success and their social and emotional wellness). Check in daily to make sure they are doing OK and completing their work. These short conversations can uncover an issue early on and prevent a great deal of struggle for your child down the road.
Checking in with your child's teacher to understand how your child is doing academically, socially, and emotionally in school is also important. Teachers and parents TOGETHER are the most powerful team! There are many ways to stay in touch - by email, parent/teacher conferences, phone calls, and virtual meetings.
Questions to Ask Your Child About School Instead of "How Was Your Day?"
2. Be your child's i-Ready cheerleader.
i-Ready is an online program for kindergarten through 9th grade that helps teachers understand your child's individual needs and monitor their progress all year long. As a compliment to the teacher's classroom lesson, i-Ready work adapts to students' individual needs, adjusting assessment questions to suit your child's performance. i-Ready encourages students to take ownership of their learning as they receive real-time feedback and motivating messages, and earn credits for completing lessons that they can use to get rewards, such as games. Its purpose is not to give your child a grade but instead to determine where they need the most support. Check out the tips below to help your child get the most out of i-Ready.
Download our parent guide here and visit our i-Ready webpage for additional infomat
3. Follow your student's progress right from your mobile phone or computer with D7's PowerSchool Parent Portal.
PowerSchool gives parents access to information as teachers post assignments, grades, attendance, and more. Setting up a parent account provides the simple way to know how your student is doing throughout the year! Contact your child's school and ask for your Parent Portal Access Letter. It contains everything you need.
Thank you for your continued support and for being a partner in your child's learning!
Learn more about the PowerSchool Parent Portal
