As a proud supporter of National PTA, Sylvan Learning Centers in the Wellington area encourage all parents to commit to be the best chief education officers (CEO) they can be this school year by taking the Sylvan Learning CEO Pledge at www.facebook.com/sylvanlearning.
Sylvan Learning and PTA both encourage parents to play an active role in their child’s education and inspire them to take on the role of CEO this year. The pledge also helps parents support their local PTA. The five PTAs with the most CEO pledges by Oct. 24 will receive a $1,000 grant from Sylvan Learning.
“We not only want to encourage parents to take the CEO pledge, but also grandparents, aunts, uncles and members of the local community, as they all play a role in a child’s education,” said Julia Fitzgerald, chief marketing officer at Sylvan Learning. “By committing to be the best CEOs they can be, these individuals can come together to ignite a lifestyle of learning and set kids up for academic success now and in the future.”
Sylvan Learning Centers in the Wellington area offer the following ways to help children succeed academically:
• Establish a line of communication with teachers. Parents should interact with teachers early and often throughout the school year. They should ask teachers how they’d like to be communicated with and when the best times are to call, e-mail, text or meet in person. Parents should intervene to stop a problem when it arises, before it becomes a crisis.
• Talk to kids often about academics. Whether in the car on the way to soccer practice or at the dinner table, parents should ask their children daily what they learned at school. If a child is reluctant, this may indicate extra help is needed.
• Know where children stand academically. A child’s grades shouldn’t be a surprise when his or her report card arrives. If the classroom teacher doesn’t provide a syllabus at the beginning of the year that lists grading policies, parents can approach the teacher to get a handle on expectations.
• Track progress. Keep samples of schoolwork throughout each grade and from year to year. This is a great way to see just how far a student has progressed from the first day of school to the last and from one grade to the next.
• Set a good example. Kids are very observant, and they pick up on their parents’ attitudes and behaviors. It’s important to have a positive attitude and regularly acknowledge the importance of education. Parents can show their child that learning can be a lifelong activity by taking a class on an interesting subject or making a point to read one book per month.
• Check homework daily. It’s important to let kids take the lead on completing homework assignments, but parents can help by reviewing the completed work. If kids need help, parents should try to provide guidance, not answers.
• Help kids develop strong study skills. Mastering effective study skills can be the “secret behind the A,” turning good students into great students. From time management and organization to researching and writing effectively, these skills and strategies give students a consistent process to succeed.
• Get involved in your local PTA. There’s no better way for parents to know what’s happening at their child’s school than joining the PTA. In addition, PTA functions are a chance to meet other parents and teachers, building a rapport and sharing ideas, concerns and experiences.
Sylvan Learning also offers special benefits to PTA members including 50 percent off a Sylvan Insight Assessment, which identifies a child’s academic strengths and weaknesses. In addition to the discount, for every student who takes an assessment, Sylvan will donate $10 to the student’s local PTA.
For additional information on the Sylvan Learning CEO Pledge, visit www.sylvanlearning.com.
