Top 5 Tips for Elementary School Success from a Former Teacher

As parents, we all want our children to succeed in school. With the right strategies and support, you can help your little one thrive academically. As a former teacher, I understand that each child and situation is unique. However, I have some tips that are applicable to just about everyone. In this article, we will explore five effective strategies to set your child up for success in the elementary years.

1. Touch base with your child’s teacher

You should definitely reach out to your child’s teacher within the first 3 weeks of school. It is really important to get started on the right foot because if there are issues early on, it’s best to nip them in the bud. There’s no need to wait until conferences. In my school district, conferences are very formulaic and we mostly go over the child’s testing scores. I care about test scores, but I care more about work habits, appropriate behavior, kindness, and critical thinking, to name a few. When I write an email to a teacher, I ask SPECIFIC questions about things I care about or that I’m trying to keep an eye on. Here’s an example:

“Hi Mrs. Jones,

I hope you’re doing well and had a great weekend! I just wanted to check in on how Shane is doing. Does he seem to be paying attention and not disrupting others? Also, I wonder how he’s getting along with his peers – we emphasize kindness as home, and I hope he’s being respectful at school. I don’t want to take much of your time, but any input you have would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you and take care,

Ashley Whitehall

This gives me the opportunity to talk to Shane if I need to about his behavior or learning habits. While it will depend on your child, I would say following up every 8 weeks is appropriate, or about once per quarter. Unless your child has special needs, anything more than this runs the risk of coming across as pestering.

2. Get on top of homework

Set up a homework space and a routine. Most elementary students will need frequent reminders and oversight to ensure homework is done. You may have to help them with the work – that’s fine (just don't do it for them)! You are a critical component of your child’s success. It is essential to set the expectation of work completion early so they won’t become overwhelmed by the workload in middle and high school.

One caveat to this: Schools introduce homework at different ages. For us, it was third grade, which I agreed with. If your district is giving homework in kindergarten and you disagree with that decision, that’s fine. You can send a note to your school stating that you’re opting out of homework that year. But I would advise against only doing homework sometimes, because this gives mixed messages to your child about obligations. Once you think homework is appropriate, make sure they do it consistently.

3. It’s not just academics

Reading and math are important, but there are many other components to nurturing a child’s success and satisfaction as they grow. I suggest being involved in school activities such as movie nights or open houses. It will give your child an enhance sense of community and involvement.

4. Teach kindness and resilience

It’s never too early to start, but emphasizing kindness and inclusivity is especially important in grades 3-5. At 8 or 9 years old, students start to become very aware of their status in relation to other kids. They start to understand if they’re not athletic, have less money than others, are slower to grasp concepts, are more sensitive, less artistic, etc. We need to teach our children to be kind and gracious to others. That means using positive language, and not putting others down. However, your child will likely be in a situation at some point where another student is unkind to them. This is why we also need to teach resilience and self-confident regardless of how others treat them.

5. Send a gift at the end of the year

Teachers are with your child 8 hours a day. They are part of your village and partners in raising your children. Send a thank you card at a minimum. If you can afford it, a gift card is also always a safe bet and will be greatly appreciated.

Elementary school lays the groundwork for success later in life - from getting along with others to being responsible & accountable to building foundational academic skills like multiplication and reading comprehension. By communicating with your child's teacher, checking in with them on their homework, helping them navigate healthy peer relationships, being involved in the school community, and showing gratitude to the other adults invested in your child's growth, you will set them up for a rewarding future.