Parental Strategies for Improving Student Performance on New York State Assessments

In today's era of performance assessments, it is often difficult to create innovative and motivating ways to improve student performance on New York State Assessments. The answer may be easier than we realize. Parents play an important role in promoting student achievement. The staff at Lawrence Road Middle School worked collaboratively to compile a list of strategies that parents or guardians can use to help improve overall student performance. This list of suggestions was derived to go beyond checking homework. We wanted to include everyday life and experiences as teaching and learning moments. We truly hope that you find these strategies useful.

To Improve ELA & Social Studies Scores...

1. 1.Establish family reading time.
   

2. •Read together and ask your child to read to you.
   

3. •Make personal connections with the reading materials. (Ask your child, "Does this character remind you of anyone in our family?")
   

4. •Encourage your child to read aloud while on road trips. Ask questions that begin with how or why to encourage discussion.
   

5. •Read everything with your child, such as highway signs, items at the supermarket, or items on a menu.
   

6. •Discuss newspaper articles with your child. Select an article and discuss the event.  Discuss who, what, when, where, why and how questions. Ask your child to give their opinion on the topic. Even the comics can be useful.
   

7. •Start a family book club.
   

8. •Take trips to the library together.
   

9. •Allow your child to observe you enjoying a good book!
   

2. Go on cultural explorations. Expand their world by visiting museums, concerts, beaches, local plays, libraries etc.

3. Encourage your child to learn a new language by ensuring that your child listens to the radio and television in the target language.

4. Build map and geography skills by purchasing local maps or a globe. Children should be able to identify areas in the community.

•Use the globe to encourage your child to locate areas they would like to visit.

•Visit a travel agency with your child to obtain information about a dream vacation.

•When planning a road trip, ask your child to assist you in mapping out the directions.

5. Encourage your child to keep a journal reflecting their daily experiences. (This is a nice activity to do during the summer.)

6. Watch the news with your child and discuss events occurring locally or in the country/world.

7. Learn with your child.

•Take craft classes together. (For example: cooking, sewing, arts and crafts, jewelry making, etc.) Visit your local library or craft store for information.

8. Give oral multi-step directions. Your child should listen and repeat directions to you, then complete the task. This approach helps to develop listening skills.

To Improve Math Scores...

1. Take a tour through the kitchen and identify tools for measuring. Allow your child to experiment with these tools. For example: measuring ingredients for a cake.

2. Shop with your child and encourage him/her to estimate total of items purchased.

3. Encourage your child to calculate discounts and compare best buys.

4. Children should estimate the amount of change they should receive after purchasing an item.

5. Read recipes and calculate proportions together.

6. When out at a restaurant, allow your child to read the menu and estimate the total cost.

7. Whenever possible, convert ounces to pounds on food products.

8. Measure fruits and vegetables in the grocery store.

9. Identify geometric shapes while outside with your child.

10. Take your child to the bank with you. Teach your child how to deposit and withdraw money.

To Improve Homework/Study Skills...

1. Provide a quiet area for homework and studying.

2. Check homework assignments daily.

3. Encourage your child to review class notes for at least twenty minutes each night.

4. Attend Parent-Teacher Conferences.

5. Make sure your child comes to school prepared and ready to learn.

6. If your child is having difficulty with a subject(s), encourage him/her to attend extra-help or homework center.