How Can Parents Get Involved?

•·        Be there. While back-to-school nights and parent-teacher meetings may be the last things you want to attend after a busy day at work, showing up at these and other school events shows your child you care about his education and creates a form of bonding. It also provides an opportunity for you to talk with other parents and teachers.

•·        Join the parent-teacher organization in your school. It keeps you better informed about the activities going on in your child's school.

•·        Use e-mail and the Web to stay connected to your child's school. In addition to printed newsletters, many schools have Web sites that will keep you informed about school happenings. You may be able to e-mail your child's teacher, but be sure the teacher has announced this is okay and be aware that it may take a teacher a few days to get back to you.

•·        Have lunch with your child at school. Talk about ways you can help your child with school work and school activities.

•·        Talk to your child's teacher or parent-teacher organization leaders about how you can contribute to school events. Even if you can't chaperone a field trip or be in charge of a class party, you may be the right person to call other parents to get them involved.

•·        Connect with other parents. Parenting isn't easy, but it's more manageable if you have a network of others who are going through the same experiences, even if your children are at different schools or in different grades. One way to meet others is to set up an informal group of employees with school-aged children at your workplace. Go to lunch once a month and swap stories and advice about how you all stay connected to your children and involved in their schools.