PARENTS' HOMEWORK
Children are not the only family members with homework. Parents can take responsibility for the outcome of their children’s success by doing the following:

TEACHERS ARE DIFFERENT
Each teacher may have a different homework policy; Ask for a written copy of each teacher’s homework guidelines.

HELP YOUR CHILD
Ask if you can help with his/her homework. If the child claims no help is needed, let the child know that you will be there when needed, and you expect homework to be completed by a certain time.

DON'T DO YOUR CHILD'S WORK!
Do not let your child sit back while you complete his/her homework assignments. Just like your own work, homework is your child’s responsibility!

DEVELOP A HABIT
Doing homework at the same time every day helps establish a routine. Your child needs a place for working, a desk, kitchen table, or the child's choice of place that is free of disruption and great for homework!

USE THE PROPER TOOLS
Everystudent needs to have pencils, pens, crayons, a ruler, a calculator, a dictionary, and other school-related supplies at home to get the job done.

CHECK THE HOMEWORK
Always check the homework to see if your child is working within an acceptable time frame and that the work, as the child understands it, is finished.

CONCENTRATION
Some children can concentrate while listening to music or watching TV, however some can not. Check to make sure your child is concentrating and working at a pace that will allow her/ him to finish the assignment.

HOMEWORK FIRST
Homework needs to come before play, TV, DVDs, and computers! While your child is thinking about homework, find something you can do as well.

A MUST
Read with your child every day. Bedtime is a great time to share good books and thoughts. Share the time together!

TALK! TALK! TALK!
Talk about why school and homework are important. Make a big deal with grandparents, relatives, and friends about what a great job your child is doing with homework and school.

A JOB WELL DONE
A job well done deserves a reward! Tell everyone, especially your child, that you know how hard she/he works and what a great job she/he has done.

FIND SOME REWARD
A movie rental, a trip to the mall; small rewards have large returns from your children. In Light of all the Recent Natural Disasters The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is encouraging everyone to take preventive measures to ensure their safety and reduce the risk of winter storm damage to property.

Preparing Your Family

• Assemble a disaster supply kit. Store drinking water, canned/no-cook food, non-electric can opener, first aid kit, battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries where you can get them easily, even in the dark. Also include winter specific items such as rock salt, sand and other snow removal equipment.
• Prepare for the possibility that you will need to stay in your home for several days after a winter storm. Make sure that you have sufficient heating fuel as well as emergency heating equipment in case electricity is cut off.
• House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions. Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them.
• Know ahead of time what you should do to help elderly or disabled friends and neighbors or employees.
• Maintain ventilation when using kerosene heaters to avoid a build-up of toxic fumes and always refuel outside. Keep all heaters at least three feet from flammable objects.
• Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water-repellent. Wear a hat, mittens and sturdy, waterproof boots. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs from extremely cold air. Preparing Your Car
• Keep cars and other vehicles fueled and in good repair. Winterize your car by checking your car battery, ignition system, thermostat, lights, flashers, exhaust, heater, brakes, defroster and tires. Ensure that your car has adequate antifreeze, windshield washer fluid and oil and check regularly throughout the season.
• Place a winter emergency kit in each car that includes a shovel, windshield scraper, flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries, water, snack food, extra hats and mittens, blanket, tow chain or rope, road salt and sand, booster cables, emergency flares and fluorescent distress flag.
• If traveling by car during a winter weather advisory or winter storm watch, do so in daylight, don't travel alone, keep others informed of your schedule and route, and stay on main roads. Avoid driving during a winter storm warning or blizzard warning.

Having a "COOL SCHOOL ATTITUDE"
As parents, your own attitude about school can affect your children and what they think about school. Many things about school have changed, but some of the basics are the same. Students are expected to attend school, behave in class, complete assignments, and achieve what is expected at her/his grade level.

A SCHOOL ATTITUDE
Your attitude about school has a tremendous impact on your child's success. Did you like school? Do you speak about school in positive terms? Do you feel comfortable and welcome at your child's school? Do you talk with your child about school, or do you have difficulty talking about it? If you disliked school or found it difficult, you may not be communicating a positive attitude about it to your child. If you feel uneasy about going to your child's school calling a teacher on the phone, you may school altogether.

BE POSITIVE
Express your interest in your child's school. Even if you did not like school when you attended, you can show a positive attitude about your child's school. Express your concerns in a calm, but assertive, way if you feel the school is unfriendly. Keep the communication pipeline open and pay attention to events, memos, and requests from the school, faculty and organizations. Don't criticize school personnel in front of your child. Always talk about the importance of learning with your child. You will learn more about your child when you are involved in her/his education.

A CLASS CALLED HOME
Your home is a classroom, and you are your child's first and most important teacher. What you do to encourage learning has an influence on your child. Just as teachers have high expectations for your child, you too should accept only her/his best. Your involvement in your child's school is important! Ask to see your child's completed class work, test grades, and graded homework. Contact your child's teacher right away if you notice your child is having difficulty in any area.

BE INVOLVED
Meet regularly with your child's teacher. Attend all scheduled conferences. Write notes to the teacher or call the school and leave message if you have questions. Some teachers even prefer to communicate with parents by e-mail these days. Involvement at school is important to your child's success. Attend programs, meetings, and events at school.

Join the PTA/PTO group.
Read notices, newsletters, and fliers from the school. Know school policies for student conduct and homework. Volunteer in some way. If you can't come in on a regular basis, plan to take a day off from work to drive on a field trip or ask your child's teachers if there are some things you can work on at home for the classroom.

West Virginia Family Connections
Toll Free: 1-800-814-5534 or visit www.wvfamilyconnections.net Made possible by funding by the U.S. Dept of Education. Content courtesy of the Florida Partnership for Family Involvement in Education.