Have you heard the old adage: "It takes a village to raise a child?" Even in today's fast-paced world, where villages are almost non-existent and neighborhoods are no longer as tightly knit as they once were, this saying remains true. The same principle applies to your child's education: it takes more than a good school to educate children, just as it takes more than a good home for children to adapt well. It takes community, teachers, and YOU! Did you know that children spend over 1,000 hours a year in school? So if they go to school for 13 years, that's 13,000 hours of someone else teaching, influencing, shaping and caring for your children. But if parents and schools work together, children can become educated, competent and productive members of our society. So how can you help your children in school? One of the main ways is to take an active role at home and at school. Research shows that children do better in school when parents talk often with teachers and get involved. Children whose parents interact with teachers generally get better grades and test scores, develop positive attitudes about school, and behave better. Parents and teachers need to communicate regularly, not just at parent/teacher conferences. But sometimes a parent doesn't know how to get involved or how to make a positive connection with the teacher and/or school. So where to start? It is best to try to meet teachers at the beginning of the school year. This will help the teacher better understand you and your child's values, and will also let them know that you support your child's education. Teachers like to have parents who are interested in their child's progress. If you participate in school activities and events, you will be more likely to talk with your children's teachers. Getting involved in PTO, PTA and Booster clubs also gives you the opportunity to get to know teachers better. Additionally, participating in school-related groups gives you the opportunity to have a say in decisions that may affect your children. You don't have to be involved in everything. Choose something manageable and give it your all. Another good investment in your child's education is to volunteer. What you do will depend on your school's needs and your abilities, but the possibilities are usually endless..