Excerpts from
“Parents Still Make the Difference!”

PARENT QUIZ
Are You Helping Your Child Handle Stress?

Here's a quiz to see if you are helping your child overcome middle school anxieties.

Give yourself five points for something you do often, zero points for something you never do – or any score in between.

__ 1. I encourage my child to let me know if he is feeling worried or uncertain.

__ 2. I help my child keep on top of assignments.

__ 3. I encourage my child to participate in sports or to get regular exercise.

__ 4. I make sure my child gets enough sleep and eats well.

__ 5. I stay in touch with my child's teachers about how he is handling things at school.

How Did You Score

A score of 20 points or above means you are taking significant steps to keep your child's stress level low. Fifteen to 19 is average. Below 15? Check the quiz for some suggestions

PARENTS' SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS SETS A GOOD EXAMPLE

When parents and teachers work together, students reap the benefits. Here are some tips for working with your child's teachers:

• Be positive. Expect that your child's teacher know what they're doing and can help your child. Your good attitude may rub off on your child.

•  Get involved. Build relationships with educators by participating in school activities. Learn about why the school works the way it does.

•  Be patient. If your child doesn't like a teacher, don't request a classroom change too quickly. Your child may be learning in class, even if she doesn't care for a teacher's personality.

•  Don't compete. Some parents feel jealous when kids strongly admire teachers. This is normal. But don't let it hurt your support for teachers.

•  Work as a team. Teachers are your partners in education. Talk about how you can work together to help your child.

•  Resolve problems quickly. Talk to the teacher right away about major concerns. This keeps them from growing and becoming more difficult to handle.