Family Guides - Family Resources

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Help Your Child Succeed in Key Learning Areas

National PTA, in partnership with the National Education Association, is pleased to offer newly updated Family Guides. These guides can help parents and caretakers find valuable tips for helping their child succeed in key learning areas.

PTA leaders, teachers, parents and families should use these guides to engage families in education throughout a child’s academic career.

Guide Categories

Starting School Strong

Preparing for School
Making Sure Your Child Gets the Education They Deserve
Starting Kindergarten Off Right
Raising Ready Readers

Homework Help

Reading Skills
Math
Science

Testing and High School

Testing
High School Help

Homework Help

Guides

Preparing Your Child for School

It's Never Too Early to Start

Starting school can be daunting for both parent and child—but there are steps you can take to make the transition as smooth as possible. Long before your child walks through a classroom door, you can begin instilling the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

Family Guide: Preparing Your Child for School

Guía Familiar: Preparando a su hijo para la escuela

Making Sure Your Child Gets the Education They Deserve

A Guide for Parents

Your child has a right to attend and succeed in a great public school. Regardless of income, ethnicity, family circumstances, disability or school readiness, all children are entitled to an education that will help them reach their full academic, professional and personal potential. As a parent or guardian, you are the best advocate for ensuring this happens.

Family Guide: Making Sure Your Child Gets the Education They Deserve

Guía Familiar: Asegurándose de que su hijo reciba la educación que se merece

Starting Kindergarten Off Right

Help Your Child Make a Smooth Transition

So, your child is going to kindergarten! You must be very proud. But it’s also natural to feel some anxiety. After all, it’s the beginning of their formal education, and an important milestone both socially and academically. There are a number of things you can do to prepare your child, while keeping you both focused on the exciting aspects of this new adventure.

Family Guide: Starting Kindergarten Off Right

Guía Familiar: Comenzando el jardín de infantes de la manera correcta

Raising Ready Readers

The Key? Start Early and Practice Often

Long before they enter school and begin formal instruction, children can and should begin developing the basic language skills they need to become readers. These pre-literacy skills include letters, sounds, speaking, listening and understanding that the printed word has meaning.

Family Guide: Raising Ready Readers

Guía Familiar: Criando lectores preparados

Developing Your Child's Reading Skills

Tips for Every Age

Fostering a love and aptitude for reading is critical to your child’s success, from the moment they start school all the way up to their high school graduation. Your child needs strong reading and comprehension skills to succeed—not just in English, but in science, math, social studies and various school activities as well.

Family Guide: Developing Your Child's Reading Skills

Guía Familiar: Desarrollando las habilidades de lectura de su hijo

Helping Your Child with Today's Math

Foster the Skills They Need to Succeed in School and Life

The idea behind today’s math is not just to do it, but also to understand how and why we do it. Students do not just learn numbers, equations, angles and theorems, but also put in context why these concepts matter in life.

Family Guide: Helping Your Child with Today's Math

Guía Familiar: Ayudando a su hijo con la matemática de hoy

Raising a Scientifically Literate Child

How Science Sets the Stage for Lifelong Success

Developing scientific literacy should be a priority at every stage of your child’s education—both inside and outside of the classroom. You play an important role. Encourage your child to explore and question the world around them, as well as continue with their science education.

Family Guide: Raising a Scientifically Literate Child

Guía Familiar: Criando un niño científicamente literado

Testing at Your Child's School

What You Should Know and How You Can Help

There’s no getting around it. Tests are nerve-wracking, for both kids and their parents. But they serve an important purpose—ensuring that your child is getting the education they need to succeed in school and in life.

Family Guide: Testing at Your Child's School

Guía Familiar: Pruebas en la escuela de su hijo

Helping Your Teen Succeed in High School

From Study Habits to Social Media, They Need Your Support

High school can be one of the most exciting times in a young person’s life, but also one of the most stressful. The number of new academic concepts, extracurricular activities and social pressures they face can be overwhelming.

Family Guide: Helping Your Teen Succeed in High School

Guía Familiar: Ayudando a su hijo a tener éxito en la escuela secundaria