Now that students are heading back to school, families and their young readers have an opportunity to start the school year strong. The Go Beyond Grades Arkansas campaign is encouraging you and your family to CONNECT with your child’s teacher, CHECK your child’s progress using multiple sources of information, and CREATE a plan for support at school and at home. Here’s how:
1. Connect with your child’s teacher early.
Reach out at the beginning of the school year to start building a strong partnership. As the expert on your child, you can share their strengths, interests, learning preferences and areas where additional support may be helpful.
2. Check the full picture of your child’s progress.
When it comes to understanding how your child is doing in school, don’t rely on report card grades alone. To get a broader understanding, you can ask the teacher questions like “Is my child reading on grade level?” and “How do I understand my child’s ATLAS results?” Additionally, you can review information such as classroom assignments, teacher observations, grades on projects and quizzes, and screener results.
3. Create a plan with your child’s teacher.
Ask what your child will be learning, which skills need additional attention, what support is available at school and how you can help at home. Agree on a few realistic next steps and set a time to check in again about progress.
4. Ask about reading support when needed.
If your student needs additional reading support, ask their teacher whether they have an Individual Reading Plan and how you can reinforce the plan at home. Third-grade families should also review information provided by the school about promotion requirements and available tutoring, after-school and Read-at-Home supports.
5. Build learning into everyday routines.
Read with children regularly, ask them about what they are learning, and use free community and online resources to practice specific skills. R.I.S.E. Arkansas Family Resources is one place to find free K-8 tools and activities.
“The latest data show that the LEARNS Act is working, but we still have more to do to ensure every child in Arkansas can read and learn,” said Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva. “Teachers and parents are essential to this progress, and we are pursuing many ways to support them.”
Free tips and tools are available in English and Spanish at gobeyondgrades.org/arkansas/. These resources include the ATLAS Family Toolkit, which can help you gain a better understanding of your child’s state test score report and proficiency level, as well as back-to-school ideas for connecting with your child’s teacher.