Get the phone number of each campus, the email of each principal, and class schedules for each child. 

Get the the names, phone numbers (if available), and emails of each child’s teacher(s). Note the conference periods of each teacher and when each child has lunch. 

Put it on your phone,  in your wallet, and on the fridge at home. THEN USE THEM to communicate with the school in positive ways instead of waiting for possible problems.

Learn better when they get enough rest and when they have a calm start to their day. Not only do groggy kids make for a difficult morning, it hinders their learning and positive behavior. 
Even though there are times when kids need to be up past their bedtime, the more you stick to it, the better the kids do in the morning and in the classroom. 
 

Ninety nine percent of the kids will tell you that they do not have homework when asked. Then right before bed they suddenly “remember”. If a child knows that every evening they are expected to work on homework at a set time then they are more likely to remember and get it done. If a child truly does not have homework, have them read during the same time frame. By setting the habit and keeping the child from having other options, they are more likely to either get their homework completed or improve on their reading. 

Even though many families are busy it is important to find a time to just check in with the kids. Kids are more likely to be stressed in the classroom, more likely to have anxiety, and more likely to become targets of a bully if they do not have someone they can talk to regularly. 
Check in at dinner, on the ride home, or before bed time. Just ask one or two basic questions about their day. They will inform you about what you need to know and they will know they have someone that is listening. 

You do not have to have them over for dinner (even though that may not be a bad idea) but you need allies and partners in educating your kids. Other parents may know more about the night’s homework, the upcoming field trip, or the recent incidents at school. Make connections, let people know you want to partner in helping your kids learn and get their contact information. 

Scheduling a teacher conference early in the school year can get your relationship off to a good start. Your child spends a substantial amount of time with their teachers. Get to know them. by meeting early in the year you can improve communication, build trust, and cut down on any possible tension later in the school year. The kids also learn that it is harder to pull something over on either one of you when you communicate about your kid instead of through them.

Your child does not need their own home office but having a spot where they can work comfortably will go a long way in helping them be successful. It can be at the dinner table (during the set homework time) or a dedicated space in the house or their bedroom. Ask them how they like to work, let them help set it up, and if they get their homework done then let them keep that set up. 

Kids and parents can get very stressed if every morning is spent looking for everything they need to get to school. Set up a list of all the things they need each day (lunch, backpack, homework, books, etc) or you can even use a box or small laundry basket that has everything in it BEFORE they go to bed. By having a spot where everything goes, the morning goes smoother and kids are better prepared to learn (and you are more prepared to keep the kids around!)
 

School is the work of students but they are growing, learning, and hopefully becoming a better person. Ask them about the good stuff going on at school and in their life. Enjoy their performances, find ways to have fun while learning, keep positive about school and your kid will be happier and will have a much brighter future as a student and lifelong learner. Just because it is work does not mean it has to be hard all of the time.