Sylvan offers back-to-school tips

AUSTIN (KXAN) - April Saint from Sylvan Learning Center joined Anchor Jenny Hoff to talk about how parents can prepare for the school year. Here are some of her tips:

• Build a routine as soon as the school year starts. Walk through your daily schedule and make adjustments for your child's own preferences and needs;
• Get a face-to-face meeting with your child's teacher early in the year. Be ready to talk specifics about your child's academic strengths and weaknesses, as well as methods that appear to work well to teach your child. Establish the best way to contact the teacher;
• The way to recognize trouble early is to notice your child's behavior as he or she tackles homework. Is your child avoiding a difficult subject? Does she express frustration at homework problems? Those are signs.
• The faster a parent acts, the more impact academic intervention can have. Since you've established a means of communication with the teacher, ask non-judgmental specific questions about your child's troubles. "What methods do you use to teach fractions?" "Can you think of other work we can do at home so he understands it?" "My child really 'gets' lessons that are visual. How do you think I can teach her this concept in a visual way?"