Respect Classroom Materials and Space: While teachers strive to make classrooms feel like a home away from home, kids need to respect classroom materials. Your child should treat the classroom and its contents as if they belonged to him—he wouldn't want a guest coming into his home and throwing his books or breaking his pencils.

This also goes for cleaning up. Encourage your child to pick up after himself and keep a tidy desk. Practice organization skills at home by modeling how to arrange the books and items on your desk. Allow your child to practice organizing books and supplies on his own desk or have him practice on yours. Not only will this promote a respect for classroom materials, but children who are well organized can focus better on learning and ultimately have a greater sense of control.

Practice Patience: Every teacher has experienced it—a group of kids crowded around, jumping up and down and asking what seems like a million questions at once. Remind your child that he is one of many students and he must be patient and respect the teacher's responsibility to attend to the needs of all students. This can be particularly hard for young children who are used to immediate responses to their needs. Teach your child to stand quietly by the teacher's side until she has a moment to turn her attention to him, and help your child recognize what requires immediate attention and what can wait.

Sharing Shows Caring: In a classroom community, sharing is essential. Whether it be markers, crayons, building blocks, or books, children should understand that classroom materials are there for everyone's use. If your child notices that another is not sharing, prepare her with some go-to statements that will politely prompt the classmate to share. Teaching your child to say, "Could I please use that marker when you are finished?" or "Is it all right if I share these blocks with you?" can go a long way. If your child brings something to share with the class, she ought to bring enough for everyone.

Invitation No-No's: It is devastating for a child to realize he wasn't invited to a party or a playdate when many of his other classmates were. Invitations should not be handed out at school; young children don't have the discretion to open invitations outside of the classroom, and often feelings get hurt. Unless you plan to invite the entire class, pass out invitations after school hours.