Look into the Library

Another terrific resource to complement your child's education is your local library. Most libraries have excellent fiction and non-fiction collections. Get your child started on a series or begin an author study together. You may want to talk to your child about joining a reading contest, book club, or going to library-sponsored special events. If your child is a struggling reader, taking her to the library to get her own library card can build confidence and excitement about reading. The library can be overwhelming for kids, so help your child by narrowing down her choices to a specific topic, author, or section.

Hit the Road

Allowing your child to practice his skills in the everyday world will make a huge difference in his grasp of concepts taught in school. If your child is struggling with the concept of making change, give him some money to spend and head to the market. If he's working on telling time, buy him a watch, write out a schedule, and ask him to keep the family on track for the day. Ask a struggling reader to read street signs, billboards, menus, and other print while you're out running errands. Or, play a game of I Spy, searching for letters, words, or numbers on long car trips.

How about heading out on a family field trip? Educational excursions to local museums, historical sites, and nature conservatories can provide good family bonding experiences on top of being a wonderful way to supplement your child's education.

Before you hire a tutor, recognize all of the options you have to do it yourself! You are your child's first and best teacher. Taking the time to gather some resources, assess your child's needs, and think about learning experiences that exist in everyday life will undoubtedly result in an improved outcome at school.