Parents of Primary grade students often wonder...

• if their children are happy in school
• what their children are learning
• why their children are studying this content
• if their children are learning in the most effective way.

In this section, you can find balanced, unbiased answers to these important questions from our book What Every Parent Needs to Know about 1st, 2nd & 3rd Grades, 2nd Edition by Toni Bickart, Judy Jablon and Diane Trister Dodge. The links in the "related pages" and "related documents" sections below begin to explore the primary grades with parents. The pages are excerpts from What Every Parent Needs to Know...

This excellent resource for parents whose children are entering the primary grades takes a look inside the classroom of today's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students. It helps parents understand what teachers are planning and implementing. What Every Parent Needs to Know... shows parents how they can become informed consumers to help transform their child's school into an exciting place where children become self-directed and active learners who enjoy school and the learning process.

The book shines a spotlight on:

• how children become readers and writers
• learn science and social studies skills
• the phonic/whole language debate
• how to survive homework, and
• how to develop partnerships with teachers.

Click on the links in the "related pages" and "related documents" sections below to learn what makes excellent primary grade classrooms where children are successful learners.

Science

Assessment

Homework