Communicating with your child's teacher is one way to help him succeed at school. But just how often should you contact the teacher，and what questions should you ask？How can you help your child succeed in school？

Jerry Parks，a social studies teacher is. to share his thoughts. Parks keeps in touch with parents through emails，class websites，and phone calls. " Parents who take an active interest in their children's work and school well-being are one of the biggest contributors to my students' success，"Parks says. Children of involved parents typically have higher self-esteem（自尊）and have fewer behavior problems in school. And students' grades usually improve when their parents become involved.

Parks suggests the top 6 ways parents can help their children succeed in school: first，make sure your child is at school every day possible. Missed work is generally more of a loss than made-up work is a gain；second，set a time and a place for your child to do homework. If he does not have homework，have him use the time to read；third，keep in touch with teachers，but don't do it too much. Most teachers appreciate parents caring enough to keep in touch a few times a term but do not appreciate parents expecting to contact on a regular basis. Besides，it seems appropriate to ask the teacher whether she thinks your child is giving his best effort in class and whether she has noticed any significant changes in your child's behavior or grades. More importantly，teach your child to build a character—it will improve social and academic skills more than anything else. Some things are simply wrong，and the world your child will grow up in will punish crimes，so give your child a head start. Last but not least，make time every day to talk with your child about the day's activities. Let him know you care，and really listen to what he has to say.

Ways to make a great first impression

You’ve heard it a million times already, but it really does take a few seconds to make that all-important first impression. Here are some easy ways for you to impress your classmates or teachers.

● 【小题1】

Before you shake hands with somebody, make sure that your hands are clean. The handshake should not be too strong or weak. Most people use their right hands, unless they have a reason to use the left. 【小题2】.

● Be on time

When meeting someone for the first time, arriving on time is as important as breathing. You may have an excuse, but that will leave the person who hardly knows you with a bad impression. 【小题3】 It’s better to be hanging around the place than be stuck in traffic.

● Introduce yourself and ask for names

Make sure you properly introduce yourself. Ask for their names in a polite way. 【小题4】 This will increase the chances of their remembering your name in the future. Always remember to stand up when greeting someone and be sure to introduce them to anyone you’re with.

● Make good conversations

To get the most out of your discussion, try to find something common between the two of you. 【小题5】 A person will feel more comfortable with someone they can relate to.

   Even if your school provides healthy foods，it can be easy to give in to your desire（渴望）and pick a less healthy choice when you are feeling really hungry. How do you take control of it？【小题1】 Here are a few reasons for you to pack your lunch or snacks at least twice a week:

Do you ever wait in the lunch line only to find that when you get to the front，you don’t like what they are serving？So you reach for pizza again. 【小题2】 Bringing your own lunch also lets you control exactly what goes into the food you eat.

It does not hurt to enjoy an occasional（偶尔的）serving of pizza and hot dogs. 【小题3】 A packed lunch a couple of times a week means you can enjoy some favorites you might not find at every school—like your mom’s chicken soup or some crisp apples.

If you have a big game or activity after school，plan a lunch and snacks that combine lean proteins with carbohydrates（糖类）. 【小题4】

Pack healthy snacks so you don’t feel tempted to step off campus for a fast—food lunch，or hit the corner store for a chocolate and a soda！Put the money you save on such snacks aside.

In a word，whether you pack your lunch or eat in the cafeteria，what is important is that you make healthy choices. If you are concerned that your cafeteria does not offer enough healthy options，get involved in trying to make changes. 【小题5】