Most people celebrate the new year in January but I always mark mine in August. That is when I make my “New Year’s Resolutions,” most of which have to do with how to have a better school year. This year I vow to get into more classrooms and to spend more time with students.

It might be a good time for you and your child to make some resolutions around school too. The following are suggestions for helping your child to have a good school year, with help from the Peel School Board, Mississauga, Ont. ( http://www.peel.edu.on.ca/parents/)

Encourage "personal best"
Help your child by encouraging him or her to do the best in school and at home. Remember, "personal best" does not mean "perfect", and learning is not the same as high grades. Children, like adults, need the freedom to make mistakes and to learn from them.

Make learning a priority
Your attitude toward school attendance, education and involvement in the school makes a strong and lasting impression on your child. Show your child, by example, that learning is a priority.

Show interest in school work
Talk about school each day.
Ask to see classwork.
Have your child read aloud to you.
Read to and with your child from a variety of material in your first language.
Encourage your child to discuss new ideas and opinions.
Show appreciation for good efforts.

Offer suggestions for success
Help your child use the following strategies to improve performance in school:
Read the assignment when it is given.
Keep a list of new vocabulary.
Proofread assignments to catch errors before writing a final draft.
Review notes before a test.

Schedule Study Time
Set up an area for homework away from noise and distractions. Post a family calendar that schedules school project deadlines, after-school activities, mid-term dates, exam periods and report card dates.

Support 100 percent attendance
Some kinds of absences are unavoidable, but taking students out of school unnecessarily is disruptive for learning.

Help Set Goals
At the beginning of each term, help your child identify three or four goals. Put the goals where they can be frequently seen. (The refrigerator is always an excellent spot.) Make sure the goals are specific.

Get Involved
Attend school activities such as open houses, parent/teacher interviews and School Council meetings. When your children see you involved, they will also see education as a high priority. Interpreters are available for parent interviews.

Make Direct Contact with the School
Try to make early and positive contact with your child's teacher. We encourage you to visit the school or phone your child's teacher with any questions or concerns.