It is just too easy to let the year slip by without adequate review of our progress; therefore, we build several days into the school year for such review. Today, Friday, September 13, 2013, is one of those days. We are already half way through the first quarter of the year. The mid-term reports give us the opportunity to check each student's progress in an effort to correct bad habits and rectify any problems.

Such a review is not meant to be passive for parents. It is not just a matter of receiving a report and praising your child for her or his progress. This is the time to root out problems before they get worse.

Among the most important things to review with your child at this point in the year is her or his study habits. No single skill is more important to academic success than establishing a daily, disciplined routine for study and homework. The place, the time, and the process must be consistent. The goal is not to make it fun but to get it done - and done well!

This is also the time to be in communication with your child's teacher. Since most of the teachers are occupied with teaching virtually the entire day, email is a great way to communicate; it allows them to respond when their schedules permit it. Please be patient as you await a response, but let me know if you do not get a response within a day and I will check for computer problems.

Please take an active roll in reviewing your child's progress. Talk to us about your concerns, and together let's make this a great learning year for your child.