Here are tips for helping students in grades 4-6 succeed.

• Pack books when you go on trips with your child.
• Have your child keep a journal on family vacations.
• Select words from a story your child has read and have him/her write a paragraph using those words.
• Read poems together and ask your child to identify the words that rhyme.
• Talk to your child about a book he/she is reading; have your child talk about the main characters.
• Use grocery store ads to do comparative shopping.
• Ask your child to explain steps in solving a mathematics homework problem.
• Talk to your child about neighborhood places that offer physical activities that he/she can join.
• Visit a Chicago Public Library regularly.
• Share, with your child, a newspaper article about current topics in the news.
• Play board games, do puzzles, and build models with your child.
• Help your child calculate his/her favorite players (basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey) sports averages.
• Encourage your child to read many books on a variety of subjects.
• Encourage your child to research a project to be entered into the school's Science Fair or History Fair.
• Visit zoos, conservatories, and botanic gardens together.
• Attend concerts and fine arts performances with your child.
• Take your child to the Art Institute and art galleries.
• Subscribe to children's magazines in your child's name.
• Collect data about vehicles that pass you on the road.
• Sing songs with your child.
• Attend the Chicago Students Science Fair .
• Monitor your child's TV viewing.
• Watch television programs and videos together.
• Help your child follow instructions.