Here are some helpful hints compiled by GCPS teachers, to help enhance the parent/student/teacher partnership.

1. Have your child practice reading and following directions
2. Remind your child that spelling always matters
3. Have your child explain what is being asked she has read directions to make sure she truly understands the questions or problems
4. Remind your child to show his/her work
5. Remind your child to make sure she has answered all parts of the questions
6. Expand your child's vocabulary by using at least one new word a day
7. Reinforce skills at home through family activities

1. Ask students to answer questions that require them to use interpretation and analysis
2. Have students work more independently on assignments
3. Encourage students to take pride in their work, whether it counts or not
4. Remind students that spelling and grammar should be accurate in all subjects
5. Help students learn to figure out how several ideas fit together
6. Emphasize the seriousness of plagiarism or copying
7. Expect more from your child than just enough to get by
8. Emphasize staying focused and on- task
9. Provide opportunities for students to "get the big picture from separate events/facts
10. Discuss how to graph data and how to interpret graphs already created in such places as newspapers and magazines
11. Help your child practice reading, comprehending and answering questions with more than a one-part response

The Internet offers a lot of resources to those looking for Y2K solutions.  If you need information on as specific brand of computer or piece of software, try searching the company's corporate Web site.  Many now have Y2K advice and software patches posted online.  The following Web sites offer more comprehensive Y2K information:

1. http://www.cde.ca.gov/y2k/  (California Dept. of Edu. -- great planning checklist & other links)
2. http://y2k.policyworks.gov (Gov. database of software products)
3. http://www.y2k.com (variety of just about everything)
4. http://www.year2000.com (dito)
5. http://www.rightime.com (This vendor for PC testing and fix-it programs also maintains a list of useful links)
6. http://www.computerworld.com  (This online magazine has a year 2000 section with many relevant resources and news features.)

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Web Site:
  www.missingkids.com/cybertip
  A private, nonprofit organization established in 1984, NCMEC operates under a Congressional mandate and works in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice.
  
  
• Surf Net Kids - List of safe sites on the net to visit
  www.surfnetkids.com/kidsafe.htm
  A very good site written by a syndicated newspaper columnist, mother, wife and Net surfer supreme (not listed in order of importance, of course). There are many sites to choose from on the Internet, but searching for educational content takes patience. Maybe getting there is supposed to be half the fun, but for my kids, it's the destination that counts.

• Cyber Patrol  (http://www.cyberpatrol.com)
• Cyber Sentinel (http://www.securitysoft.com)
• EdView For Schools (http://www.edview.com)
• Net Nanny (http://www.netnanny.com)
• KidDesk Internet Safe (Edmark Corp.) (http://www.edmark.com)
• PlanetGood (http://www.browsesafe.com)
• Surf Monkey (http://www.surfmonkey.com)

• http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us
• http://www.doe.k12.ga.us
• http://arcweb.gsu.edu/csp/

PTA, National Parent Teacher Association
www.pta.org