5 Easy Ways to Keep Your Kids on Track This Year

A sloppy binder leads to sloppy work. Encourage your child to organize all notes, handouts, and homework assignments by subject. That way, when it's time to tackle her homework or study for a test, she knows where everything is.

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As soon as your child receives his syllabi, have him record all his assignments, projects, and tests in a planner. Knowing when things are due will (hopefully) prevent him from procrastinating. For extra reassurance, have him write the due dates in red and a week-before reminder in a different color.

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Whether it's around the dinner table or before they go to bed, take some time to talk to your kids about school — subjects they're studying, projects they have to complete, or teachers they don't like. The more you know, the more you'll be able to remind them about and help them with assignments.