THE PARENT BACKPACK FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 5

Finally, a book that demystifies our daunting education system by giving parents the insights and strategies they need to build positive relationships with teachers and connect to their children’s learning in productive ways.

Decades of research confirm that involved parents = better students. But what does parent involvement look like for busy families? When is the right time to step in? What can you do at home to make a difference? And how much involvement is too much? As schools wrestle with waves of change and struggle to keep up with international competition, parent anxiety grows. Most moms and dads want the best education possible for their children, but many aren’t sure how to go about getting it. This straight-talking guide by a parent educational consultant and mother of two presents a balanced, candid view that benefits everyone. The Parent Backpack gives step-by-step advice to help parents: - Understand their role in their kids’ education - Connect with teachers in respectful ways - Turn a hesitant or non-reader into a reader - Avoid homework meltdowns - Distinguish between learning and achieving - Support a child who needs more - Identify and navigate bullying situations - Fuel kids’ minds and bodies so they can thrive - And much more. Full of real stories and tested strategies, The Parent Backpack for Kindergarten through Grade 5 is a must have resource for families who want to ensure their kids get the best education possible.

ML NICHOLS is the director and co-founder of The Parent Connection, a nonprofit parent education group, and she runs The Parent Backpack, a parent-school consultancy for elementary parents and educators. She served as the Massachusetts delegate for Parenting magazine's 2012 Mom Congress on Education and Learning in Washington, DC, and has guest blogged for the New York Times' Motherlode blog. Her own blog has been featured on Parenting.com. ML and her husband have two daughters, ages 12 and 15.