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Whether your child loves school or dreads it, making good grades is high on the priority list. If it seems like a lost cause or if you’re just looking for a few pointers, below are some ways you can ensure your child does his or her best all year long.

1. Know your child’s subjects and schedule. To wrap your head around the content or amount of work your child is dealing with, it’s important to understand the subjects he or she will be studying, as well as the difficulty level and amount of homework expected. If your child is involved in extracurricular activities, the same applies. This is key to helping your child manage their time.

2. Keep a routine. On days when your child has fewer after-school activities, you can block time for him or her to complete reading, study for upcoming tests or work on other ongoing projects. Don’t forget to schedule in at least a little free time each day so your child doesn’t burn the candle at both ends!

3. Meet the teachers. Take time to talk to them face to face. Exchange contact information. Encourage them to reach out if they have any issues with your child. This way, if your child starts to slip in a certain subject, the teacher will feel comfortable letting you know while the problem is still manageable.

4. Be aware of school and district programs. If your child falls behind or shows signs of a learning difference, his or her school and/or district may offer programs that can help. Find out what tutoring and, if needed, special needs programs your child can take advantage of.

5. Be the student. The best way to learn is to teach, so ask questions about what your child is studying. If he or she is studying Abraham Lincoln, for example, ask for a history lesson. You might also try engaging critical thinking skills by asking “why” questions pertaining to the facts your child recounts to you.

6. Model good organizational skills. As adults, we know that staying organized helps our lives run efficiently at home and at work. The same is true for students. Show your child the same basic skills you use for filing and storing information, as well as managing a calendar and keeping up with deadlines.

7. Teach your child to be a good test taker. If your child is one who does well on homework, understands the subject and then bombs the test, there may be a level of test anxiety to contend with. The best way to help him or her overcome this is to practice taking tests until they are not a mental hurdle. Find tests at bookstores or online—they don’t even have to be about school subjects—and administer them to your child. Try timed and untimed tests to add flexibility to the equation. 

8. Find benchmarks aside from grades. While grades are important, there are other things by which to measure success. Look for your child’s strengths and accomplishments and highlight them. Whether your child diligently completes homework, studies without complaint, makes As and Bs on tests, does well in extracurricular activities or shows strength of character, these are opportunities to help your child see his or her value aside from a report card.

9. Create a rewards system. It doesn’t matter whether you use charts, marbles or stickers, you can use a rewards system to keep your child motivated. Think of your child’s favorite things. When report cards come in, reward your child. When a certain amount of rewards are given, your child receives one of his or her favorite things.

10. Find out how your child learns best. Your child is either a visual, auditory or tactile learner—or a combination of all three. This quiz shows a fourth learning style, too. Once you know your child’s learning style, you can better cater to his or her learning needs. 

Succeeding in school is vital to your child’s happiness and future success. With hard work and focus, good grades are attainable.