Acknowledge accomplishments and build self-esteem

As school comes to a close, teachers often send home older work that they have been keeping (particularly in classrooms where kids have a portfolio). Go through this work with your child and note the progress he has made in each subject. Point out specific areas of growth (“Your entries in your reading journal in May are so much longer and more in-depth!” and “You were able to multiply and divide fractions in February, but in October you could only add and subtract them!”), and encourage your child to acknowledge the areas about which he is most proud of his improvement.