You already know in which subjects your child needs help. Once you have received the report from the School District, you can see exactly at what level your child is functioning and what is causing the problem.

The school will draft goals and objectives for your child, but it will be up to you to make sure that the goals are specific, appropriate, and measurable.

1. Start by looking up the California State Standards for the subject area in need on the internet. The address is: http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/index.asp
2. Choose the subject you want to review.
3. Choose the grade level of your child. If it is near the end of the year, choose the next year's grade level.
4. Read through the standards until you find an area that needs to be addressed with your child.
5. Rewrite the expectations in a goal.
6. Make sure that the goal you write is specific, measurable, and appropriate for your child's needs

Ask:

• Who will teach?
• How often?
• For how much time?
• How will it be taught?
• Where?

Example:

From the State Standards for 5th grade writing

Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays. The writing exhibits the students' awareness of the audience and purpose. Essays contain formal introductions, supporting evidence, and conclusions. Students progress through the stages of the writing process as needed.

• Create multiple-paragraph expository compositions:
  • Establish a topic, important ideas, or events in sequence or chronological order.
  • Provide details and transitional expressions that link one paragraph to another in a clear line of thought.
  • Offer a concluding paragraph that summarizes important ideas and details.