Tips from a great teacher

• Reading is important. Teachers don't ask their kids to read 20 or 30 minutes every night just because they want something for them to do. It really instills that love of reading in them, and if teachers can find that one special book that gets that kid hooked, that's great.

• A school is only as good as the parents. And so parent involvement within the school is really important as well. We have a fantastic PTA that gets into the classrooms. They not only provide things for kids, but activities and resources. Really get involved with your child's school. It doesn't matter if you work full time. Parents are at work all day, kids are at school all day. Let them know what you do during the day and ask them about their day. You can always do something for a couple of minutes to show your kids you're a part of their learning.

• Have meals together. To sit down and have a meal together and talk as a family, that is a huge impact on the kids. They need to have that center that I think is really important.