Often what's missing from kids' school life is academic discipline, which means training children to acquire the self-discipline to concentrate, stay on top of assignments and master certain skills and information. Just as you train your children to tidy their bedrooms, write thank-you notes for gifts and groom themselves, it's important for you to expect a daily discipline for schoolwork.

CREATE A TIME AND PLACE

When your child comes home with that first homework assignment, don't make it seem like a dreaded disease: "Oh no, not homework." Instead, take this approach: "You have your first homework assignment; this is an important responsibility. You're growing up." At this point, set aside a consistent time and place for quiet homework with the TV off.

GIVE HOMEWORK HELP

At first it's okay to oversee your child's homework and help her by making baby steps toward excellence with specific suggestions like these:

• I see two incorrect problems on your arithmetic homework. Try these two again.

• Let's go over your spelling words one more time.

• You need to re-copy your social studies homework. It's difficult to read.

With older kids, don't hesitate showing them how to outline a chapter from their science textbook. When studying for a math test, give a tip or two about checking work and doing the problems that are easiest first, saving the tougher ones for last.

Convey any study skills that worked for you, but then respect that your child may not follow your advice. Ultimately, each child must find his own way. Even if your son says, "Oh, Dad, you went to school in the old days, that's not the way we do it today," at least you've established your interest, clearly indicating you value academic responsibility and achievement.

FOUR STEPS TO SUCCESS

As you set off on this new campaign to encourage your children to reach their academic potential, proceed cautiously. It's not effective to just tell your children to work harder, and you can't simply demand that your C student turn into an A student overnight. But you can set the stage so your C student can turn some of those C's into B's.

1) Keep the TV off between 7 to 8 P.M., or establish this rule: The house is quiet between 6 to 9 P.M. on school nights.

2) Involve your child in only one extracurricular activity. Do this especially if you notice that taking on more means schoolwork suffers.

3) No evenings out on school nights. It just doesn't work for most kids to play at a friend's house or go to the movies; they're too tired for school the next day.

4) Occasionally challenge your child with a reward. "I see you got a C+ in math; I bet you can bring that up to a B. If you do, I'll give you $15."