Q: At a recent school meeting, some parents pushed back on the new Common Core curriculum that my state, California, adopted. They are afraid that the standards will be too hard for their children. Several parents are for the standards. How can we answer their objections?

A: Ask if they really want to deprive their children of college and career opportunities. The lack of preparation for college work and the continuing slippage of United States students on international comparisons are key reasons 45 states have adopted the Common Core State Standards.

The Common Core, with standards for math and English language arts, is designed to address inequities. Currently, kids in some districts or states get a rich and deep curriculum, while others get less challenging courses. This leads to lower scores on important tests and more remedial instruction in high school and college.

The new voluntary, internationally benchmarked K-12 standards seek to give all students a strong knowledge and skills foundation in math and English. "Yes, they are challenging, but they are also clear. States that implement them well will graduate more of their high school students ready for college and careers," says Ramon Cortines, retired superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, and former New York City Schools chancellor.

Cortines says the Common Core standards won't be implemented overnight. Most won't show up in classrooms until the 2014-15 school year. "While state policymakers and educators may adopt them, the hard work is at the local level," he says. "Teachers must be supported in how to teach (the standards) in ways that connect to their students. If educators follow a script, it won't work.

"Parents must understand not only why the standards will benefit their children, but what students are supposed to learn," Cortines continued. That way, "parents can help them at home and encourage them to aim high."

The National PTA has done a good job showing parents why they are important partners in the Common Core initiative. The organization created 11 grade-by-grade guides that reflect the standards. They show key items that children should be learning in English and mathematics in each grade and suggest activities parents can do at home. Parents of high school students will also find tips for planning for college and careers. Go to pta.org for the guides. To get more background and find out if your state has adopted the standards, visit CoreStandards.org/in-the-states.

Cortines says there's another good reason to hope the Common Core initiative succeeds -- to help students become effective citizens. "Students need a strong knowledge foundation to make informed judgments, sound arguments and effective decisions. We do students a disservice when we encourage them to have lots of opinions, but we don't insist that they acquire broad knowledge to base them on," he says. "I like the way author Liel Leibovitz puts it. 'Points of view are to knowledge what dessert is to vegetables: You earn one only by first consuming the other.' Done well in our schools, the Common Core will serve up really tasty, nourishing veggies!"

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)

Q: My daughter is a young teacher in a tough middle school. She's taught for two years. She still loves the kids, but the stress is taking a physical toll. I hate to see her leave a career she's always wanted. The district doesn't have a program to mentor new teachers. Is there anything I can do to help pull her through this?

A: You're doing some of the most important things by providing an ear and perspective. Up to half of new teachers leave within their first five years, according to research by University of Pennsylvania professor Richard M. Ingersoll, Ph.D.

Chances are good that your daughter has gone through the toughest phase. If she can stick it out, the experience will make her more resilient. Most teachers say they only start to get comfortable with what they're doing in the classroom in their third year, explains Jane Close Conoley, Ph.D., dean of the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Does your district offer structured support? Many do. The University of Miami Support Network for Novice Teachers offers practical advice and mentoring. The American Psychological Association has adapted the network's approach in a module for new teachers on stress management. Check out the APA Teacher Stress Module at www.apa.org/ed/schools/cpse/activities/teacher-stress.aspx.

The lack of a formal program shouldn't deter your daughter from finding the support she needs, says Russell Bourne, Ph.D., president of the Florida Psychological Association's Palm Chapter. "Mentors are where you find them, and that is usually wherever you look," he says. "Often the new teacher is limited to those who know her world of the classroom."

Encourage her to also have conversations about the importance of her work with folks outside of education -- others in the community who value commitment and excellence in our classrooms. Scott Trumley, a New York educator, recalls speaking to a local Rotary Club during his first year on the job. "I was raising money for a field trip," he says. "I told the group of my hopes for these kids and all my frustrations. One member, a judge, said to me afterward, 'Call me after your worst days.' Those talks helped me grow.

"I'm now an assistant principal helping new teachers stay in the profession."

Beyond the advice inherent in those conversations, your daughter will benefit from articulating her thinking. Paraphrasing German novelist Hermann Hesse, Bourne says: "'Everything becomes a little different once it is spoken out loud.' So, maybe the new teacher simply needs to have more conversations with those she trusts."

For any novice, the performance of seasoned colleagues can appear magical, says Bourne. "Remember Malcolm Gladwell's notion of 10,000 hours to perfection? Three years can seem like an eternity if it is all a struggle and full of stress. Advise your daughter to share with others, stay patient with herself, and remain committed to success.

"Remind her that what we are to be, we are always becoming."

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)

Q: Now that my daughter, JoEllen, got into her top college, I thought the paperwork would end. But she gets stuff every day, and she's like, "whatever." Am I a helicopter parent if I just deal with all her mail?

A: Sort her mail now, and you might end up doing her laundry every week of her freshman year. But ignoring the mail isn't an option, either. Texting teens aren't used to the volume of correspondence that comes via email or snail mail upon college acceptance, so you'll have to guide her.

"Once you've sent in your deposit, expect to be bombarded," says Marie Pinak Carr, author of "Sending Your Child to College: The Prepared Parent's Operational Manual" (2011 edition, Dicmar, 2012). "Most will be addressed to your child," she says, "who will probably ignore them, including the tuition bill."

When you help JoEllen prioritize the mail, you're also helping her transition to living independently. Carr suggests sorting out the immediate to-dos. "Don't wait until summer's end to process health, housing (first come, first served), and student orientation forms, plus tuition bills and payment options," she explains.

Model how to organize and respond efficiently. For example, late payments are usually assessed a fee. Show her how to make a "tuition" file: Record the date it was paid and whether it was by check or credit card. Note the receipt of payment. Make files for other key areas, including "health," "housing" and "budget."

Go through the junk mail separately, modeling savvy consumer skills. Show her how to read the fine print on credit card options and "shred unwanted offers, as many guarantee immediate activation," says Carr. "Retailers offer students everything from linens to gift packages and books. Explain that the one-time discount for opening a store charge card can be easily swallowed by fees or interest later on."

Schedule what must happen before JoEllen heads to school. For example, find out when she needs to sign up for courses, where she purchases books and where can she register for intramural teams. If you're driving her to school, make sure you book lodging near campus early.

Does she need insurance for her computer and her smartphone? "Take a photo or video inventory of higher-ticket items. Keep purchase and warranty receipts," advises Carr.

New student orientation is a "must attend," says Carr. "Sometimes this includes placement testing, class registration, and student ID processing."

If parent orientation is offered, enroll! You'll get to meet faculty, ask questions and learn what services those big bucks are buying.

Richard H. Hersh, a former high school teacher and retired college dean, says too many students don't take advantage of everything colleges have to offer. In "We're Losing Our Minds: Rethinking American Higher Education" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), Hersh and co-author Richard P. Keeling say that many institutions see themselves as "a kind of bank with intellectual assets that are available to the students," and it's up to the student to discover them.

It's not "helicopter parenting" to identify all the things you're paying for and reminding JoEllen to use them to become a successful student. Your most important role this summer is reinforcing the motivation and work ethic that got her accepted to college in the first place.

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)