|
The freshman year is a crucial transition for most students, they're faced with new challenges, new opportunities, new people and a fresh set of choices. Your involvement, especially during the freshman year, can go a long way in setting a standard to guide them through their high school years.
There's a Parent's FAQ section but one question that we get asked the most frequently seemed to stand out above the rest, "What can I do to, at home, help my child improve academically?". Collectively we have 45 years experience with parents and students so we appreciate the opportunity to share some of their solutions here.
Encourage your child to get involved early. Whether it's sports, clubs, music, etc. it doesn't seem to matter. Students that are more involved in school tend to be much more successful in the classroom and seem to have fewer issues outside of it.
Every new experience will make them feel more a part of the school and expose them to other opportunities for growth.
Set aside an uninterpreted study time at home daily. Even if they don't have homework that specific day, just a few minutes a day reviewing the concepts that were covered will reinforce what they've learned and shorten the time for recall the following day.
Being successful in 7 rigorous classes demands that students spend time in the material outside of class and the habit will foster success as they take more challenging courses.
Expect to see your child's textbooks and study materials at home. Textbooks have been assigned, or are available for checkout, for all of their classes.
Communicate with your child's teachers, counselor and administrator. Touch base early and often, when school professionals and parents have an open line of communication, students benefit.
Make sure that your child's teachers have your home phone, cell phone, and email address if available so that you're their first line of defense.
Be aware of the school calendar. Know when progress reports, report cards, etc. are sent home with your child.
Encourage your child to take challenging classes. There is a unique satisfaction that goes along with the mastery of a difficult task and it tends to carry over to other areas of student life. By challenging themselves early, students gain confidence and skills, as well as, surrounding themselves with more focused students.
If you are a parent that has a tip or suggestion that would be appropriate for this page we would appreciate your time in forwarding it to us via our convenient contact form. Please remember though, these are not general parenting tips, just suggestions that relate to facilitating academic success. |
