Here are 10 ways to keep your teen focused for high school success.
Teens do my paper better in school when their parents support their academic endeavors. Attending the nightly kick-off meeting or school open house is a great way to get to know your teen's teachers and their expectations. School administrators can discuss school-wide policies and programs and post-secondary options that parents and guardians of students should be aware of.
Attending parent-teacher conferences is another way to stay informed, although, in high school, staff often organize these meetings only when parental involvement is necessary to discuss issues such as behavior problems, poor grades, or, on the contrary, the possibility that a student will benefit from work in an advanced class.
If your adolescent has special learning or behavior needs, meetings with teachers and other school personnel may be scheduled to consider creating or revising individualized education plans (IEPs), 504 education plans, or educational plans. education for exceptionally talented students.
Remember that parents and guardians can request meetings with teachers, principals, school counselors, or other school personnel at any time during the school year.
Knowing the physical layout of the school building and grounds can help you connect with your teen when they talk about the school day. It is good to know the location of the main office, health room, cafeteria, gym, athletic fields, auditorium, and special classes.
Information on the following can be found on the school's website:
Many teachers have their websites and they provide access to textbooks and other resources, including assignments to do at home, and test dates. Also, at district, school, or teacher sites, special resources are often offered for parents and students.
During the high school years, homework intensifies further and grades become central to college plans. Students planning to go to college should also prepare for the SAT and/or ACT exams. Among all these changes, many teens are learning to balance academic and extracurricular activities, their social lives, and their jobs.
An important way to help is to make sure your teenager has a quiet, well-lit, and distraction-free place to study, and that he has all the necessary supplies. Distraction-free means no phone, no television, and no Internet access except for resources related to the work you have to do. Make sure to check from time to time that your child is not distracted.
Sit down regularly with your teenager to review the class load to make sure it is balanced and help him keep up with his study schedule and homework.
Encourage your child to ask for help when he needs it. Most teachers are available to offer further assistance or to stay after school and may be able to recommend other resources.
A nutritious breakfast energizes teens and prepares them for the day ahead. In general, teens who eat breakfast have more energy and do better in school.
You can help improve your child's attention span, concentration, and memory with a breakfast that includes foods high in whole grains, fiber, and protein, plus little added sugar. If your child is late some mornings, send fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, or a banana and peanut butter sandwich. Many schools offer nutritious breakfast options before admission.
Teens also need enough sleep (about 8½ to 9½ hours a night) to be alert and ready to learn throughout the day. But the early start of school (plus agendas loaded with classes, homework, extracurricular activities, and friends) means that teens often don't get enough sleep. Lack of sleep is related to reduced attention span, shorter short-term memory, erratic performance, and slower response time.
Most teens also have a change in sleep patterns and their bodies tell them to stay up later at night and wake up later in the morning. Ideally, teens should go to sleep at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning. It can help if you remind him to turn off the phone and limit video games and the television before bedtime. Naps during the day can also delay bedtime; therefore, it is advisable for teens not to nap after school. Many teens try to make up for lost sleep on the weekend.
Learning to master the skills of organizing, concentrating, and visualizing a job to the finish will help teens in just about everything they do. But this is not usually explicitly taught in high school; therefore, adolescents can benefit if parents guide them with organization and time management skills.
Parents and guardians can help teens keep class assignments and information in organizers, notebooks, or binders organized by subject. Creating a calendar will help teens recognize upcoming due dates and plan their time accordingly. Be sure to tell your child to put non-academic commitments on the calendar.
It is also helpful for teens to make prioritized daily to-do lists and to study and do homework in a well-lit, quiet, and orderly place. You can remind your child that when it comes to studying and doing homework, multitasking is a waste of time. It is best to work in a place without distractions, such as the television and texting.
Planning is essential to help your child study while completing assignments for various subjects. Because grades are really important in high school, study planning is critical to success, especially when your child is busy with extracurricular activities.
When she has a lot to study, help your child break assignments into smaller blocks and stick to her study schedule so she doesn't end up studying for multiple tests in one night. Remind your child to take notes in class, organize them by subject, and review them at home.
If the grades are good, your child may not need help with studying. However, if your grades start to drop, it might be time to get involved. Most parents still need to help their teens with organization and study; don't think teens can do it alone just because they're in high school.
Help your child review the material and study with simple techniques such as simple questions, asking him to complete a sentence with the missing word, and preparing practice tests. The more processes the brain uses to handle information (such as writing, reading, speaking, and listening) the more likely the information is to be retained. Repeating words, reading paragraphs aloud, rewriting notes, or visualizing or diagramming information are activities that help the brain retain data.
Even if your child is just rereading his notes, offer to ask him questions, focusing on the facts or ideas that are most difficult for him. Encourage your teen to do math or science practice problems. If the material is beyond your knowledge, recommend that you ask a classmate or teacher for help, or consider contacting a tutor (some schools offer free peer tutoring programs).
And remember that it is better to get a good night's sleep than to stay up late to study. Recent studies show that students who stop sleeping to study are more likely to struggle on tests the next day.
All schools have rules and consequences for student behavior. Schools often include discipline policies (also called "student code of conduct") in student handbooks. Rules typically cover expectations and consequences for not meeting expectations, such as to conduct, dress code, use of electronic devices, and acceptable language for students.
Policies may include details about attendance, vandalism, cheating on a test, fighting, and weapons. Many schools also have specific policies on harassment (bullying). It is helpful to know the school's definition of bullying, the consequences for bullies, the support given to victims, and the procedures for reporting bullying. Harassment by texting or social media should also be reported at school.
It is important for your child to know what is expected at school and that you will support the consequences imposed by the school when they do not meet expectations. When the expectations at school match those at home, everything is easier for students because they see the two environments as safe and nurturing places that work together as a team.
It is also important to inform you that educators can contact law enforcement officials if serious infractions are committed and the consequences may vary depending on the age of the students.
The volunteer in high school is an excellent way to show that you are interested in educating your teen.
Keep in mind, however, that while some teens like seeing their parents at school and school events, others may feel embarrassed by their parent’s presence. Be attentive to your child's needs to determine the right level of interaction for both of you and to decide whether to volunteer in less visible things. Make it clear that you are not there to spy; you are simply trying to help the school community.
Parents and guardians can be actively involved in the following ways:
Visit the school or school district site to find volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule. Even putting in a few hours during the school year can make a good impression on your child.
Teens should not go to school if they have a fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Otherwise, they must arrive at school on time every day, because having to catch up on classwork, projects, assessments, and homework can be stressful and interfere with learning.
Teens can have many reasons for not wanting to go to school; bullying, difficult assignments, low grades, social problems, or problems with classmates or teachers. Talk to your child (and then a school counselor or administrator) to find out what is causing anxiety.
Students can also be late for school due to sleep problems. Keeping your daily sleep times consistent can help prevent tiredness and late arrivals.
For teens with a chronic health problem, educators will work alongside families and may reduce work or homework so students don't fall behind. A 504 plan can help teens with medical needs or health problems succeed in school. Talk to school administrators if you are interested in developing a 504 plan for your child.
Because teens spend a lot of time out of the day - at school, extracurricular activities, their work, or with their friends - it can be challenging for parents and guardians to stay connected with them. While school activities, new interests, and broader social circles are at the center of many high school students' lives, parents and guardians continue to be the anchors offering love, guidance, and support.
Take the time to talk to your child every day, so that he knows that what happens at school is important. When teens know that their parents are interested in their academic life, they take school seriously.
Since communication is a "back and forth," the way you talk to and listen to your teen can affect the way your child listens and responds. It's important to listen carefully, make eye contact, and avoid doing other things while you're talking. Remember to talk with your child, not to his son. Be sure to ask open-ended questions that require more than a simple "yes" or "no" answer.
In addition to family meals, good times to talk include car trips (obviously no eye contact is necessary in this case), dog walking, meal prep, or waiting in a box. store.