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First year of high school
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Syndicated column from The Parent
Institute
[SEPT. 30, 2005]
Q: My daughter is starting her first year of
high school. She's never been good at working independently or
finishing projects on time. We could use a couple of good, simple
ideas on starting off on the right track.
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A:
The first year in high school can be a make-or-break year.
Assignments tend to be longer, and teachers do expect students to
work independently. Your daughter will have more responsibilities
for managing time. Here are two simple habits that you can encourage
your daughter to get into to help her be more successful:
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Get her into the habit of
using a calendar. Some schools give students a planner. If
not, buy a calendar she can take with her to every class. (Look
for one that will fit in her pocket or in the front of her
backpack.) Then make sure she uses it! Have her start by writing
in key dates that are coming up -- the day the research paper is
due, the day the team travels to an out-of-town game. As
teachers give assignments, she should note them on the date
they're due.
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Have her use her calendar to
plan her study time. Before she starts studying, she should
check the calendar. If there's an English paper due on Thursday,
she may want to do her algebra problems first to leave more time
to study. If she knows there's a band rehearsal Wednesday night,
she'll have to plan when to study for the Spanish test.
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 As a parent, you also have an important role to play. Here are
some ways you can continue to be involved in your daughter's
education:
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Attend orientation. You'll
have an opportunity to meet your daughter's counselor and
teachers.
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Encourage your daughter to get
involved with at least one activity. Students who are in at
least one extracurricular activity tend to have better
attendance and better grades.
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Get involved yourself.
There are many opportunities for parents to play a role in their
teen's education. You can answer the phone in the office. If
you're not available during the day, perhaps you can volunteer
to sell popcorn at a football game or help the school with their
website. Whatever you do, you'll be playing a role in your
teen's education.
Encourage your daughter to continue monitoring her schedule
throughout the school year. Time management is a skill your teen
needs for school, but it will also serve her well on the job and for
the rest of her life.
[The Parent
Institute]
For more information about helping
children learn or to submit your own question, go to
http://advisor.parent-institute.com. All questions will receive
a prompt answer by e-mail.
"Ask the Learning Advisor -- Ideas for Raising Successful
Children" is a free, syndicated column from the Parent Institute.
Copyright © 2005, The Parent
Institute.
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