As the parent your role on your teen’s school success team is critical. Don’t make the mistake several parents do and decrease your involvement when your child starts middle school. More now than ever – they need you! Both middle and high school present a new set of challenges for a student and your participation is the key to their success.
Here is how:
1. Meet the teachers and staff.
Get to know the people who make up the rest of your child’s school success team. Make it a point to introduce yourself to the teachers and staff that will be interacting with your child on daily basis. Let them know you are an involved parent who is willing to do your piece to ensure your student is successful. Keep the lines of communication open with emails, texts, and phone calls. Update the staff on any changes your child may be experiencing from illness to academic struggles.
2. Teach time management skills.
Don’t assume your child has these skills; most do not! Help them with both short and long term planning. Together review their agenda each evening and stay on top of their projects and assignments by being aware of their progress. By having your child articulate to you their ‘plan of attack’ you are helping them to manage their time. Encourage extracurricular activities and limit the use of TV, video games, and computers.
3. Engage in regular discussions about the future.
Help your teen to identify their strengths and areas of interests. Take the time to avail yourself of the fabulous tools that are available to help students determine what they like and excel at. Talk about college and where they might want to go, visit the campuses, talk to the students and faculty to get a real feel for the college. Teach your teens to set goals and objectives.
4. Have high expectations.
When parents have high academic expectations their student performs better. By placing a high value on education you are setting the stage for academic success. Be their coach and greatest fan! Motivate them to be their best and always give 100% in all that they do. Lead by example and talk about your work and how you apply these principles daily.
5. Encourage reading for pleasure.
Students need to read to learn, and parents can encourage pleasure reading at home to hone their reading skills. Introducing your student to speed reading is another incredible gift to give your adolescent. When they can easily comprehend at a rapid pace, learning becomes efficient and effective. Enrolling them in a great study skills course is also another incredible gift that can equip your child for success now and through college.
What are you waiting for? Start now!
