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Transitioning to High School

  • Be involved. Most high schools offer Jumpstart for incoming freshmen. Attending and learning as much as possible is a great idea. Attend an open house and find out information about the curriculum and assignments. Get registered for the parent portal of the student management system, and stay abreast of your child’s performance in each class. Contact teachers immediately when concerns arise by email or phone. Monitor your child to keep them on track and aware you are checking! Join the parent association and learn what’s going on at school. Attend events or offer to volunteer for a committee.
  • Course selection: listen to the experts. Successful course selection includes completing state or district graduation requirements and taking courses that match your ability level. Pay attention to any teacher and counselor recommendations for course levels. Teachers work with their students day in and day out and they know how that student learns, completes work, and performs on tests. Then choose courses that will stretch your child a bit, but remember to keep balance in their academic course load. We want kids to feel challenged, but not overwhelmed and drowning. We still want them to be kids!
  • Help with the balancing act between academics, athletics, and social life. We want our children to be successful students, feel connected to their school, and have friends and activities for fun, but it all has to be carefully balanced. First, school is their job and what should be a student’s priority. Class choice and grades will play a big part in determining post-secondary options. Set a time and have a quiet place with no distractions to study and do homework. Some schools no longer count homework for a grade. Homework is the practice of the skills and concepts taught during class. Whether it counts or not, insist that your child do the homework. After all, practice makes perfect.

Consider the time commitment if your child is involved in athletics, clubs, or other activities. You and your family may have to alter patterns to balance study time with the activity. Pay attention to those things up front, not when things have fallen into crisis mode.

High school has social events, spectator games, dances, and proms. There will be parties, movies, and just hanging out. Set reasonable expectations regarding how many nights you want your child out and their curfew. Be aware of who they’re with, where they’re going, and what they’re doing overall. You will be labeled “over-protective” but that’s okay. Be a parent, not a pal.

  • Seek knowledge, listen, and learn about post-secondary planning. Don’t be afraid to seek the help of experts. The ultimate goal of parents is to launch their children into a career that will sustain them and keep them from moving back home. Seriously, we all want our kids to be successful, in a career field they love, and earn enough money to be independent. There are many options for students after graduation. It’s important to be supportive of their dreams, but also realistic. Here are a few tips:
  1. Having a “road map” can help your child be realistic about plans and serves to motivate them to do well. It’s not set in stone; adjustments are expected each year as course offerings or goals change. But having that map ensures that requirements will be met, and planning is on course. It also serves as a valuable reality check as they evaluate courses, grades, and goals.
  2. Encourage your child to look for job shadowing opportunities in fields of interest. These opportunities offer students valuable connections to people in the field. Those professionals can talk about necessary coursework and training, grades needed for programs, characteristics for being successful on the job, what they like/dislike about their job, starting salary, and working conditions. Plus, it could save your child’s college education from being the most expensive career exploration program you or s/he ever paid for!
  3. Post-Secondary Planning: Learn the timelines, familiarize yourself with online programs that offer college and career searches, and attend the meetings on financial aid. Don’t wait for your child to bring that information home; you go and do your homework and get knowledgeable. Your school counselor can help you explore programs that align with your child's aspirations. They know which tests are required for entrance, and the best times to take them.
  • If you discover that your child is struggling academically, socially, emotionally, or with substance abuse or other serious issues, get help fast. With increased independence comes temptations, and there are plenty out there. It’s critical to be observant of your child and their friends. Keep track of academic progress. Notice changes in behavior. Don’t try to explain things away. Be honest. Collaborate with your school counselor; let them provide suggestions for assistance, run interference with the academic side of things, be an objective sounding board for you and your child, be the link between outside professionals and the schools. At these times, parents need someone in their corner who can think objectively and not with emotion. School counselors are not there to judge; they are there to support you through a trying time.

"Guiding Our Children through High School Transitions." Ed. Sharon Sevier. Parent Toolkit, July-Aug. 2014. Web. 26 Aug. 2016.

Organization and Schoolwork/Homework Tips

1. Use your agenda. An agenda is an indispensable tool for high school. Its pages can hold homework assignments, doctor's appointments, club meetings, sports practices, parties, and more. The agenda should be neat and organized, and give you a quick and easy way to see your schedule and assignments for the day, week, and month.

2. Write things down so you don't forget them. Now that you have your agenda, use it!

3. Get organized! Your teacher will inform you on the first day about the supplies you’ll need for class. There will be no pre-made packages or lists as in previous years. It's suggested for the first day of school, you bring the materials that you want to put in your locker. It's important to have a notebook to record what the teacher says you will need for his or her class and to jot down any notes. A binder, folder, notebook, and loose-leaf paper for each major subject is fantastic. It's also good to have a homework folder and a daily planner.

For your pencil case, include blue and black pens for writing, red pens for correcting, white-out (liquid is better), highlighters in several colors, number two pencils, lead pencils (with number nine lead), extra lead, erasers, and colored pencils. Each of these items has a specific purpose.

4. Have a place to put papers for each class. Don't just stuff them in your textbook or backpack. You need to keep track of things to verify grades with teachers and ace those upcoming quizzes and tests. Options include, but are not limited to:

  • A plastic file organizer: This accordion-style plastic file holder expands to reveal multiple pockets, each equipped with tabs for easy organization of your papers. These organizers are lightweight and compact, and by putting the name of each of your classes on each tab, they keep papers for every class separate while still allowing you to keep them all in one place. That way, if you remember you had a worksheet for homework or are in a class and have time to kill, you won't realize that the papers you need are buried in a separate folder for that class in your locker.
  • Separate folders or binders for each class: This option allows the most storage space, but may be a hassle. Get a different, distinct design or color for each folder, and label them clearly. Avoid stuffing papers into the pockets of a binder; instead, carry around a simple three-hole puncher.
  • Notebook pockets: This is a good system for classes that have handouts. If you have a spiral-bound notebook you can keep papers in the pockets. Having one extra folder for everything is a good idea because you may outgrow the pockets.

5. Get a separate notebook for each class. It may seem like a good idea to have one five-subject notebook for all your classes because there's less to forget, but honestly, do you want to bring three classes worth of notes and homework home if you only need the things from one? And, do you want to have to tell your teacher you lost your homework when you've misplaced it in your gigantic notebook? No! It's the best option to have a separate notebook for each class. If you don't want separate notebooks, at least get two or three subject ones.

  • Color code your school materials for each class. It is important to keep everything for the subject together.
  • Write your name, teacher, and subject on each notebook. Use duct tape and a permanent marker for this. To make it appear cooler, you can add pictures, doodles, and stickers (as long as it doesn't get too messy).

6. Get your locker and backpack/tote in good shape. It's impossible to be organized if your locker is jammed with loose handouts, old folders, and broken pencils or if your backpack is filled with gum wrappers and scraps of paper. Clear everything out! Throw out all the stuff that's garbage, and then sort through the rest.

  • Look for a roomy book bag where you can keep everything organized!

7. Establish a home study area. Nobody wants to spend longer than required on homework, but without realizing it you'll take longer just looking for materials. Find a place in your home where you're comfortable and have no distractions. Getting a desk and putting it in your room is a good idea, as long as you feel you won't be distracted by its contents. You could also get a lap desk and do your work on your bed--make sure you don't fall asleep! Make sure there are shelves and drawers for all necessary school supplies. Keep it clean and neat so it's an inviting workspace or a little messy if that gets the creative juices flowing for you.

  • Load this quiet space with a separate pencil case, calendar, computer, writing space, and bookshelf for homework.
  • Have some snacks at this desk because you may get hungry. There should be no distractions and everything you need should be close.

8. Develop good habits. Establish routines to maintain your set-up systems. Set a time to do your homework and put it back in your backpack when done. Put everything you need for the next day in your backpack the night before, and set out your clothing and any extras and things you'll need. Consult your planner often, and check on, maintain, and, if needed, alter your organization system. Organized people are constantly tweaking their systems to adapt to new situations, and you should do the same. Be on time to class, make sure you do not fall asleep, and take the time to put the correct books in your bag.

9. Eat before you start any homework or assessment. This way you will have energy to keep you going. Bring a snack to school if you are late and can't get breakfast. Be efficient and punctual, and try not to waste time and then pay for it later. With a little practice, you'll be good to go!

10. Get a good night's sleep every night. Trying to take a test in the morning when you only had five hours of sleep is not a good idea. Eating breakfast in the morning is a good idea too. If you're not a breakfast fan, take a small snack in your backpack and eat before class. Studies have shown that students who eat breakfast get better grades than students who don't.

Tips

  • Take a five to ten-minute break every hour to clear your head and avoid becoming stressed. If you are getting a headache get a glass of water and take a break.
  • Use a zippered pouch or pencil case to keep track of your smaller school supplies: calculator, writing utensils, eraser, lead, highlighters, etc. This should be organized too! It is important to keep things clean so you can find everything easily.
  • If your folder/binder is getting full, buy an accordion folder and place all your old papers inside. It's best to do this since your final exam is most likely cumulative.
  • File away all your old papers, assignments, essays, you name it. Never throw any notebooks away as you may need to refer to them in the future. Store them in a box or a filing cabinet that is easy to access.
  • If something you have, like a folder or notebook, is falling apart or too overloaded, purge it first. Then see if you need to invest in something new or use duct tape.
  • Use whatever works for you. Everyone is different and what works for someone else may not work for you. However, change can be good, so try something new and you might be surprised at how well it works. Likewise, if something isn't working, don't scrap it right then and there. Tweak the system and adapt it to your lifestyle.
  • Follow what your teachers recommend. As you know, classes are different and a teacher will know their class the best. While you might not want a binder in each class if the teacher tells you to get one... remember that it's for a good reason!
  • Have two large pockets and three small pockets in your backpack. The biggest pocket is for your books. The second is for your lunch box, the other pockets can be used for lollipops, your phone, iPod, headphones, etc.
  • Carry around an umbrella if it might rain that day.
  • Although reinforced loose-leaf paper is more expensive, it is often well worth it when paper starts to rip.

"Guiding Our Children through High School Transitions." Ed. Sharon Sevier. Parent Toolkit, July-Aug. 2014. Web. 26 Aug. 2016.