Academic Tips

Parents can greatly influence how much their children value education. Here are just a few tips that can help your student improve their academic success:

1. Go to school regularly:

Going to school EVERY DAY is the first step to being a successful student. Making up missed work is difficult and students who miss classtime miss out on valuable teaching time. Help your student make attending school a priority.

2. Listen:

MAKE CLASSTIME COUNT. Students should come to class prepared, sit close to the front of the room, take notes, join in on class discussions and keep up with your reading and assignments so they have a preview of what will be covered in class each day. Remind your student that by getting the most out of classtime, they can save time outside of school for other activities.

3. Ask questions:

Being able to ask a question about class concepts either during class or after class, means that you know what you don't know! This is actually very important. Students who ask questions are also students who are engaged in the material. Classrooms are becoming more interactive and student focused. Encourage your student to ask questions during or after class about class concepts, homework assignments and tests.

4. Ask for help when you need it:

Students have resources all around them. Encourage students to be proactive to take advantage of the resources around them by asking for help when they need it. Asking for help from family, friends and teachers can save time and energy. And with internet access, students have an infinite number of resources at their fingertips. Ultimately, students need to be the authors of their own work, but asking for help when they need it is a sign of an effective student.

5. Manage your time:

Help your students manage their time. Create a time and a place for homework every night. Get ready for the next morning each evening making sure homework is ready, school supplies gathered, etc. Keep family calendars or dayplanners visible. Break down big tasks into smaller tasks and put them on the calendar. Encourage students to plan to finish bigger projects AHEAD of the deadline so in case an emergency arises, your student can still meet the actual deadline.

6. Take Classes That Count

Colleges require students to have completed and passed 16 specific courses during high school in order to enter college. See a list of these classes and draft a Four-Year Plan so you can graduate on time with the correct classes.

Studies have also shown that students who take a class through a community college before attending a four-year institution are more likely to graduate from a four-year institution with a degree. Often students can take a community college course during their senior year of high school and earn both high school and college credit.

7. Don't quit:

There are roadblocks along the way to every goal. Successful students keep trying even when things don't seem to be going right. Encourage your student to be persistent and self-motivated. Help them to remember why their goals are important and what they want to accomplish.

For more information on preparing your student for college see our College Bound Resource Page.

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