Webster County High School

Preparation helps teens cope with math anxiety Some students get so anxious about math that their feelings of inadequacy become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Their performance suffers. Remind your teen that the secret to math success is practice and effort. Encourage him to study math every day, make a note of anything that is confusing and follow up with the teacher. Daily review reinforces learning and helps teens see how much they do know. https://tpitip.com/?31jO18889

Get to the heart of homework problems If your student never seems to do homework, the situation calls for problem-solving. Instead of criticizing, ask questions: Is he afraid of missing the bus if he takes time to gather the materials he needs? Are his books too heavy for his long walk home? Does he routinely check the online notices for the class? Once you and your teen have identified the issue, you can discuss ways to solve it. https://tpitip.com/?31jM18889

Share strategies for success on tests right from the start Before your teen starts to answer test questions, she should do a few things that can make a difference to her score. Teach your teen to write down key information she's studied, like formulas or dates, at the top so she'll have them to refer to when answering questions. Then she should read the instructions carefully and figure out how much time she has for each question. Now she's ready to do her best. https://tpitip.com/?31jL18889

Missing school changes lives … and not in a good way Sooner or later, every teen will stumble out of bed and whine, "Do I have to do school today?" Your answer can be short and simple: "Yes." Students who often miss school earn lower grades than those who attend regularly. They may not learn the foundation skills needed to understand the next unit's material. What's more, they don't develop the responsible habits that will make them successful in life. https://tpitip.com/?31jK18889

Share tips for creating a study group that really works Study groups can help teens strengthen and enhance learning. When forming a study group, your teen should choose members he knows and likes, but who aren't such good friends that socializing overpowers learning. Group members should write down goals and create a plan for meeting them. Taking turns leading the group encourages all members to share the responsibility for its success. https://tpitip.com/?31jH18889

Discuss ways your teen can contribute to school safety Students can do a lot to help make school a safe place. Talk to your teen about actions she could take. For example, she could train to be a peer counselor and help others settle disputes. Encourage her to make new students feel welcome and part of the school. And if your teen is aware that someone has made threats or has a weapon on school property, she should report it immediately. https://tpitip.com/?31jG18889

Academic fitness helps your teen compete in life Schools across the nation are working to help students become "academically fit" so they can succeed in an increasingly competitive world. To help at home, set high (but still realistic) expectations for your teen's achievement. Encourage daily reading and frequent writing. Then, find out what he is learning in core subjects like math, science, history and English, and help him relate the material to what's going on in the world or in your lives. https://tpitip.com/?31jF18889

Bust the myths that prevent math success Does your teen believe that "You're either born a math person or you're not"? This is a common math myth. Give your teen the facts: Great teaching and hard work are what make someone a math person. Here's another myth to bust: "Math takes too much memorization and repetition." The truth is that math is about learning patterns. Once a student is familiar with them, the problems make sense and the math starts to be fun. https://tpitip.com/?31jD18889

Stop a tobacco habit before it starts According to one survey, teens are most likely to begin smoking between the ages of 13 and 15. And the fact is that people who start smoking as teens also have a harder time quitting. Discuss the dangers of tobacco use in all its forms (including vaping) with your teen, and remind her that once she begins she may not be able to stop. Don't wait until your teen gets older before discouraging tobacco use. By then, it may be too late. https://tpitip.com/?31id18889

Help your teen make smart choices when dealing with peer pressure Peer pressure can be both positive and negative. But all peer pressure requires kids to make a decision: "Should I do what others want me to do?" Discuss peer pressure with your teen. Ask, "How would you feel if you gave in?" Role-play ways to handle peer-pressure situations, such as by using humor. And stick to your rules and values. Your teen may test them, but you'll reinforce your message if you say "That is not OK." https://tpitip.com/?31ic18889

Share tips for finding friends Teens sometimes think they'd have more friends if they were in the popular crowd. But to make friends, all they need to do is look for other kids who are seeking friendships, too. Encourage your teen to look for signs of openness, such as making room for someone to sit down. Then she can show interest by asking questions. "I always see you with that case. What instrument do you play?" Remind your teen that new friendships take time to grow. https://tpitip.com/?31ib18889

Make sure your working teen has time for schoolwork Many high school students will be looking for part-time jobs during this school year. Jobs can have great benefits for teens, but they shouldn't interfere with students' school performance. Remember that school accounts for at least 30 hours each week (and an activity can add 10 more). Limit your teen's employment hours to 10 per week, and watch his grades. If they drop, he should cut back on work hours. School is your teen's main job. https://tpitip.com/?31ia18889

School counselors are helping teens move forward Many people mistakenly assume that school counselors are there only to help students get into college. But they do much more, including helping students and families cope with the pandemic's effects. Counselors can help students set goals, solve problems, handle conflicts and monitor progress. They can guide students' course selection to maximize future options and help find resources for extra help. Counselors will make time to meet with students and parents who ask. https://tpitip.com/?31iX18889

Reinforce your teen's sense of self-respect Many teens deny their own talents and adapt their personalities to fit in. Encourage your teen to ask, "Who am I and what do I want?" instead of always asking "What must I do to make these people like me?" Help your student identify and pursue personal strengths, talents and interests. At home, model the respect and equality you want your teen to feel in the outside world. https://tpitip.com/?31iW18889

Limits provide structure that lets your teen grow Your teen may be telling you that he is old enough to do what he wants. But teens are too young to make all their own decisions. They need limits to stay out of trouble and learn responsibility. Limits also show teens that their parents care about them. Once you and your teen establish rules and consequences, change them only when you both agree he has proved he can handle more responsibility. https://tpitip.com/?31iV18889

Quick phone look-ups don't lead to long-term learning Research shows that when students look up answers to schoolwork questions on their phones, they often don't remember them long term—and they score lower on tests of the material later. Encourage your teen to find the answer for herself—by solving the problem, checking her notes or looking in a textbook. After she's got it, she can use her phone to double-check. https://tpitip.com/?31iU18889

Sharpen your teen's focus with three goals a day Here's a simple exercise that can help your teen focus on fundamentals: Each morning, ask him to spend a few minutes setting up three goals for the day. What is the most important thing he can do today for School? For Self? For Someone else? Focusing on these three S's helps teens get in the habit of thinking about what they can and should do, rather than on worries and concerns they can't do anything about. https://tpitip.com/?31iT18889

The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible families and households who are struggling to stay connected during the #COVID19 pandemic. Eligible households can also receive a discount of up to $100 for the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. For more info, please visit: fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit. #DigitalDivide #BroadbandForAll

Webster County Schools will be dismissing 1 hour early today, Wednesday, September 1, 2021 due to weather conditions.

Welcome back students and staff! We hope you have the best year yet.