Webster County High School

Right now is the right time to prepare for college No matter what grade your teen is in, you can help with preparations for admission to college. Discuss careers and the education they require with a middle schooler. Encourage a freshman to get involved in clubs, volunteer work or sports. Help a sophomore research colleges online. Urge a junior to prepare for and take college entrance exams if needed for schools of interest. Make sure a senior knows every application and financial aid deadline. Check in with your teen's counselor each year to be sure your teen is taking the classes needed for graduation and college admittance. https://tpitip.com/?32fL18889

Stop arguing when your decision is final Now that your child is a teen, you may be able to compromise on many things, such as curfews and clothing that you couldn't in earlier years. But other things, such as those that affect safety, are still non-negotiable. When these cases come up, don't argue with your teen. Simply state your answer, give your reasons and then say the subject is closed. If your teen argues, acknowledge that you disagree, but make it clear that you won't change your mind. https://tpitip.com/?32fK18889

Use upbeat music to wake your teen up It's your teen's responsibility to get ready in time for school or other commitments every day. So make it clear that you won't be providing a wakeup call. Instead, let a favorite band help. Suggest waking up to a fast-paced song that will help energize your teen's body and mind. Limit morning background noise to music, though. Streaming videos and TV will distract your teen. https://tpitip.com/?32fJ18889

Volunteering is valuable experience Volunteer activities can give your teen opportunities to show independence, take risks and shine, all while building a résumé. Informal activities, such as looking after a neighbor's child, are the easiest to find and may inspire your teen's desire to get more involved. More formal activities, such as a regular volunteer job, build responsibility and can help your teen explore a career field. https://tpitip.com/?32fI18889

Mix enterprise and exercise to get your teen moving Has your teen become a couch potato? Wouldn't exercise unless paid to? Well, maybe somebody WILL pay. Many odd jobs involve physical activity. Could your teen clean out a neighbor's garage? Or find jobs doing yardwork, like mowing lawns, planting shrubs or trimming bushes? Your teen might even work up a sweat babysitting an active child. https://tpitip.com/?32fG18889

Help your teen establish a list-making habit The emotional and physical changes that happen during the teen years can make many kids forgetful and disorganized. This is usually a temporary phase. But if your teen's memory needs a boost, encourage the habit of writing down lists. Suggest that your student make lists of favorite songs, restaurants, books, etc. Then your teen can carry the habit over to school and make lists of tasks and assignments. https://tpitip.com/?32fF18889

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Study groups work when they take studying seriously You may not believe it if your teen says a group is meeting at a friend's house to "study." But studying with others can help teens master material and practice collaboration. The key is to form a group in which members really study. For the best results, your teen should choose four to six people who want to do well in school. They should divide the work in ways that play to members' strengths, and then be sure to stick to a schedule so they stay on track. https://tpitip.com/?32eS18889

Your teen benefits when you stay involved Need a reason to stay involved in your teen's education? How about three reasons? Teens with involved parents: 1. Have more positive attitudes about school and learning. 2. Are better readers. 3. Finish their assignments on time more often. To boost academic achievement, encourage your teen to set learning goals, and talk often about school and how class topics relate to life outside the classroom. https://tpitip.com/?32eR18889

Listening works better than lectures You've lectured until you're blue in the face, but your teen keeps doing things you've said not to do. That's probably because lecturing often makes teens defensive, angry and defiant. What works? Working on a problem together. To encourage cooperation, say, "I'd really like to hear what's going on with you so we can talk about it." Teens are more likely to react positively if they feel their parents are listening to them. https://tpitip.com/?32eQ18889

Get to the bottom of a poor grade If you discover that your teen's grade in a class is low, or even failing, ask some questions before you react. Did your teen complete and turn in the assignments? Was the class too challenging? Is your student in an honors class when a regular class would be a better fit? Does the teacher think your teen is capable of doing the work? Then, discuss possible next steps. Could your teen repeat the course over the summer or next year? https://tpitip.com/?32eP18889

Encourage your teen to preview and summarize science reading Reading a science text is not the same as reading the sports pages. Encourage your teen to preview the headings, subheadings, summaries and review questions before starting to read. What can the pictures or diagrams tell your student about the text? Then, when reading, suggest that your teen stop after each section and try to explain it before moving on. https://tpitip.com/?32eO18889

Help your teen sharpen essay writing skills Whether students are writing in class or taking a writing test, they need to know how to write a clear essay in a limited amount of time. Share these tips with your teen: Spend a few minutes planning a basic outline. Choose examples you know well. Don't worry about being perfect; just do the best you can. And remember author Dorothy Parker's advice for writing better: "Read, read, read and write, write, write." https://tpitip.com/?32eN18889

A year-end review helps your teen plan for what's ahead As the school year draws to a close, talk about it with your teen. Did your student reach personal learning goals for the year? Did grades reflect what your teen learned? What was your teen's favorite (or least favorite) class, and why? This review gives you and your teen a basis for setting goals for next year. Ask your teen to write a list of new learning goals. Then work together to plan the steps your teen will take to reach them. https://tpitip.com/?32eM18889

To make a point with your teen, keep it current Does your teen tune you out when you talk about the future? Many teens find it hard to relate to a time that seems far off. You may be trying to explain that if your 10th grader doesn't develop better study habits, college will be tough. But to your teen, college seems a million years away. Instead, try linking study habits to a current event, like the math test your teen needs to do well on in order to keep taking driving lessons. https://tpitip.com/?32eL18889

Help your teen create a feel-good reminder Teens can be especially hard on themselves. They may think they are awkward, stupid or just plain ugly. Social media can make these feelings worse. To counter these negative feelings, have your teen create a special bulletin board at home. It's a place to post things that make your teen feel happy or proud: notes from friends, well-done schoolwork, a ticket stub from a school play your teen had a role in. The board is a reminder that when it comes to self-image, the only "likes" that matter are your teen's. https://tpitip.com/?32eK18889