Friday, September 13, 2013

9th Grade Parents: Keep your child motivated!


The beginning of high school is an exciting time. Your child may be adjusting to a new school, making new friends and becoming more independent. But your child still needs your help and involvement. Here are some things you can do together to succeed this year.
Summer Before High School
  • Visit a college campus together. It’s a great way to get your child excited about college. Learn more about how you and your child can prepare for a campus visit.
  • Get the facts about what college costs. You may be surprised at how affordable higher education can be. Attend one of SBISD's Parent U events.  These learning opportunities are a great way to find out how to help your child plan for and achieve their dream of college.
  • Show your child how to explore career ideas. He or she can make a list of interests, talents and favorite activities and start matching them with occupations.
  • Read!  Come up with fun reading ideas. Look for magazines or newspapers your child may like and talk about the books you loved reading when you were your child’s age. If your family makes reading enjoyable, it can become a daily habit.
Fall
  • Make sure your child meets with the school counselor. Your child should schedule a meeting to talk about college and career options and to choose the most-appropriate classes.
  • Help your child set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your child stay motivated and focused.
  • Make a plan to check in regularly about schoolwork. If you keep up with your child's tests, papers and homework assignments, you can celebrate successes and head off problems as a team. Ask your child about NAVIANCE/Family Connection. Engage in the work your child is doing as part of their regular course work.
  • Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify interests and feel more engaged in school.
Winter
  • Start thinking about financial aid. It’s not too early to look into types of aid that could help you cover college costs.
  • Discuss next year’s classes. Make sure your child is challenging him- or herself — and taking the courses college admission officers expect to see. Not sure what classes they should take?  Do a little homework of your own and investigate colleges your child is interested in, and the admission requirements for that school.
Spring
  • Help your child start a college list. Visit College Search Step-by-Step together to get tips on starting a college search and figuring out what matters most to your child when choosing a college.
  • See how much you need to save for college. Use the College Savings Calculator to get an idea of where you are compared with your savings goal.
  • Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Find out ways your child can stay motivated this summer.
 

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