Parenting My Teen

Although summer vacation is only three months long for most teens it doesn’t take very long for them to forget about homework.  It’s easy to forget the amount of time necessary each evening to get homework completed, especially if it’s a tough subject.

In order to get teens ready for the back to school homework schedule try some of the following:

• Review Their Classes – While most parents are aware of the electives their teens have chosen they may not be aware of the required classes for each grade level.  It’s important to get an idea of what classes will be taken and, if possible, compare the grades they received in comparable classes the year before.  This will let both the parent and the teen know if there should be extra time set aside for studying in specific classes.
• Consider Tutoring – If there is a specific class that a teen has problems with it’s a good idea to consider hiring a tutor or asking the school if they have a tutor that can help with certain subjects.  Not only with this help the teen be less stressed it will also help to make sure that the student gets a good background and grade in the subject for future use and college.
• Determine the Best Way to Study – Some teens can handle watching TV or listening to music while studying and others do better with no outside stimulation.  Most parents know how their teen studies best and it’s important to set up an area specifically for studying if their teen needs no distractions.  It is also a good idea, if the student feels that they can study while having other things go on, that the student starts out with no distractions until a baseline grade can be determined and then open study time up to experimentation.
• Choose the Right Level – While some teens are over-achievers others can be under-achievers.  It’s important to determine which level the student is ready for in certain subjects and to make sure they are taking that specific course.  Some students want to skip a class in order to get to a higher level sooner but if they do not have the basics down they will need to take all the levels of each subject.  Other students are concerned that they may not be able to handle a certain subject and may start at a lower level than is really necessary.  It’s a balancing act between making sure the teen doesn’t overdo it while making sure that they don’t second guess their abilities.

Many times a talk with the school counselor either at the end of a school year or before a new school starts can answer any questions a parent or teen may have about their ability to perform in certain subjects.  If a student starts a class and realizes that they are not at the right level it is usually quite easy to change to the correct level within the first few weeks of school.

In this report, you will find all the information you need to help your teen succeed in High School.