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GET READY FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER
by Dr. Raymond J. Huntington
Remember that “go get ‘em” attitude you and your child had at the
beginning of the school year? That certainty that setting aside
“homework time,” limiting TV and recreational Web surfing and
staying in close contact with teachers would lead to top grades all
year long? If these seem like distant memories now that the year is
half over, you’re not alone. Easing up on the rules is a lot more
common than you think. It’s also a bit dangerous, since the
mid-point of the school year can be a “make or break” time for
addressing any problems that have held your son or daughter back.
Taking a close look at the following indicators will help you
determine if your child’s current studying habits and overall
approach to school work are making the grade:
Indicator #1: Grades and teacher conferences
Begin by taking a look at your child’s overall grades during the
first half of the year. If you believe your child could have done
better, talk directly with teachers to determine any issues that are
impacting his or her progress. It’s also important to tell the
teacher about any issues that may affect your child’s academic
success. Family tension, financial concerns, health issues or
marital problems directly impact a child’s ability to concentrate in
school. Creating a partnership between school and home is a
responsibility that both parents and teachers share.
Indicator #2: Standardized test results
In recent years, parents and students have paid the most attention
to statewide tests given during the spring because many schools use
results of these tests to determine which students will graduate or
move on to the next grade. But most schools also give a test at the
beginning of the year to determine which skills and knowledge
students are lacking so that teachers can tailor their instruction
to students’ needs. One of the best ways to prepare for the upcoming
tests is to look back at the results of the test that your child
took in the fall. If your child scored poorly in reading or
mathematics, for example, you should pay particular attention to
these areas in the semester to come.
January/A Fresh Start
Page 2
Indicator #3: Homework
While some students tend to complete homework successfully all year,
many may have fallen out of the “homework habit” as the December
holidays approached. After a long break, January is a good time to
ramp up for the coming months by re-establishing important routines,
such as setting time aside for homework each afternoon or evening
and maintaining a specific area of your house or apartment
specifically for homework.
Indicator #4: The Work/Life Balance
While sports, clubs and other school-related leisure activities can
make the educational experience much more well-rounded and
rewarding, they should never become more important than academic
progress. It’s therefore important to find the right balance between
leisure and learning time. Take a look at your child’s academic
success during the first half of the year and weigh it against all
of the extracurricular activities that filled his or her schedule.
Were there enough hours in a typical day last semester to keep up
with schoolwork while enjoying every activity? Working
collaboratively, parents and students should prioritize activities
that are most important, and create a schedule that strikes the
right balance.
You should also let your child know that you’re a watchdog for both
problems and progress. Which means that the mid-year check-up should
also be an opportunity to acknowledge the special skills and
qualities that are unique to your child. Reading, writing, reasoning
and computational abilities are qualities that will speed progress
in the race to achieve. Being a good listener, feeling concern for
others and finding special hobbies and interests are qualities that
will enhance your child’s self-esteem and happiness. Recognizing and
nurturing all of these qualities will give your child solid footing
for the semester to come.
# # #
Dr. Raymond J. Huntington is co-founder of Huntington Learning
Center, which has helped children achieve success in school for 26
years. For more information about how Huntington can help your
child, call 1 800 CAN LEARN.
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