Parent Support
Despite the eye-rolling and often-demonstrated (and totally natural) push for independence, middle and high school teens desperately need their parents. Who better can provide the guidance, direction, care, love and sacrifice to guide them to adulthood? The benefits of parent involvement at every phase of child development are well documented. Yet, a National Middle School Association study confirms that parental involvement too often declines during the crucial middle and high school years.
How can Parents Promote Student Success?
Parents play a key role in ensuring that their child or adolescent achieves school success. When parents, students, and staff work together, the student will obtain his/her academic goals. Some of the actions that parents can take to promote school success are:
- communicate with school staff to be aware of homework assignments
- review your child’s homework
- encourage your child to seek friends who will be helpful to them
- try to do something enjoyable with your child at least once a week
- set clear expectations for students about homework; have a set place and time for homework
- get acquainted with your child’s teacher(s)
- monitor where your child goes/this will encourage them to stay out of trouble
- communicate with school staff first when there is a concern with the school
- attend school functions such as conferences, programs, and athletic events
- encourage students to participate in school-related after-school activities
- consistently enforce household rules
- set aside a time when the whole family reads
- encourage students to talk about school, social activities, and their interests
- teach standards of right and wrong and demonstrate these standards
- provide a quiet place where your child can study (preferably a quiet room)
- support school discipline policies
- talk to your child about tobacco, drugs, alcohol, gangs, and violence
- monitor your child’s choices of TV programs, video games and music
- Teen Cell Phone Contract: This can help set expectations and boundaries with your child about their cell phone use.
- Parents Help Stop Bullying: Ideas for parents on what they can do about bullying
- Relational Aggression: Learn about this common form of aggression and what you can do to help.
- Prevent Drugs and Substance Abuse
- ISTEP+ Parent Network: Not only can you view test scores, but will be able to access resources to help your child with state testing.
