Freshmen sometimes struggle to transition to high school.
“Some kids come here and they know a lot of kids, and some other kids come here and they don’t know anybody,” says Kevin Marcoux, director of school counseling at Killingly High School in Connecticut, where freshmen come from about 10 different middle schools.
Some freshmen are taken aback by some academic requirements and shifts in priorities high school requires, says Natalie Husen, a school counselor at Graham High School in Texas.
It can be a shock for freshmen to realize that because of state attendance laws, they could lose credits for classes they are getting good grades in if they are not going to class, she says.
Midway through the school year, parents can use the following strategies to help their freshmen get on track — academically and socially.
1. Understand high school culture: It’s important for parents to be aware of grading procedures and the resources available in each school, like tutoring, so families can understand how that might fit within their schedules, says Erinn Murphy, a school counselor at Carbondale Community High School in Illinois.
Many parents don’t understand the shift in academic rigor in high school, says Husen.
“Some parents will come to me and they feel like an 88 is a bad grade, and we have to explain to them that we are making a big academic leap when you move to the high school curriculum,” she says. “Focus on what they are learning, not that grade percentage.”
[Lay the groundwork for college from freshman year of high school.]
2. Make sure freshmen aren’t overloaded: Murphy sees a lot students struggle to balance wellness with the new academic pressures high school can bring. Students should make sure they are getting enough sleep, managing their time and treating themselves well, she says.
Parents should check in with their student — even if their teen doesn’t want them to — to see how they are doing, she says. But parents should let teens take the reins on their progress at school.
Parents may need to help some students advocate and wind back their schedule if they are struggling, she says. “Do they need to be in three or four honors classes? Or would two be OK?”
3. Work with freshmen on their communication and organization skills: Parents can help teens develop the communication skills they need to advocate for themselves — something freshmen may struggle with — by role-playing, Husen says.
Parents could take on the role of the teacher and ask their student to tell them who they are and what they are trying to say. Then, the parents and student can work together to figure out a better way to communicate the information, she says.
Freshmen also often have trouble with organization, says Marcoux, the Connecticut counselor. Informing teens of strategies to keep track of assignments, like a calendar, can help, he says.
4. Help freshmen get involved with people and programs that interest them: Students who lack motivation or direction in school may benefit from finding courses that interest them, says Marcoux.
His school offers several different pathways students can pursue, like early childhood education. Once students find a pathway they are interested in, their mindset changes and they are more excited at school, he says.
Parents should ask students about what their interests are and help them find — perhaps with the help of a school counselor — likeminded people and activities for them to take part in if they are struggling to make friends, says Murphy.
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Parents of teens who are struggling socially shouldn’t be afraid to contact school officials who may be able to help, says Marcoux.
Murphy says parents should try to take a breathe and realize that this is their child’s journey through high school.
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4 Ways for High School Freshmen to Get on Track in the New Year originally appeared on usnews.com
