Transitioning the Class of 2013-2014 to Success

As high schools across our nation prepare for the class of 2013-2014 to enter their doors, there must be several components in place in order to ensure a smooth and efficient beginning. Listed below are a few of the recommendations that will enhance the school climate and make the students feel like they are a part of the school's traditions. They include:

1. The culture should be inviting to all grade levels. Not only should the students and staff be a part of the culture, the community must be an active stakeholder. First impressions DO make a a difference in how the community will view the school and in return how it will help make the school a success through resources and volunteers.

2. Freshman should be made welcome well before the beginning of the school year. Invite them to participate in sports, activities and other events so that they will immediately feel as though they are a part of their future school family.

3. Create postcards that are written by the current students and then mailed to the future class of 2013-2014. It explains details about the open house which will take place in September.

4. The school's goals need to reflect a commitment to excellence. Research shows that the most vital time to prevent dropouts is during their freshman year.

5. Have a monitoring system in place so that interventions can be done on a regular basis. Waiting too late will often result in missed opportunities. Keep a close eye on those students that have failed English, and / or Math and also have an attendance issue. These students will most likely be the first to become a dropout.

6. Have an administrator take time to meet with every freshman during the year. The small amount of time that it takes to meet with each student can pay off should there be a difficult circumstance that has to be addressed.

7. Reward good behavior prior to the beginning of the year. Students that are praised for great effort often tend to continue this behavior with reminders that hard work pays off.

8. Make the effort to know the parents before students enter the halls. All too often parents think that since their children are in high school, they don't have to spend as much time as before but on the contrary, this is the most critical time to hear their dreams and create a plan that will map out their high school experience and beyond.

9. Create an Individualized Academic Plan (IAP) that will be monitored and adjusted throughout their high school years. Remember what gets measured gets done and this simple plan is the roadmap to success. Without one, the chances of students falling through the cracks will significantly increase.

10. Find a positive role model. As we all know, one bad decision could lead to a lifetime of regret but having a mentor to discuss issues could thwart off potential problems before they arise.

These simple steps will pay off huge with some planning and adjustments.

Dr. Aaron L. Smith

Preparing Your Child For Academic Success

Parents, you are your child's first teacher. You know what can create a successful or disastrous day for your child. Be confident that you can offer valuable information to the school staff about meeting your child's needs. In order to sufficiently do so, you must know your child's (IEP) Individual Education Plan. Be sure to understand the details, specifically in the areas of: goals and objectives, placement, and supportive aids (classroom modifications and testing accommodations).

3 Keys to Success

Be Proactive

The person who initiates communication can set the tone for the relationship. Waiting until you receive that phone call or letter from school before making a formal introduction creates a reaction versus a proactive purposeful intent. Educators are there to support your child's educational experiences. See them as a friend or colleague. Remember that as with any other relationship, the more you are supportive, the better the relationship works.

Be Present

In order to truly know what is working or not working at your child's school or in the class, you must be present. Schools and teachers appreciate volunteers. Begin with your child's class. You may start by reviewing your child's homework, send in an extra set of supplies for the class, and make preliminary phone calls to set up a field trip, or gather materials for centers or projects. Those tasks may seem simple but really can support a teacher especially if he/she does not have a class assistant.

Some teachers are apprehensive about class volunteers, when they are secretly there as class spies. Being present is about building a rapport and trust with the teacher, so be mindful that your actions and words should be ones that uplift and support the relationship you desire for the sake of your child.

Be Persistent

Do not be dismayed by a teacher who refuses your support or presence. Begin by making small gestures of a weekly phone call or email. Sometimes teachers are overwhelmed and thinking about how you may help her possibly just gives her one more thing to do. Instead of waiting for her to give you a task, be observant. Notice things that may be needed in the class when you drop off or pick up your child. Look at projects details or newsletters to identify ways you could contribute with those activities.

3 Tier Approach

Home

Use a schedule for routines, a calendar that would include school and out of school activities, have a full set of extra school supplies that remain at home for homework or projects, a library card (to access books and computer use), set regular bed times and routines, review the cafeteria menu - particularly if there are known allergies.

Having extra supplies at home, with a structured place for homework is critical to school success. Creating a consistent routine that includes reading something each night with a follow up discussion and completing homework assignments allows for additional practice and integration of class instruction. Take notice if your child consistently struggles with homework assignments. Let your child's teacher know how frequently the struggles occur and be specific about where the gaps appear to be happening.

School

When possible, schedule the most difficult classes before lunch. Schedule an appointment to meet all teachers between 1st-3rd weeks of the new school year. An introduction letter can substitute if necessary. If a teacher gives out contact information, use it with consideration and when needed to maintain a supportive home-school relationship. Keep a copy of the syllabus and long term project to prepare in advance. Ask about projects for the semester during your initial communication.

The school staff needs to be sufficiently equipped to meet your child's needs. If there are special needs and specialized equipment that is necessary, be sure the school has what is required. Competent staff is compulsory for your child to make adequate progress. If you are concerned about the level of instruction or the class environment, do not wait with the belief that things will be resolved without your involvement. Begin by addressing your concerns with the teacher, and proceed up the line of command until you feel that your concerns are being addressed. If necessary be a HIGH MAINTENANCE parent, but do it with a smile if possible.

Supportive aids

These are simply specialized resources specific to meet your child's needs. They may be as small as a paper clip to place mark a text book page or it may be a personal laptop computer to complete class work and homework assignments. Below is a starting list of items to consider for your child.

Organizational binder to keep all folders and assignments in a central location (Trapper Keeper), audio text books or other lengthy reading assignments, an agenda (personal calendar/appointment book), graphic/visual organizers, tape/CD recorders for class lectures or to dictate long writing tasks, computer software to support reading and writing challenges, highlighting tape to illuminate key facts and information in a book or worksheet, additional textbooks at home or ones that can be marked in to assist with studying.

Prepare your child for school success

Parents, are your child's first teacher. You know what day to create a successful or disastrous for the child. Be assured that offer valuable information to school staff on the needs of the child. To do so, you need to know that your child (IEP), the individual educational plan. Make sure you understand the details, especially in the areas of: systems of objectives, placement and support (the changes in classroom and testingHolidays).

3 keys to success

Be proactive

The person who initiates the communication, you can set the tone for the relationship. Wait until you have the school call, or letter before a formal introduction creates a reaction against a pro active targeted purpose. Educators are there to support the educational experience of the child. See him as a friend or colleague. Remember that, as with any other relationship, it is more favorable, the betterthe employment relationship.

Be present

To really know what works or does not work your child's school or class, you must be present. Schools and teachers appreciate volunteers. Start with your child's class. You can start by checking homework your child's supplies in an extra set for the class to send, and make the first phone call, or a trip to collect materials for the centers and projects. These activities seem simple, but actually can help a teacherespecially if he / she has a wizard-class.

Some teachers are afraid to volunteer class as a class when there secretly spies. The presence must be to build a trusting relationship with the teacher, so aware that your words and deeds, those who elevate and promote the relationship, there is lust for the good of the child.

Be persistent

Be inspired by a teacher who refuses to be dismayed your support or presence. Start with small gestures of acall or e-mail weekly. Sometimes teachers are overwhelmed and think about how it might be useful only gives her to do something else. Instead of waiting to give you a task to be aware of. Note that things are required in class when you get off or take the child. The newsletter features projects or roads that may help identify those activities.

The approach level 3

Home

Use a timetable for the procedure, a timetable that would alsoSchool and activities outside of school have a range of additional educational materials that remain at home for homework or projects, a library card (for access to books and computer use), set bedtimes and regular routine reviewing the canteen menu - especially if there are known allergies.

For additional supplies at home, with a structured space for homework is essential for success in school. Create a consistent routine that includes reading something every night with a follow-up and discussion Homework completion of additional practice and allows the integration of classroom instruction. Note that if your child struggles with homework in a consistent manner. Let the teacher know how often the fighting and specific about where the gaps appear to be happening.

School

If possible, plan the most difficult classes before lunch. To schedule an appointment for all teachers meet between 1 and 3 weeks of the new school year. An Introductioncan replace the letter> if necessary. If a teacher is, contact information, use it with consideration and when requested by a home support and report to maintain the school. Keep a copy of your resume and prepare for long-term project in advance. Learn about plans for the semester for the first time communication.

The school staff must be adequately equipped to meet the needs of the child's needs. If there are special needs or special equipment is necessary, so that the schoolis what is required. competent staff is for your child to make adequate progress required. If you are concerned about the level of teaching or classroom environment, not with the conviction that things without your intervention will be made to wait. Start by addressing the issue with the teacher, and get the command line until you feel that your concerns are addressed. If your a parent of high maintenance required, but doing it with a smile, if possible.

SupportHelp

These are easy to be fair to the specialized resources specific needs of your child. It can be as small as a paper clip to place mark a page of a textbook, or it can be to complete a personal laptop for class work and homework. The following is a list of items to consider for your child.

organizational binder to keep all the folders and tasks in one place (Trapper Keeper), audio, text books or other reading assignments, long an agenda (personalCalendar / diary), graphic / visual organizers, conferences Tape / CD burner for class or writing tasks too time to help the software for computer, reading and writing challenges, highlight tape to highlight facts and relevant information in a book or sheet work in most textbooks at home or in those who are identified to help with the study.