Ready to learn? Back-to-school academic success tips for students and parents
The school year is nearly here for most families--and it's already started for plenty of students across the Triangle. But, even if you've already had your first day of school, there's still plenty of opportunity to get the year started right.
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The school year is nearly here for most families—and it's already started for plenty of students across the Triangle.
But, even if you've already had your first day of school, there's still plenty of opportunity to get the year started right.
"It is never too late to start this," she tells me. "Your teacher wants to help you, wants to know you. They want to be that advocate. They want to be that support system for you. But you have to access it."
Here are some back-to-school tips, best for kids in fourth or fifth grade and way up, courtesy of Morris, whose business offers tutoring in math and English.
Back-to-School Success Tips for Students
Establish a dialogue with your teacher early before you need help.
Your teachers are the best resource you have for success in their classes. They create the assessments, they grade them, and they know the material for that course. Knowing your teacher in advance of a trouble spot will help you be comfortable asking for help.
Go to any extra help sessions your teacher may offer.
Go even if you don’t have questions. Just showing up and doing homework in the teacher’s classroom will make it easier for you to ask for help when you need it. Being there will give your teachers more opportunities to see areas where you might be struggling as well.
Afraid to ask for help? Try emailing your teacher your question.
They may be able to answer you via email or to set up some one-on-one time to help you through it.
Take advantage of opportunities to review.
Need to improve your grade? The best way to improve is to go over homework, tests, and quizzes with your teacher to get feedback and find what you may need to review. Open the lines of communication and your understanding will improve.
Back-to-School Success Tips for Parents
Introduce yourself and communicate with your student’s teacher early.
Go to parent teacher night, PTA meetings, and school events when you are able. A quick hello via email is great too!
Know your student’s school and available resources.
Find out early how to access online grade books as well as school and course calendars. Watch for the warning signs.
Stay in the know.
Missing work and poor quiz performance is a warning sign that should not be ignored!
Nervous student? Encourage those extra help sessions.
If your student isn’t sure how to start a dialogue, help them practice and find the words!
Help them be studious!
Get them to tell you about what they’re learning and explain it to you. Offer to help quiz them for a few minutes and review for their next quiz.
Ask good questions.
Instead of “how was your day,” try these, celebrate victories and help them correct problems you uncover while there’s still time.
- What was your favorite thing you learned today?
- How did you help someone today?
- What was the hardest or best part of today—academically and socially? How did that quiz in math go? If it was hard, how could you have better prepared? If it was easy, what did you do this time to prepare that made it so easy?
- How is that project going? What do you have left to do on it? What have you done so far?
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