Help Your Student Succeed in School
Students are more successful in school when their parents are involved. According to the U.S. Department of Education, parental involvement is one of the most overlooked aspects of American education. Research shows that when parents get involved in their children’s education, their children:
- Get better grades
- Have more positive attitudes
- Graduate from high school at higher rates
- Are more likely to go on to higher education
Parental involvement in education may be as simple as checking homework every night or asking your student, “How was school today”? Other ways to get involved include:
- Attend parent/teacher conferences
- Serve as an officer in the PTA/PTO
- Help with school fundraisers
- Vote in school board elections
- Coach a team
- Tutor students in reading, math, or other subjects
- Producing or working on a school production
- Donate materials to the school
- Chaperon a field trip
- Become an advocate for better education in your community
- Host a ‘job shadow’ day for a group of students
- Meet periodically with your student's teachers and school counselor
Senior Timeline
Now is the time for high school seniors to organize everything related to their college plans. There are applications and forms to complete and deadlines to track. We’ve compiled a list of things seniors should do this year to make sure their plans fall into place. . .without those last minute anxiety attacks!
- Make a calendar showing application deadlines for admission, financial aid and scholarships
- Research scholarship opportunities
- Take a full course load of college-prep classes
- Strive to make good grades
- Register for, and take, the standardized tests (SAT, ACT)
- Participate in extracurricular/volunteer activities
- Attend college-prep or financial aid nights held at their high school or at local organizations
- Have your child ask teachers/school counselor for letters of recommendation
- Narrow their list of colleges to between three and six schools
- Visit the colleges they're interested in attending
- Complete admission and scholarship applications
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible after January 1st
To view the entire college planning calendar, with tips for everyone from freshmen to seniors, go to the Preparing module on EducationPlanner.org.
You Want to Major in Pottery?
A college education costs a lot of money. Funds to pay for your student's education may come from their savings, your savings or a combination of sources including grants, scholarships and student loans (which someone will eventually have to repay). Regardless of where the money is coming from, you want to make sure it’s money well spent.
So you probably have a pretty good idea of the roadmap for your student's success, but wait a minute! Whose education is this? You should employ a little restraint when your child's plan doesn't match what you've been envisioning. After all, it is your child's future and it's usually a bad idea to try to impose your wishes on your child’s choices.
One of the best ways to prevent surprises, like finding out your son or daughter wants to major in pottery at the University of Amsterdam, is to establish an open line of communication early in their college planning efforts. Talking to your high school student about their college financial plans and their choice of school and major can help to keep the issue from becoming a source of family tension. This time of decision-making and change is stressful enough for students and families. . .so there's no need to increase the pressure with family feuding.
Students need to have a vested interest in their field of study; insisting on a major they aren't interested in can backfire badly. They could end up getting bad grades, not show any interest in becoming involved in the college experience and drop out of school in frustration. Keep in mind that their choice of major does not necessarily imply career choice. Students can enhance their major with a minor or even have a double major, providing diversity in their education. For example, pottery majors may find themselves working for a museum, teaching art or excavating artifacts at an archeological dig.
Deciding on what school to attend can also cause frustration. Some families have a history of attending a particular school and parents may "expect" their children to share the same enthusiasm for their alma mater. If your student likes the school and wants to continue the tradition, that's great. However, if your child is interested in other colleges or feels they don't fit in at your alma mater, they should attend the college where they'll feel the most comfortable.
If you talk with your student throughout the process and each of you understands the others needs and expectations, the decision- making process can actually be fun. Good luck and start planning!
Explore any or all of our web sites. You'll be glad you did!
Manage your AES account online at aesSuccess.org.
YouCanDealWithIt.com gives you the real story on money, student loans and life.
EducationPlanner.org is our award-winning career and college planning site.
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