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Comment on : How to Start the School Year Right

How to Start the School Year Right

Make the most of the first month

Sharpen your pencils and tear the kids off Facebook: it's time to get back to work.  September and October are critical to a successful academic year, because they set the tone for months that follow.  Here are some goals you and your teenagers should have:
  1. Capitalize on a "clean slate" mentality.  September is usually when students are the most enthusiastic about their school work.  Sure, they miss summer vacation, but at least this month there are old friends to see and new classes to take.  Compared to June, it's rough.  Compared to February, it's not that bad.  Walking into the classroom without the burden of previous marks against them can be a big boost for some students.  If this is your teenager, make the most of it!
  2. Boost student self-confidence.  For students who typically struggle in school, now is the time to change the trend.  If they get off on the right foot and lock in a few good grades, they can start to feel more comfortable in the classroom.  A new attitude can make all the difference.
  3. Establish good habits early.  In September, students develop routines that carry them through the rest of the year.  Whether its studying at the library after school or spending 3 hours in front of the TV every night, it's much easier to develop patterns now than any other time.
  4. Learn the fundamentals.  Many classes include material that builds on content learned earlier.  Think about math, science, and languages. If students don't learn how to work with fractions (or conjugate poder, or use scientific notation) they'll be lost in December when it's assumed they know these things.  Make sure you lay a good foundation.
  5. Don't put yourself in the hole.  Nothing is more demoralizing than trying to bring up your grade in a class after a poor test performance has already hurt your chances.  This is especially true for students who shoot for A's (as all should, of course).  If you score 75% on a test this month, you'll need five scores of 95% to bring your average back up to an A.  It's in every student's best interest to start off on the right foot!
  6. Get on the teacher's good side.  The "clean slate" mentality applies to teachers too! Once a student has developed a bad reputation with the teacher it can be hard to reverse this perception.  Take the opportunity to establish a good relationship now, and you'll be happy you did when you need some leeway.

Success begets success. If your teenager takes advantage of the first few weeks it can mean great things down the road!