As your children get older, schoolwork becomes more demanding. We encourage parents to anticipate winter break assignments and prepare for them. But have no fear. Here are a few tools that parents and students can utilize to make winter break productive, yet restful. Required Reading If you little one has to read a book over break, ask the teacher for the required titles in advance. Make sure to visit the library to check out the book in advance, or to purchase the book ahead of time. This guarantees that holiday shipping delays or library holds will not waste valuable reading time. Next, divide the reading into equal sections that correspond to the number of days remaining until it’s due. So, if your child’s break is 9 days and they have to read a 330 page book, they need to read about 37 pages per day to stay on pace. Set aside a regular time each day to get the reading done. Ask your child to describe what they’ve read. This will help solidify the material and serve as a quick accountability exercise. Last, have your child write annotations and notes as he or she reads. With all the fun and activity of winter break, sometimes it is hard to retain new information. Having a few notes and big ideas jotted down can make all of the difference. Essays First, review the essay prompt with your child. Ensure that they select a good topic that will satisfy the rubric. Once your child has a topic, divide the winter break holiday into three parts: outlining, drafting, revision. The outlining and drafting require more time to complete. It may be worthwhile, then, to allot more days to these first two steps than the third. Next, begin the outline phase. When outlining, have your child collect all of their sources in advance. Prioritize finding supporting details and citations, and organizing ideas. Third, only after the outline is fully completed, begin drafting. Check in often with your child about their progress. Ideally, the draft is structured logically and mirrors the outline. Then, ask to read your child’s draft. Proofread for grammar and content. Make sure they understand the strengths of their essay as well as areas for growth. Have them spend a bit of time addressing these constructive criticisms and then reread a final time. Projects Similar to the required reading and the essay, we highly suggest that you help your child divide the workload over a few days. Make sure your student completes the research on their project’s subject before buying crafting materials. Second, require your child to pre-plan their presentation. Are they satisfying all areas of the prompt? Will they be able to realize their vision of the project with the time and resources available to them? They should adhere to their teacher’s requirements as closely as possible. Begin building the project only after your pupil has demonstrated knowledge of the project and a plan for execution. This helps guarantee time efficiency and reduces the amount spent on materials. Summary Taking advantage of working in increments helps reduce the stress of winter assignments. Parents can drastically improve their children’s productivity by focusing on efficient efforts, and also enjoy some holiday relaxation. Enjoy!
There are a few things that we feel absolutely every high school student in America should cross off of their bucket list before graduation. While we recognize that there are different strokes for different folks, these five items are universally beneficial. Regardless of whether the post-high school plan consists of college, trade school or full-time employment, this list will definitely help. 1. Take an advanced level course. Enrolling in rigorous coursework can seem daunting, or even risky. There are fears of failing or of getting lost in the curriculum. However, overcoming these fears and taking a higher level course can bring numerous benefits. For example, AP courses mimic college courses in their structure, rigor and assessments. Taking just one AP course might provide useful insight into whether or not college is a good fit. Also, Honors or Gifted level courses can open up opportunities that would not be available otherwise. Many Honors course utilize field trips, research grants and extracurricular experiences to supplement the coursework. Why not take on a challenge that could guarantee growth? 2. Introduce yourself to your academic counselors and advisors. Many public high schools in the U.S. have a high ratio of students per counselor. Often, students never cultivate a direct relationship with their advisors and counselors, beyond college planning and course scheduling. States nationwide require high school counselors to stay informed about relevant scholarships, vocational opportunities and learning resources. Even if college is not a future goal, high school counselors can provide crucial information and tips for other post-graduation paths like trade school, military enlistment, nonprofit programs and more. It all starts with, “hello.” 3. Join an extracurricular activity. It is common for high schools across the country to offer sports, clubs, volunteering and technological opportunities to their student body. Participating in an extracurricular activity serves as a great method for making friends and furthering interests in a variety of areas. Not to mention, making a commitment to an extracurricular activity requires time management. Developing a strong sense of punctuality and scheduling will prove essential to adulthood. Why not start now? 4. Complete a class on public speaking. The number of occasions in life where one speaks publicly is unlimited. Wedding toasts, graduation speeches, eulogies, presentations for work and school–the list goes on! Knowing how to confidently and clearly communicate can be the deciding factor in job interview situations or financial opportunities. Get a head start on building confidence in public speaking ASAP. 5. Learn money management. No matter what path high schoolers follow once they graduate, money will be a constant presence. Understanding the basic mechanisms of taxes, interest, and savings is important. But the buck does not stop there. Having confidence making long-term investments, understanding how to assess the better buy from a slew of products or even learning the common trappings of hidden fees can be instrumental. Some schools offer formal money management classes or economics classes. Having a low-stress part-time job can also be a great way to build these skills.
