Parents Education Corner: Planning to Finish the School Year Strong

Spring is almost here. Let’s talk about calendars and planning tips. 

Do you have a wall calendar in your home office, place of business or kitchen? Do you rely on your electronic device calendar? Do you use both or are you that person that can keep it all in your head?

I am a paper calendar person. I like writing on them not just for regular schedules and appointments, but also big moments like ‘made the team’, or ‘accepted to college’. I also use my phone calendar and I have my kids invite me to their appointments so we both have it on our calendars. 

It is a challenge to keep up with the children’s activities, family appointments, school activities, play dates, family vacations, early dismissals from school, etc. 

The family calendar is an option:

• Put it in a central place like on the refrigerator 

• Middle and High School students can put their events on the calendar themselves

• Doctor’s appointments

• Parent-Teacher Conferences

• No School Days

• Vacations

I know this seems basic, but once it is a part of the routine, everyone will look at the calendar first to see what’s going on in your family and they may even add it to their own digital calendar. This is a small way to help our kids ultimately manage themselves as young adults. 

Planning tips as students enter the last quarters of the school year:

• Get those summer camps, programs, etc. set up for the elementary kids

• Look for jobs, internships, shadowing opportunities for the middle and high school kids

• See what colleges are near your family vacation destination or on route and check it out.

• Meet with the principal and/or counselor to discuss next year's class placement                 (elementary school) and 3 year plan for middle and 4 year plan for high school students to ensure you’re all on the same page.

• Encourage your students to finish the school year strong.

• High school juniors should start asking their current teachers if they will write a letter of recommendation for college applications and scholarships. This will give teachers time to ask your student any questions he/she may have. Some teachers or staff may have your student  send them a  resume or fill out a ‘Brag Sheet’ that some schools have the high school seniors fill out. These tools assist teachers and counselors in writing the best recommendations they can for your student.

•  SAT and ACT season. Some colleges are test optional. You can call the college or university admissions office and/or check the website to be sure. If your student is in Algebra 2, then they are better prepared to take the new Digital SAT. You can find dates for upcoming tests at collegeboard.org and act.org.

Some of your students may have already had their spring break. Some of your students are counting the days until spring break. Cherish the moments either way. This is a great time to review the goals set in January and make whatever adjustments that are  needed to finish strong.  

“Whether you think you can or you can’t, either way you are right.”                                               

-Henry Ford