It is critical for students to know that parents and teachers are on the same team. Making sure students are covered on every side they turn will help to ensure they are successful. To ensure your child's success both in school and at home, discuss completing a Parent Review with your child's teacher.

A Parent Review is similar to a Progress Report, but this would be one that you as the parent would complete and submit to your child's teacher for review. It may even be worked into as a grade in some systems, but that can be discussed with the individual teacher. This will help, not only to strengthen the lines of communication and cooperation between parent and teacher, but it will also help to give your child the message that the same work standards at school are also expected at home. This will also give you all valuable information about your child's strengths, struggles, and where their efforts breakdown causing an impact to their scores. It is vital to pinpoint the source of the struggle to be able to solve it.

Some areas that can be evaluated may include:
-Organization
-Work Completion
-Work Quality
-Concept Comprehension
-Study Skills
-Time Management, etc

Click below for a template of a Parent Review you can begin using right away :)

The start of the year brings some excitement, much anticipation, and maybe some anxiety! Start the school year out right to gain the most success for the rest of the school year.

1. Get organized!
Be sure you have a separate place for each subject and a separate section for notes, handouts, homework, and bellwork. This is a simple way to easily ensure good grades! See "strategies" tag for more tips on organization :))

2. Make a schedule
Time management is a another critical aspect of being organized. Be sure to set aside a set time to have homework done and homework checks at home. Make a commitment to use the school's planner as a DAILY routine. This will help EVERY student raise their grade level by committing to complete homework, study, and prevent distractions from disorganization. See "strategies" tag for more info on strategies for home :))

3. Familiarize yourself with school's and teacher's policies
Knowing the school's and teacher's policies will help to keep expectations in view. Policies and procedures are intended to make the school year's objectives clear to help ensure success.

4. Connect with the teacher
Whether a student or a guardian, be sure to make contact with the teacher. This will help establish a critical connection necessary to ensure a successful school year. Use this relationship to work together throughout the year in maintaining academic potential, homework completion, and behavioral management.

5. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TUTORING!!!
Start using before and after school tutoring to your full advantage RIGHT AWAY! Use the time to connect with the teacher, ensure your understanding of the lesson's objective and expectations, complete homework, study, or ask questions. All teachers will be available either before or after school EVERY DAY so make sure you use the time for YOUR benefit!

Our goal is NO EXCUSES this year, so every opportunity is being made available for your success!

Ask your toughest questions* regarding tips you need to tackle your most critical success needs for a profitable school year!

Post your question in the Comments section below.
*NOTE: Number of questions selected for answer will vary

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Many things contribute to educational success and educational struggles. Students live in two worlds every day: school and home. Both must have an atmosphere that promote good work habits in order for the child to attain success.

Click any of the attachments below for templates to promote your child success both at School and at Home!!

According to the graph on the right, students have spent most of their life at home. The average 15-year-old has lived about 131,400 hours. They have only spent 14,400 of those hours at school. The rest of their experience occurs outside of the classroom. A whopping 89% of their daily life is spent beyond the realm and influence of the school. School only accounts for a small percentage of their experience.

It is vital that this time spent outside of the classroom encourages productivity and maintains good work habits to promote success at school.

Homework is intended to bring the concepts from the classroom, home into the real world. Its purpose is to inspire, engage, and bring a sense of accomplishment. It is designed to help the student make lasting connections. However, most students and parents feel frustration when they think of homework.

To identify and address the cause of any child's struggle and reluctance toward their work, both at school and home, it is vital to identify the root. There are 3 simple strategies to address any struggle for any age: - Organization -- Routine -- Action Plan -

To view some simple and practical strategies to address any struggle your child may be having with their schoolwork, or to simply maintain good work habits, download the presentation below:

SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLWORK STRATEGIES Click the attachment below for an OUTLINE to follow along with the presentation:


TEMPLATES:
Routine Schedule


Schoolwork Check


Action Plan


For EXAMPLES, click below:

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Organizing is a strategy that is often overlooked by students. Many feel that it is an unnecessary detail that they can easily accomplish without the hassle. Often times students assume their memory is young and fresh, so they won't forget what they have to do. Others assume that the organizational process takes more steps than needed, adding more complication rather than simplicity. The reality is that the most successful people are also the highly organized. Every major corporation has an organizational process. People often get hired based on how organized their appearance looks and how organized their resume is. Many adults even find themselves overwhelmed and struggling when things are disorganized. Organization is imperative to ensure student success.

Organization is more than success - it is EFFICIENCY. That means achieving highly successful and productive results with LESS EFFORT!!

All materials are found in the same place, all data goes in the same area, all work gets done at the same time - and that means less headaches and hassle.

ORGANIZING OPTIONS:
Their are several options to help organize your student's materials:

-Notebooks
-Folders
-Binders
-Accordion Folders
-Multi-section Binders (TrapperKeepers)

Choose the organizational tool that work best for your students needs.

Just be sure to keep it simple! Organization is intended to make the process easier and not more complicated!


KEEP IT SEPARATE:
It is critical that your student has a SEPARATE space for EACH class. Students need a section divided for the following areas for EACH class:

-Bellwork
-Notes
-Homework/Assignments
-Handouts

TIP FROM THE TEACHER:
As an educator at the secondary level, I have found the most successful strategy for students to maintain organization is to have separate binders for each class.

Binders offer the following advantages over the other options:

• Paper can continually be added
• Assignments can easily be removed
• As many sections as needed can easily be divided
• A notebook can always be included inside (Best when used for Bellwork/Journal)
• A folder for that specific class can be included inside
• Pencil cases can be included
• All materials for that class can be kept bound together

ERRORS TO AVOID:

• Be sure to color code all binders per class so your student does not accidentally take the wrong binder to class!

PROS and CONS - YOUR OTHER OPTIONS:
Notebooks:

• PRO: Securely keep all assignments bound together
• CON: Cannot add more paper, be divided into many sections, and can make tearing out assignments to turn in more difficult. Need to have folder for handouts and this can only be kept separately.

Accordion Folders:

• PRO: Keeps all handouts and assignments together in the same place. Each class can be divided into more subsections (Work to DO, Work to TURN IN, Handouts to KEEP, etc.)
• CON: Greater potential to put assignments in the wrong category and misplace it.

Multi-section Binders:

• PRO: Keeps all handouts and assignments together in the same place.
• CON: Less room to keep all materials, and like the Accordion Folder, there is a greater potential to put assignments in the wrong category and misplace it.

THE FINAL WORD:
Students can be equipped with all the organizational tips and tools available; however success can only be achieved by the power of the student to implement them. This can easily be accomplished daily with practice, commitment, and results.