End-of-Year Academic Check-Up

After nine months of surmounting academic hurdles, your son or daughter may be hoping to sprint past the end-of-the-school-year finish line without ever looking back. If so, you’re both missing an opportunity to meet with teachers and guidance counselors to gauge real progress during the past semester and ramp up for the challenges ahead.

To make the most of these meetings, it’s usually helpful to be prepared to ask five key questions:

Looking at the subjects that gave my child the most trouble, what particular learning skills need work? For most students, the signs of trouble with particular subjects come in the form of less-than-satisfactory grades. Sometimes a lack of effort is to blame. But problems with basic skills may also play a role. If your child never quite mastered the multiplication tables, for example, higher-level mathematics have probably been especially difficult. Unexamined problems in reading may have led to significant challenges with spelling, comprehension, and retention of lessons in courses across the academic spectrum. Asking teachers for insight on the skills your child is lacking can provide useful guidance on the most productive type of remedial work over the summer.

Are there hidden talents that can be tapped and nurtured? Most young people also have special aptitudes and interests that can lead to higher achievement and opportunities. Good teachers who have spent a lot of time with your child can have significant insight into his or her academic “gifts” and potential to excel with additional support. Most successful novelists, for example, can tell you about how certain teachers encouraged them to develop their natural writing talent from an early age. Most students who eventually earn prestigious mathematics and scientific scholarships have likewise been encouraged to develop their natural abilities as the groundwork to new discoveries.

What “learning habits” should we work on over the summer? Most teachers and guidance counselors can name several habits that have an impact on a student’s ability to complete classwork and homework and master subject matter. Listening skills, time management, the ability to stay on task and respect for teachers and peers are just a few. While all students may experience difficulties in one or more of these areas from time to time, teachers who have spent an entire school year with your child are usually well aware of any chronic problems your child may be facing. During the summer, you and your child can work together to address these problems in preparation for the year to come.

What summertime learning opportunities are offered at the school or in the community? With the implementation of the No Child Left Behind education act, many school leaders are feeling increasing pressure to ensure that all students meet rigorous standards for learning and achievement. In many districts, this concern has led to broader and more intensive summer school offerings. Most guidance counselors and teachers are well-informed about summer school, and about additional courses that may be offered in your community as well.

What can we do as a family to foster achievement in the coming year? Keeping in mind that learning is a year-long process that takes place both in and out of the classroom, ask teachers and guidance counselors for their “best bets” on summertime learning opportunities for your particular child. In addition to encouraging visits to the library, museums and historical destinations, many teachers can also recommend good summertime reading lists, summer learning camps and clubs geared to students with like-minded academic interests. The long days of summer, when schedules are typically far more relaxed, can offer a pleasant contrast to school days where learning is highly structured. The summer months also offer opportunities to pursue special interests with little or no pressure to take high-stakes tests or earn top grades.

In most cases, it’s best to schedule these meetings for a certain time, so your child’s teacher or counselor has at least 20 minutes to talk with you. If schedules are particularly hectic, these conversations can also take place by phone or by email. What’s most important is that you take the time to make contact, and that you use the time wisely to get the most information and insight from the meeting.

These meetings also offer a good opportunity to say “thanks” to teachers and others in the school community who have dedicated so much time and energy to your child’s success. I guarantee they’ll appreciate your support, and chances are your gratitude will help your child gain an even deeper appreciation for the importance of education all year long.

Source: Huntington Learning Center