Focus on Effort.  Celebrate persistence, acknowledge effort, and remind your child that mistakes are part of learning.  Persistence and hard work will translate to success.

Teach Responsibility:  Appropriate to their age, give your child ownership of their assignments, schedules, and decisions while being present to guide them.  

Reinforce Showing Up.  The value of being present and consistently engaged cannot be said enough.  Whether in the classroom, at practice, or during rehearsal, being present every day is incredibly important.  Every day builds on the last, and falling behind can make material harder to grasp.  Showing up daily helps students develop the discipline they can later transfer from school and into their lives.

Remain Curious.   Ask questions and show interest in the projects or the current topics your child is working on.  Instead of asking how your child performed on a test, consider asking them to give you two things they felt confident about on the test and one thing they weren’t sure about.  

Encourage Grit.  Grit is a word often used, but it is difficult to sustain when the grind of school sets in.  Celebrating small successes can build perseverance and become the moments that help students understand the value of resilience and the benefits of hard work.

Ask Early and Ask Often.  Beginning in junior high, if your child is struggling, encourage them to reach out to their teacher.  Ask your child to be specific with the concept or skill they are struggling with, and help them understand that sacrificing a lunch period to help now will pay off later.  If you have questions or need clarity, reach out to your child’s teacher as well.  Please allow 24 hours for your child’s teacher to respond. 

We Are a Team.  Teachers provide the expertise to help students gain the knowledge and skills they need.  Parents provide the support, encouragement, and insight to their child.  When both sides communicate, consistent expectations and support when challenges arise create a supportive environment to help students build a love of learning.  

Encourage Balance.  Academics are important, but so are sleep, family time, friendships, and extracurricular activities.  The demands on teens' time can be overwhelming.  A healthy balance helps students be in the moment and avoid burnout.

Embrace Experiences:  Trying something new can feel daunting to a child.  Encourage your child to explore…whether it’s joining a club, learning an instrument, or volunteering. 

Embrace the Journey:  Between school, homework, practices, and performances, we can forget to enjoy the moments.  Take time to celebrate the small wins and remind your child of their strengths.  The transformation of our children is beautiful and one we often rush.  Before you know it, your child will be donning their graduation cap and gown, starting the next chapter of their lives.  Enjoy the moment and treasure the person they are becoming.