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Health & Fitness

School Year Check In for Parents

We are two-thirds through with the school year and as parents it's the perfect time to perform an annual check-in to see where your kids are at in their academic life.

We are two-thirds through with the school year and as parents it’s the perfect time to perform an annual check-in to see where your kids are at in their academic life. The first part of the year at the new grade level, and all the pressure and challenges that come with that have been laid to rest and your child may or may not have found his or her groove. Summer is still far enough off that your child is not yet on the verge of constant malaise and distraction that comes with the impending vacation. It’s right in the thick of things where a healthy analysis can be made and addressed.

Check to see if your school has scheduled parent-teacher conferences this spring. If not, you may want to schedule a one-on-one meeting with your child's teacher. It’s a great time to ask your child’s teacher some questions like:

  • Where is your child performing towards this year’s academic goals?
  • Is he or she engaged or disengaged in the material?
  • How much effort is he or she putting in?
  • Is your child performing to his or her expected potential?
  • What are the academic areas of strength and weakness?
  • In strength areas, how advanced?
  • In weakness areas, are they relative weaknesses (weak relative to your child's other advanced abilities) or weak relative to peers and grade expectations?

 

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It’s also a good time to assess your child's social strengths by observing things such as your child’s friendships and interactions. Your child's teacher may also have insight here as well.

  • Does he or she fit in?
  • Does he or she have some meaningful friendships?
  • How is your child perceived by his or her peers?
  • What are some areas of improvement this year?
  • What are areas that could use some attention and focus?

 

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It’s important to engage your child in this process alongside you. Ask your child about what he or she has liked and not liked about the school year. Inquire why? Ask how he or she would change and improve on things. Ask how hard he or she has to work - are things easy, boring, challenging? Ask where he or she would like more challenge and where she may need some extra support.

By getting a solid grasp on all of the above, you can make the rest of the school year more worthwhile by creating an action plan together on what to work on and what to change. A random check in is always good to keep your child’s motivation flowing and let them feel that you are paying attention. It can help set you up for a strong finish to a successful year, as you prepare your child for more good school years to come.

Dr. Dan Peters, Ph.D., is co-founder of the Summit Center, which provides psychological and educational assessments and counseling for children and adolescents, specializing in the gifted, creative, and twice-exceptional.

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