Counselor's Corner

Spring Hill Junior High School & Spring Hill Middle School

Mrs. Joyce Duvall, Counselor

LINK TO TAKS 2008 TESTING SCHEDULE

Dear Parents,

Want to encourage your child to get good grades? Here are some tried and true tips!

1. Be Interested. Our kids need to know that their academic progress is important to their parents. Show this by attending all open houses and parent conferences. Know when each grading period ends and be sure to review all progress reports and report cards as soon as they come out. If you do not receive one, call the school immediately to request a copy. You may also access your child’s grades on a daily basis through this website by filling out a form and receiving a password.

2. Discuss Classes & Set Goals. At the beginning of each grading period, help your child set reasonable goals for that term. This will help him/her to understand your expectations and to have something to work toward. Throughout the term, recognize effort and improvement. At the end of the term, you might offer rewards if the goals are met and/or consequences if they are not. When you want to encourage a change in behavior, rewards are particularly effective. Eventually, doing well will be its own reward. Whenever possible, consequences should be logical and related to the behavior you wish to change. For example, the consequence for repeated tardiness to school could be an earlier bedtime. Never take away a positive activity as a consequence.

3. Be Available to Help. Be available to help with homework, but don’t give more help than is wanted. Your child may not ask again. Keep in mind that it is your child’s responsibility to be organized, to get homework done, and to prepare for tests.

4. Listen. Talk to your child about what is happening in school and be a good listener.

5. Encourage School Improvement. Research tells us that students who are involved in school-related activities enjoy school more and achieve greater academic success. Encourage your child to be involved in at least one school-related activity.

6. Monitor Activities. Be sure that your child is not spending too much time watching TV, playing computer games or talking on the phone.

7. Important “Don’ts”. Don’t nag about school or grades—your child will tune you out. Don’t allow your child to miss school unless he/she is truly ill—you may send a message that school isn’t important. Don’t criticize a teacher in front of your child—he/she will only lose respect for the teacher. Don’t make your child’s failures or success your own—he/she may see getting poor grades as a way to rebel. Don’t have unrealistic expectations—when a child sees that your expectations are impossible to meet, he/she may not even try.

8. Work With Your School. Know that teachers and administrators are there to help your child get the best education possible. Health problems, divorce and family deaths can affect your child’s attitude and/or performance in school. If such circumstances should arise, contact the principal or counselor and explain the situation. If you have a concern that relates to a specific teacher or class, call the teacher. For other questions and concerns, call the counselor.

Parents note: These tips come from How to Get Good Grades in Ten Easy Steps, a very helpful pamphlet published by the Woodburn Press.

Contact me: jduvall@springhill.esc7.net