Webster County High School

Jumpstart your teen's effort with a confidence boost Sometimes teens don't do their assignments because they lack confidence in their ability to do them. You can help your teen by staying positive. Instead of accusing your student of procrastination, say something like, "Writing can be hard, but I know you can do it. Why don't you tell me what you'd like to say?" Point out the hard things your teen has accomplished before, and be sure to notice and praise progress. https://tpitip.com/?32cZ18889

Setting goals helps turn dreams into reality Middle and high school students are too young to have their paths set in stone. But they are at a great age to begin thinking about their futures. Encourage your teen to write down some goals. What would your student like to be doing in one year, in three years and in 10 years? Then, have your teen choose the top three goals and make some plans for how to achieve them. https://tpitip.com/?32cY18889

Point to the science in your teen's favorite things Does your teen think science is boring? Spark some interest in it by pointing out favorite things that your teen owes to science, like microwave popcorn, streaming videos and that quick-dry soccer shirt. You might also take a family trip to a science museum, or ask your vet if your teen can observe when your pet gets a checkup. You can also look for TV shows or online videos about intriguing science, and watch one together this week. https://tpitip.com/?32cX18889

Connecting with teens takes time Sometimes daily life gets so busy that parents can forget their adolescents are struggling with many complex issues. To reconnect with your teen, look for ways to spend more time interacting: Prepare a meal or watch and discuss a movie together. Offer to help your teen with a school project. (Don't assume your help isn't welcome because your student doesn't ask.) When possible, be your teen's biggest fan at school games, performances and events. https://tpitip.com/?32cW18889

Unleash your teen's creative powers All kids can be creative, and parents can have a big impact on whether their teens' creativity comes through. To support creativity, expose your teen to new ideas. Ask your student to express opinions, and listen to them respectfully. Encourage your teen's curiosity and desire to explore. Provide opportunities to make some decisions, and praise your teen for working hard and trying new things. https://tpitip.com/?32cV18889

Inhalants can kill. Make sure your teen knows it Inhalants are common household products such as paint, nail polish remover and hairspray, inhaled to achieve a "high." They are often abused by teens because they are cheap and available. They can also be deadly. Tell your teen that inhalants can cause serious health problems, including death, even on the first try. And if you suspect your teen is using inhalants, get help right away. https://tpitip.com/?32cU18889

Small changes can multiply math success Is your teen struggling with math? Often, a few simple changes will help students improve. Encourage your teen to do at least a little math every day, even if there's no homework due the next day. Math involves more than just numbers, so your teen should also study math vocabulary and make sure to take careful notes in class. If the notes are confusing, have your teen check them with the teacher after class. https://tpitip.com/?32cT18889

Frequent, short study sessions beat one long one Brain researchers say that students can learn more in two 20-minute study sessions than in one 40-minute session. To encourage efficient studying, suggest that your teen take a short break after 20 minutes of focusing on a subject before going back to it. Or your teen could switch subjects, from French vocabulary to math and then back to French, for example. https://tpitip.com/?32cS18889

Make reading a fun and frequent family activity Students who read a lot become better readers, and families can influence how much their children read. To encourage your teen to read more, set a good example by reading more yourself. Fill your home with interesting reading material, and set a regular family reading time. Then plan fun activities to do with your teen that involve reading, like making something by following instructions. https://tpitip.com/?32cR18889

Give your teen the confidence to reject negative peer pressure Teens with low self-esteem are vulnerable to peer pressure. They may do things just to feel liked. To encourage a more positive self-image, offer praise when your teen does things well, and never compare your student to other people. Then promote independent thinking. If your teen is making a choice, you might ask questions like, "What would you decide if there were a secret ballot and no one would ever see your vote?" https://tpitip.com/?32cQ18889

Daydreaming can be productive thinking Is your teen's head often in the clouds? That's normal, and it's not necessarily bad. As kids enter adolescence, they spend more time fantasizing. Imagining different situations and how they might handle them can make it easier for teens to face new challenges. So allow a little time in your teen's life for daydreaming. It's not wasted time. https://tpitip.com/?32cP18889

If your teen won't try, call in reinforcements Sometimes teens think that if they never try anything, they can't mess up. So they say "no" to everything. If this sounds like your teen, consider enlisting another trusted adult to ask your teen to participate. It's often more difficult for teens to refuse an adult who's not their parent. The key is for your teen to see that a respected person has confidence in your teen's abilities. https://tpitip.com/?32cN18889

Reinforce the need to be in every class, on time, every day The older some kids get, the harder it is to get them to attend all their classes...and the more critical attendance becomes. When students skip classes, they fall behind. They can lose motivation because they don't understand the material. Talk to your teen about why attendance matters, and never allow absences just to do something fun. Instead, reward consistent attendance with a bonus, such as a special weekend activity with you. https://tpitip.com/?32cM18889

Turn screen time into thinking time Screen time doesn't have to turn your teen into a couch potato. You can use it to develop your student's critical thinking skills. Watch the TV news together. Have your teen choose an item of interest and then find an article on the same subject in the newspaper. After you both read the article, discuss ways the coverage in the two formats differs and is similar. https://tpitip.com/?32cL18889

Teach your teen techniques for controlling anger Uncontrolled anger gets many teens into trouble at school. Everyone gets angry sometimes, but it's important to manage these feelings. Counting to 10 is a classic technique that gives your teen a chance to think and get control over emotions. Teens can also try covering their mouths with both hands to contain a flow of angry words. Even saying, "I'm angry" may keep your teen from saying something worse. https://tpitip.com/?32cK18889

Your teen needs sleep, but not during study time Teens don't always get enough sleep. So when they sit down to do schoolwork, many nod off. Small changes in routine can boost your teen's ability to concentrate. Help your student plan a schedule that allows for eight hours of sleep at night. It should include regular exercise, which provides energy and improves sleep. Encourage your teen to keep study snacks light; eating too much brings on drowsiness. For a refresher, your teen can take a five-minute break to move around. https://tpitip.com/?32cJ18889

Your teen needs sleep, but not during study time Teens don't always get enough sleep. So when they sit down to do schoolwork, many nod off. Small changes in routine can boost your teen's ability to concentrate. Help your student plan a schedule that allows for eight hours of sleep at night. It should include regular exercise, which provides energy and improves sleep. Encourage your teen to keep study snacks light; eating too much brings on drowsiness. For a refresher, your teen can take a five-minute break to move around. https://tpitip.com/?32cJ18889

There's work to be done before your teen starts writing a paper Students turn out better research papers when they follow this pre-writing process. First, your teen should do some general reading on the topic. Next, your teen should choose a narrower, specific topic that can be covered in the number of pages allowed. Then it's time to develop a thesis statement that sums up the main point your teen wants to make. After that comes more research and note-taking. The last pre-writing step is to create an outline that organizes the points your teen will make to support the thesis. https://tpitip.com/?32cH18889

Trade punishment for discipline that teaches When your teen has broken your rules, your first response may be to say, "You're grounded!" But take a deep breath and think before acting. If your goal is to teach self-discipline and consideration of others, you might have your teen perform a "family community service," like washing the car or babysitting siblings, instead. Unlike punishment, this type of discipline encourages responsibility and maturity. https://tpitip.com/?32cG18889

Help your teen get organized for test success To succeed on tests, teens need planning, organization and time management skills. Encourage your teen to schedule regular time to complete assignments and review notes, in order to stay up-to-date with learning. Filing the quizzes, notes and worksheets for each class in the binder for that class will keep them handy when it's time to study. Then, in the week before a test, your student should schedule study time each day. https://tpitip.com/?32cF18889