Once students enter high school, they will soon learn how to drive cars, experience part-time jobs, and have the eligibility to vote in national elections as adults. Homecoming, proms, and other exciting activities for those students are also norms in a typical high school. Class work will become more challenging as it prepares students for their potential careers. And finally, greater depths of teenage problems involving alcoholic drinking, drug usage, and severe fights can also be found in high school.
Going to high school is both a privilege and responsibility. Students have the right to understand more about what they can do to enrich their lives. Then, of course, they can’t forget about high school rules and stick with them. If you have children who will become freshmen at high school, whether they are nervous about it or not, it’s a good idea to have them know the basics of a typical high school life and being good students. Even if your children are still in the 7th grade, it’s never too early for them to be prepared for the bigger world.
Arrange a talking-to with your children
To get things off to a successful start, arrange a good talking-to with your children. It can be during dinner time or a peaceful evening when neither of you are busy. Perhaps you can simply ask your children, “Are you ready for high school?” If they say “Yes,” then obviously they are not worried about their entrance to high school. Don’t be surprised if they reply with a “no” or there is a strong sense of hesitation with their answer.
Strangely, high school can be considered to be “bigger” than any task. For instance, if they fear older students will pick on they, explain to your children about self-defense by reporting to a counselor, principal, or you. Be sure to answer any questions they propose to you.
Talk about behavior and peer pressure
Even if your children are a “goody two-shoes,” talk to them about peer pressure in high school. High school is a place for education and learning. Unfortunately, some students tend to cover that fact. They do so by skipping school, involving in criminal gang activities, giving back talk at the faculty, and dealing with illegal drugs. Talk to your children about the school’s consequences for misbehavior. Explain what will happen if a student is caught with drugs or alcohol. It is important to teach children the differences between right and wrong, let alone providing a respectful environment for the sake of other students.
Visit the high school
Of course, a trip to the high school is another good way to have any unanswered questions resolved. Contact your children’s middle school to find out when it will schedule a high school orientation for incoming freshmen. Or simply go with your children to visit the high school they will later attend. Either way, you and your teenage children can meet with their counselor, the principal, teachers, and anybody else who is worth meeting.
No friendly visit to a high school can be complete without a tour. Walking throughout the school building yields acquaintance and leaves your children feeling comfortable with locations of classrooms, offices, cafeterias, and gymnasiums. Certainly, when the children are scheduled and registered, they can return to the school to locate his classes quickly before instructing time begins. Remember, you and your children are in control: Ask as many questions as you wish.
Go over the class schedule
As your children’s first day of high school is drawing nearer, it’s that moment to schedule for their classes. Even before summer vacation begins, have you and the child pay another visit to their counselor’s office. Their counselor can help explain about any particular class requirements for graduation. For example, if your children have taken a pre-algebra class in grade eight, they may have a selection to choose a more advanced algebra course.
Also, a typical class requirement for high school graduation in the United States includes history, government, English, physical education, and a variety of other general education courses. In physical education, a swimming test is often observed. If your children don’t know how to swim, they can take a swimming class that is part of the P.E. curriculum. They can use flippers or “toy noodles” to help guide their swimming. Also, your children may master in floating. Don’t worry if they still struggle to stay on top of the water by the end of the term, though. The teacher can be generous enough to allow them to use the pool equipment for a swimming test.
Buy school supplies
Then, as the first day of school nears, buying essential supplies for the classes is in order. Textbooks rentals and other class fees should have been paid off by now. Book bags are great for high school starters, and they can be allowed in classrooms as well. Purchase every folder for each class if necessary. A notebook or trapper that consists of neatly colored and labeled tabs is perfect for organizing assignments. Other basic supplies necessary for classes include spiral notebooks, number two pencils, notebook paper, and a scientific calculator.
Be ready for the first day of school
On the night before the first day of high school, be sure that your children have studied their schedules and know where to go. Their book bag and supplies should be placed somewhere they can find just before leaving for school. They should find what they decide to wear on the same evening and get a good night’s sleep. On the following morning, the new freshmen should then eat a balanced breakfast for energy needed throughout the day. Before leaving for school, wish them good luck, tell them to make friends, ask for help if needed, and above all, have fun!
Four years of high school can be a rather tough time for a lot of students. However, getting ready for high school should not be a difficult task. Besides the extracurricular activities and other fun events, it may provide, high school is the time for students to prepare for the future that is ready to reveal. Getting into constant trouble with teachers is not an appropriate way to do it. Teachers want to do their very best to prepare their students for success. It should not be thrown away by ignoring important advantages of what can change a student’s life forever.