2 ways an adult at home can help a student who is preparing for final exams:

1. Help your student keep these tests in perspective.

• Emphasize the process versus the product. This means emphasizing the habits that your student is working to develop, and the process of figuring out the sorts of study techniques that work best for him as an individual, rather than solely emphasizing the grade he earns on the test.
• Focus on HOW your student is studying, rather than HOW MUCH she is studying.
• Ensure that your student is maintaining healthy habits- eating well-balanced meals, getting plenty of sleep, engaging in leisure activities- and not getting too stressed. 
• Assure your student that how he performs on this one test won't "make or break" his whole school year. 

2. Help your student with time management

• Help your student find blocks of 20-45 minutes in his schedule, and then help him plan what to focus on during those blocks of time.
  • Map out the specific “what” AND “how.”
  • Build in a short break (2-5 minutes) for every 30-45 minutes of studying.
    • Students should use a timer for breaks.
  • A visual schedule can be a great cue or prompt, and mapping out a study plan in advance can save her time later on.
• Students should prepare by first collecting content from which to study; then, creating study materials; then, actively engaging with and utilizing those study materials.

​Exam prep tips for students will be posted soon, so check back!

Many parents can experience nervousness about sending their child to a new school, or are unsure what they- and their child- can expect as they move on to another grade. If you (or your parent) falls into this category, you’re not alone!​ 

​Below are some tips from parents who've been through it, that may help!

“As nerve-wracking as it may be for parents and/or child to send your kid off to a new place for the first time, just remember that it is unlikely that this is the first time that the school, daycare, or institution is welcoming a new face. If you’ve done your research, you’re going to be leaving your child in the hands of well qualified individuals who likely have a seamless process in transitioning new children into a new school year/ program. As a parent, take a deep breath, kiss your kid goodbye, and really try to appreciate the quiet adult time you’ll have (whether it be at work, school, or home) while your kids are off socializing.”
– Mrs. W., mother of 2

“Build and develop a relationship with your child’s teacher(s). Get to know, understand, and have comfort in the person or people who are the experts and are charged with educating your child. Once you have established an open line of communication, trust and development can thrive, for the student and the parent.”
– Mr. R., father of 1 

“Try to tour wherever you’re sending your child and meet the people who will be working with them, PRIOR to beginning their first day. It will be nice for the child and for you to have a familiar face and sense of the atmosphere, come that first day of school…when those nerves really start to act up!”
– Mrs. D, mother of 3

“In the days before school starts, help your child do some “mental walk-throughs” of the first day of school. This way, when the first day rolls around, your child will have already had an opportunity to mentally rehearse what the experience will be like!”
– Mrs. K., mother of 5

“…Reassure your student that nerves are normal, and that there are many other students who will be having the same thoughts and feelings on the first day of school. This will be the first day for a lot of the kids!”
– Anonymous
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“The night before, make sure everything is ready for the morning. For my kids, that means picking our clothes, having their backpacks by the door, and 2 of them shower the night before.”
– Anonymous

“Practice your morning routine before the actual first day, so you can start the day by being on time and not in panic mode!” 
– Mrs. F, mother of 3

• Help your student create and follow routines for homework and organization.

• Talk with your student about the strategies he or she is using to complete tasks; this reinforces the metacognitive element of learning.

• -Help your student break down long-term projects or assignments into smaller, more manageable tasks; we call this “chunking” or “breaking big rocks into pebbles.” Then, help them to plan (and write down!) when to complete each smaller task, starting with the due date and working backwards; we call this “backwards planning.”

• Talk with your student about what he or she is learning, both content-wise and skill-wise. Emphasize that different strategies work for different people, and that we all need to figure out how we learn best, so we can be efficient and effective learners.

• Part of a student’s middle school experience should be figuring out how to manage more responsibility and independence. For students to have opportunities to learn and practice this, they need to be allowed to grapple with tasks, attempt to problem-solve independently, and experience natural consequences for their actions and inactions. (The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey is an interesting book that builds on this idea.)

• Encourage your child to communicate with his or her teachers and/or advisor,especially if they are feeling confused, overwhelmed or unsure of themselves. You could role-play a conversation they might have, or encourage them to write a note or email the teacher if they’re hesitant to initiate a conversation with them.

• Encourage your student to attend extra help sessions with their teachers, and any other skill-building workshops offered by the school. If you’re not sure what resources might be available, have your child inquire!

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•  Maintain a growth mindset– that is, embrace the belief that we can grow our “intelligence” in different areas, with strategic practice and perseverance. In conversations with your child about schoolwork, grades, and “abilities,” emphasize that strategic practice of a skill actually changes the brain’s structure by building and solidifying neural pathways; so, they’re not “doomed” to always struggle with one task, skill, or content area because the brain is like a muscle we can exercise to make stronger. (See the work of Carol Dweck for more information on growth mindsets- it’s pretty interesting stuff!)