Middle and High School Transitions: Academic Challenges
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What Parents Need to Know
Literacy is defined as an individual’s ability to read, write, speak in English, and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family of the individual and in society. According to a study from the Carnegie Corporation, more than half of all high school freshmen in the top 35 cities in America can’t read above a sixth-grade level. The National Center for Family Literacy provides the following facts about literacy and children:
- Those who watch less than three hours of television a day score better on reading and writing tests than those who watch more than three hours of television a day.
- Those who do well in reading are more likely to score well in mathematics than children who do not score well in reading.
- Those who have strong literacy skills can make connections between their lives and texts, films, previous school experiences and other experiences.
It is important for every parent to remember that children with learning challenges can succeed in school and can become successful in their adult lives. Correct support services, and love and understanding at home make the difference. Warning signs of learning difficulties, particularly in the middle school years, can include:
- Slow to learn reading strategies.
- Math problems are challenging to the point of frustration.
- Spells the same word differently in a single piece of writing.
- Avoids reading and writing.
- Has difficulty remembering or understanding what he or she just read.
- Has difficulty understanding and/or generalizing concepts.
- Misreads directions and information.
Why do many of our students give up their basic education? According to National Dropout Prevention Center Network statistics, students give the following reasons for not attending school:
- Classes viewed as boring, irrelevant, and a waste of time.
- Did not have positive relationships with teachers.
- Did not have positive relationships with students.
- Was suspended too often.
- Did not feel safe at school.
- Could not keep up with schoolwork or was failing.
- Classes not challenging enough, students can miss class days and still receive credit.
- Couldn’t work and go to school at the same time.
(Railsback, 2004)
What Parents Can Do
Teach your children how to succeed in school. That means recognizing the importance of school attendance, actively supporting the goals of school, and encouraging/requiring school attendance. It sounds easy, but sometimes parents send mixed messages. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What kind of example do we set for our children at home and work?
- Do we arrive on time? Do we keep appointments?
- Are we responsible for completing assignments?
- Are we respectful of those in positions of importance?
- Do we work as team members?
- Do we strive for excellence in our work and try to improve?
- If we were to receive grades for effort, achievement and attitude, would we be proud enough to post them on the refrigerator door?
- Would we receive the award for perfect attendance?
At home, you can help your child in many ways:
- Talk about your child’s learning challenges and accept them.
- Try to refer to challenges as learning differences; your child is smart, he/she just learns differently from other students.
- Foster your child’s strengths, talents and interests. Give lots of praise and support your child’s efforts.
- Middle and high school years are not the time for parents to keep an arm’s length. Know what is going on in school and due dates concerning homework, projects, and other learning tasks. Talk with their teachers for guidance on ways to assist your child with storing information.
- Set a good example and turn off the television, computer or iPod, put down the phone—and read or write.
- Monitor your teen’s progress and organize information relating to your child’s education and possible learning challenges, including samples of your child’s schoolwork, those where his/her learning challenge is evident and ones which show his/her strengths and successes.
More Helpful Information and Resources
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