Some Tools for Parents with Older Children:

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Review grades weekly- Find time once a week to review your son/daughter’s grades with them.  Middle and high school students and families can check current grades online.  Online grades show the current grade for each class, as well as the student’s grade on each assignment.  
  • Have them log in while you sit with them.  
  • Compliment them on one or two successes:  Great job on ________!  Tell me more about that.  
  • Discuss one or two challenges:  I notice ___________.  What’s going on here?  Why is this challenging for you?  What can you do to improve in this area?  
  • Set a new goal when necessary, and review continued goals.
Don't focus on everything, or (s)he will get overwhelmed.  Pick the most important successes, challenges, and goals to discuss for the week.

Check in about organization- Middle and high school students are expected to take five or more classes.  Juggling multiple teachers, assignments, expectations, and routines can be challenging.  Many students can benefit from parent support to stay organized and be successful in school.  This doesn’t mean that you clean out their backpack and contact their teachers!  Instead, support them by:
  • Establishing a regular place to do homework, with necessary supplies.
  • Helping them find an organization system that works for them.  Binders work for some students, while others need an accordion folder plus a homework folder to keep papers straight for each class. 
  • Encouraging them to use a planner, agenda, or something similar to record their homework assignments.
  • Helping them plan ahead.  Many teachers assign homework for the week.
  • Encouraging them to self-advocate.  Most middle and high school teachers teach more than 100 students each day.  Students need to respectfully speak up if they questions about grades or missing assignments, or need help.

Website Resources:  See the websites above.  In addition, we recommend parents of middle and high school students check out: