<p>Just wondered if anyone had any suggestions for getting a student prepared for the 'shock' of high school? My 8th grade son has been in all the highest level classes and gotten mainly As....but I know he's entering a whole new world in HS (& one that can significantly effect his future!).</p>
<p>Son is one of those who actually never (ever) studies for tests. The only non-A grades he's gotten have been the result of not doing homework, or leaving big projects until the last minute.</p>
<p>Now I'm understandably nervous that this is <em>not</em> going to fly in HS. Hate to see him end up w/a low fresh GPA that he'll regret & try to overcome for the next few years.</p>
<p>Thinking about a summer 'study skills' program or writing program (his area where he puts least effort). Did anyone else do this or have ideas along this line? </p>
<p>Unless he truly wants to do the study skills class I would wait- not just because he might be a reluctant participant and waste your money, but also because until kids work through a HS cycle they don't have a framework for understanding all the new kinds of tasks they will do- 5 paragraph essays, research papers, studying for mid-years, whatever. I think they need to know what the work is going to look and feel like before the study-skills classes can really help. Even then, the best classes relate directly to the work he is doing in school-- so he can learn the skill in an authentic manner..</p>
<p>I think the most important thing to do with an incoming freshman is to talk about balancing time and new demands, how to know when the need help and get help when they need it. Also, it is important to make sure their schedule is challenging but reasonable, and that they have some fun classes and EC's planned. You will want for him to feel a part of the school as early on as feasible...</p>
<p>If your son is a semi-disorganized type and if you are feeling like you don't want to be his organizer, the other suggestion I would have is to find a very organized and nice HS senior to be to mentor and perhaps do a bit of tutoring (in organizational stuff) the first semester...at our school the IB students often do this to fulfill their community service obligation. They can teach other kids the 'tricks of the trade' and this might be all it takes...</p>
<p>Sorry to say, but so much depends on the high school. Our local high school (of which my son no longer attends) was super easy. Even their "honors" courses he slept through and got As. He did his homework between passing periods and again, As. If your high school is anything like ours, he will develope no study skills there either, but continue to float along. My son did not 'learn' anything until he went off to a residential high school that offered him tougher courses. There are many wonderful high schools in the USA. If you are fortunate to live by one, your son will learn very soon on his own that he can no longer put things off. Best wishes.</p>
<p>My S was a milder version of your S in middle school. I wouldn't say <em>never</em> studied/prepped, but didn't do more than the minimum and got his A's (lowest was an occasional B+). I was afraid to sign him up for too many Honors classes in hs, but (luckily) was advised by friend that he could handle it. I say "luckily" because the strength of program does matter when it comes to college apps, and I hadn't known that.</p>
<p>Anyway, as others here have hinted or said, they seem to work it out for themselves in hs. If your S is like mine, in WANTING the A's, wanting to do well, he will figure out that he needs to do more and will do it. S took all Honors, AP in a school unlike mominin's local, where the courses are rigorous and his peers are academically strong and, in some cases, dedicated. So he developed study skills, his own form of organization (see old threads on boys' "wad" approach to paper organization).</p>
<p>He still did less than a lot of parents reported for their kids, but continued to do well. Our hs had study skills as part of the Freshman curriculum so they learn what they should do, and adopt what they want.</p>
<p>I am assuming that by study skills, the OP means self-discipline. My S tutored a student who could not get the gist of a passage; though he could read every word, he could not figure out the main point. But that is not the issue here.</p>
<p>Colleges understand that freshman year is a big adjustment, so I would not worry about grades. A student who has had easy As in elementary school needs to take the most challenging classes available, sometimes above-grade classes in order to acquire proper learning habits. Underachievers are quite often smart but unchallenged kids. When they get into college, they really flounder.
An important lesson is time-management. Students typically underestimate the time it will take to complete an assignment, especially one that involves research and writing. My S has begun research on a paper that's due in two weeks and has found that he needs to read some things in the library (which closes at 6 and is not open on weekends); then, of course, there are the dead ends, unavailable documents, and multiple drafts.
In high school, ECs will probably play a bigger role than in elementary school, so homework will have to take into account the time-commitment in ECs. Keeping a good schedule of events that are going to be held, assignment due dates, etc.. is very important.</p>
<p>Hate to see him end up w/a low fresh GPA that he'll regret & try to overcome for the next few years.</p>
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<p>My two cents: if he's going to need to work harder in high school to get A's, there's no way to make that lesson sink in except by living it. Meaning, if and when he tries to coast and gets a couple of C's, he'll catch on and decide what he wants to do about it, and no study skills or writing course will have the same impact. Bear in mind that the first couple of assignments aren't going to make or break his frosh GPA even for first semester.</p>
<p>Excellent point, hanna. My d is the same as Jolynne Smith's son for 7th and 8th grade. Entered 9th grade, first progress report all As, so I did not worry, but mid semester she had water polo and was tired after practice, did not get enough sleep, brought home a couple Bs. One reason to explain for these B's are the fact that there is a new math teacher that teaches honors geometry who did not know how to teach honor kids and also because proof is the dirty word in geometry. Another reason is that because we moved from the Bay area to S. Cal and she had adjustment problem,have hard time in making new friends eventhough she is quite sociable. D, since 3rd grade has always been very mature and has developped good study habit. So watch out for sport practice, but I also think d under estimated HS, she thought it was like Middle school, study for 10 minutes or so and get A. But this semester she is bringing her grade up to all A's, but I'm never sure if she learned a lessons or she was just lucky!</p>
<p>My son was very much like your son in middle school - always at or close to the top without having to put much effort in. He's now a freshman at a private college prep school. It has been a blow to his ego to realize that he is not "king of the hill" any more UNLESS he is willing to put the extra effort in to actually sit down and work hard. He did fine first semester, better this semester but seeing a smattering of B+'s on his first report card was a bit of a shock to him. It was enough of a blow that he has talked about transferring to our local public school which is much less academically intense, but I also see a stubborn determination beginning to emerge. The jury is still out on whether he will opt for the "easier route" but it looks like he's decided he enjoys the challenge enough to stay with the private school. (fingers crossed) I don't think there was anything I could have done to prepare him for high school - his ego would not have been able to even conceive of the idea that he might need to prepare. :)</p>
<p>Sometimes, I think my daughter, who is a hard working but not stellar student, will come out ahead in the end. She has never thought of herself as being particularly "smart" or special when it comes to school so she has just naturally expected to do more work than her brother.
She is also not shy about asking teachers for help when she needs it, something her macho brother would NEVER do. She did do a two week summer study skills program locally that she found helpful in terms of giving her some tips on how to study, write papers, and stay organized. We didn't do the same program for my son as he was away at another summer program and we couldn't fit it in.</p>
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My 8th grade son has been in all the highest level classes and gotten mainly As.
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<p>Have you ever had your son do the academic talent</a> search testing (early testing with the ACT or SAT)? That can help you figure out what his "natural" level of academic work is at his current age, and the Midwest Academic Talent Search, which my son participates in, suggests curricula that fit different levels of scores on those tests.</p>
<p>What kind of Highest Level Classes are in 8th grade? Remember, it is all relative. In some middle schools, their "regular classes" equal or surpass the "high level" in other schools. So be wary. For instance, at our local middle schools, the Gifted Programs are on par with the regular classes at the nearby parochial school. So, while son may be easily sliding through 8th grade, if he hasn't been challenged in any way, he will be suprised when those challenges come. As well, in some schools, the teachers may get a bit "lazy", and ask as much for some kids who always do well. We have seen this often.</p>
<p>I think a little floundering if it happens in the first month or so of freshman year won't hurt. But while the freshman year is a year of learning, if son doesn;t develop those good study habits, it will catch up in 10 grade very quickly.</p>
<p>To the Op,.. don't. When he hits high school, he has to find his own stride. It may take a few months. Or it may come easy at first, then he may slack off, and then recover. ESPECIALLY with boys, too much pushing or directing from mom, even when it's in their best interest, is counterproductive.
I know you don't mean to push -we moms never do, but it's definitely taken that way by our boys. You are worried about his performance before he's even had go at it.<br>
Hanna's advice was right on. IF he has a problem, then you can talk with him about tutors or going in for extra help, or whatever. It sounds like he's accustomed to doing well. He won't let himself down in the long run. Keep the faith!</p>
<p>Wow, thank you ALL for all the great ideas, perspectives and suggestions! </p>
<p>I'll try to chill out, lol! He is studying now for the June SAT to see he can (hopefully) qualify for Johns Hopkins CTY program (or other, similar one) next summer. We'll see how it all goes. </p>
<p>I just look at the writing he produced in (advanced) English this year (which earned him As)---and think---no way is that (fairly slapdash) work going to cut it in HS! </p>
<p>Maybe we will do a writing type program this summer---then I'll feel he's prepared, and can more <em>let him be</em> during his (sure to be hectic) next year. Just want to keep it 'relaxed and positive' at home next year (though I'll be inwardly stressing, lol!).</p>
<p>Again--appreciate much the thougths and insights!</p>
<p>Some kids like mine learn better from success than from failure. Knowing that the academics (and everything else) would be very different in high school compared to middle school, I suggested my daughter read materials addressing study and writing skills the summer before high school. Many of her future classmates took study skills classes offered by the high school that summer. She later admitted reading those materials helped her, although she wasn't completely appreciative at the time. Having some strategies/confidence going in and doing well in the new school was a lot less stressful for her than not doing well and then have to learn how to study would have been.</p>
<p>Our local high school must really stink. I've come to that conclusion after reading these posts. None of my kids did any prep at all for high school and sailed through it. In honors/advanced courses mind you. They never got truly challenged or developed study skills until they went away to school, whether that be high school away or college.</p>
<p>If I would have suggested they take a study course or writing course the summer before high school I think they would have looked at me like I was nuts. And in our local, a complete waste of time. You that have these awesome high schools, your are blessed!</p>
<p>SV2-thanks for that website & the suggestions!! I'm also one that operates better when I'm overprepared, rather than underprepared! :-) Just want to give son all the advantages he can, so things are less stressful!</p>
<p>mominin--I'm not sure what our HS is actually like. It's very big, and offers a lot of AP (maybe because of size?)--a number of kids have gone to highly selective colleges---but it's not like there are tons heading that way. There's a range of student ability---seems to pretty much be up to the student as to where they fall in the spectrum.</p>
<p>Some of our friends are sending their kids to expensive, private HS's next year (some even moving to do so). We just can't afford it, now, w/college looming!</p>
<p>Hope your kids are getting a great challenge in college, mominin!</p>