Preparing Your Child for High School

Preparation for a successful secondary school experience begins long before seventh or eighth grades.  A progressive academic program from Pre-K to eighth grade permits the most extensive possible development allowing for growth in a well-balanced curriculum.  The basics of reading, writing, and math remain at the entry of the challenge posed by higher order thinking skills.  The early years should provide an abundance of exposure to the reading process both in school and at home.  Good reading habits will serve the child well, as class material begins to get more in-depth.

As students move into the middle school years, they become more independent, with parents (guardians) taking more of a role as guides.  These recommendations are just a part of a large number of thoughts; however, addressing even these piecemeal, rather than a whole would still be helpful . At our Monmouth County Private School, we believe the following list gives an overview of what practices lead a successful high school experience

1. Continue the reading habit beyond what is required by teachers.
2. Stay organized as much as possible, using a calendar to meet deadlines and submit quality work.
3. Set attainable goals to help to stay motivated.  These may include striving for grade benchmarks and subject levels.
4. Listening and staying focused are learned habits that require constant self-control.  Avoiding distractions takes a great deal of will power, but there are ways to help you achieve this.  Keep trying to find the method that works for you.
5. Be a good note taker.  This is a learned skill, so it may be necessary to do some research on the best methods.
6. Teachers are here to help, so asking for assistance should be a habit.
7. Get to know your teachers, their style of teaching, and what their requirements are.
8. Helpful methods for preparing for a quiz or test are the following:
   • Visualize yourself as the teacher and practice instructing yourself.
   • Use “spaced repetition” which means not to study all material at once, but rather over a prolonged period.
   • Use “retrieval” to study.  This means to try to pull information from your brain, rather than by reading something repeatedly.  Flash cards are an example of using retrieval.
9. Form a study group with friends and collaborate as you discuss topics.
10.  Do not be overly satisfied and think that your preparation is “good enough.”
11.  Being honest and having integrity will keep you relaxed and positive.

The finest private schools such as Oak Hill Academy, located in Lincroft, New Jersey, make it their mission to help students prepare and feel confident for the transition into high school. This solid foundation is invaluable to a child’s future not only in school, but in everyday life.

Oak Hill Academy is a NJ private school that is co-educational, independent, nonsectarian, and nonprofit for grades pre-kindergarten through eight. Oak Hill Academy is dedicated to a traditional, challenging, and caring learning environment that encourages comprehensive thought processes and deep understandings; thus promoting the wholesome intellectual, emotional, moral, and physical lifetime growth of our students. To learn more about how we are the best Private School in New Jersey, visit us online at www.oakhillacademy.com , or subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when we post more topics.