Eighth grade parents, this one is for you! It’s natural to want to step back and give your teen more space as they start high school. You don’t want to be the dreaded "helicopter parent," hovering over your teen’s every move, or the “snowplow parent,” constantly removing obstacles, so your teen never learns how to fend for themselves and become a responsible adult. But at the same time, there needs to be balance. In moving from middle school to high school, many kids discover that school is a larger, more competitive, less personal environment than in the past.
In the first year of high school, your teen is going to face:
- Bigger academic challenges than ever before—most students are still trying to make up for lost ground from the COVID years.
- New levels of pressure and stress, which may include academic and social stress.
- Independent choices about whether to engage in risky behaviors (such as drinking and drugs) that could have a lasting impact.
- And taking the last few years into consideration, there is the concern that the rates of anxiety and depression are higher as students dealt with/are dealing with the trauma of COVID.
YOUR 9TH GRADER STILL NEEDS YOU! 9th grade is a pivotal academic year.
Research shows that:
- Your teen’s grade point average (GPA) in grade 9 can be a major predictor of their overall GPA for the high school years.
- A wide range of students experience poor performance in 9th grade—and NOT just those who did poorly in 8th grade.
- 35% of all students fail at least one class during 9th grade.
During freshman year, your teen will get the academic foundation for the rest of high school. Concepts often build on one another, particularly in math and language arts.
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP:
1. Sit down with your teen to set expectations and prep them for what’s coming: “High school is going to be more challenging. Let’s talk about what to expect and how you’re going to handle it.” Many students do not realize that their grades in 9th grade are part of their transcripts their colleges will see when they apply in Junior or Senior year! They need to understand that progress they make in 9th grade is part of what determines their post-high school plans.
2. Show your child how to organize binders, set up assignment calendars and use an academic planners. Kids need to learn organization and time-management skills. Most kids aren’t naturally organized.
3. Let your teen begin to advocate for themselves, such as if they disagree with a grade or they need to chat with a school counselor about any social issues. Consider having them pretend you are the teacher or coach and let them practice talking to you before advocating for themselves at school.
4. Model the behaviors you want from your child and make sure you aren’t sending mixed messages. Are you setting a good example? For example, do you arrive on time? Keep appointments? Strive for excellence in your work? Try to improve? Putting down the phone and being present? Show respect to those in positions of importance?
5. Have tough or awkward conversations -- while in the car. This may sound like a strange tip, but it can be effective. You have a captive audience, and you don’t have to look at each other. It helps take the pressure off.
9th grade begins the rest of your child's public school education. In these four years, your child will turn into an adult. They will be challenged in new ways. Everything they do from the first day of 9th grade to the last day of senior year impacts college and future goals. We encourage you to begin this summer to have those conversations with your high school freshman!
Eighth graders & Parents - good luck! We will miss you!
**Article adapted from Sylvan Fundamentals**
