Crescent HeightsHigh School

Suggestions for Helping Your Middle School Child Be More Successful at School

• Encourage your child to attend regularly – limit absences as much as possible.

   

• Maintain frequent contact with your child’s teachers – either through email or by telephone.

   

• Attend parent/teacher interviews or if necessary ask the counselor to arrange a meeting with your child’s teachers so that there is open communication between home and school.

   

• Check the parent portal regularly.  The parent portal is a website where you can see your child’s marks and attendance between report cards.  You can also check which assignments your child has not handed in.  If you need help getting on the parent portal, please contact your child’s counselor.

   

• Set up a homework/study routine that involves 30-45 minutes of homework per night, in a supervised location (kitchen table).  Your child can use this time to complete homework, study or organize his/her binder. 

   

• Attach homework completion to the privilege of electronics.  For example, 30 – 45 minutes of homework must be completed each night, before electronics (cellphone, phone, computer, games or television) can be used by the student.  Have a “no homework then no electronics” policy.

   

• Limit the amount of time your child spends on the computer, watching television or playing electronic games.  Social networking websites (Facebook, Twitter, Insta-gram etc.) can be distracting and time consuming.

   

• Provide incentives, rewards and encouragement when you child’s marks and effort improve.

   

• Ensure that your child is getting adequate sleep – limit late nights to the weekend.

   

• Visit your child’s locker and check his/her binder and backpack to see if organization is a problem.

   

• Make arrangements for your child to attend the “homework drop-in” that is offered at the Medicine Hat College – Mondays and Wednesdays – 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. above the college library.  No cost is involved and a teacher is available to help students with their homework.

   

• If your child is working hard and is still unable to achieve a passing grade, contact your child’s counselor so that the possibility of an underlying learning disability can be explored.

   

• Give permission for your child to attend a Grade 7 or 8 learning strategies class during their option period, so that he/she can learn study skills and get caught up on homework.