1. Use an academic planner
An academic planner is mission control for schoolwork. It’s that central place where your child can keep track of homework, tests, extracurricular activities, social engagements and appointments.
Because there are so many options, one of the trickiest parts of getting started with an academic planner is figuring out which one to choose.
Check out the tips in Section 2 of the guide to find the right planner for your son or daughter. Even if your school already has a planner it wants your son or daughter to use, you’ll still find some helpful tips.
2. Work those monthly, weekly and daily calendars.
Most kids are familiar with a monthly schedule — like the kitchen calendar you have pinned up next to the fridge that shows the current month’s big events.
However, these days that’s not enough.
Introduce your child to the benefits of keeping a weekly schedule.
This kind of schedule lists the hours in each day, so your child will be able to map out his or her schedule and plan time more wisely.
As you plot out a weekly calendar, the biggest question to consider is: “When is my child most alert?”
It may sound like a simple question, but it can make a big difference in your child’s ability to study productively.
Help your child figure out his or her peak productivity times of the day. Then, schedule in the tasks that are the most complex and demanding during those times of day.
For example, a night owl will study more effectively at night than in the morning.
If you know your child needs a little time to unwind or decompress right after school, use that time for activities other than studying.
3. Get clear on teacher expectations
Ah, there’s nothing like sitting down at parent-teacher conferences and discovering that your son or daughter has been doing things that aren’t in sync with teacher expectations ... or learning that your child is misunderstanding the teacher’s instructions.
*Sigh*
Different teachers expect different things.
This question is: How is your son or daughter supposed to know what each teacher wants?
Discover how to get crystal clear on a teacher’s expectations about homework, tests, class behavior and more in Section 4 of the guide.
4. Keep track of grades
A grade tracker is a tool that allows your son or daughter to monitor his or her overall grade from beginning to end of the school term.
That way, there aren’t any surprises at report card time.
Just as important, if grades are starting to dip, you can take action right away. If your school doesn’t have an electronic version of a grade tracker, you can find a print version — and tips from Sylvan — in Section 5 of the guide.
5. Plan out projects
It’s Sunday night, and you hear the five words no parent wants to hear:
“My project is due tomorrow.”
The big project? The one that requires loads of research? And supplies from three stores? And has many, many steps?
Fantastic.
Learn how to turn your child’s, “I’ll never be able to do this” panic into, “I’ve totally got this” moments with a Project Planner. Get the full scoop in Section 6 of the guide.