The First Six Weeks of School — Grades 7 to 8
The start of a new school year is crucial for students, particularly those in grades 7 and 8. As your child transitions into these formative years, monitoring key areas that can impact their academic success and overall well-being is essential. Here are some important factors to watch for and school success tips to help your child get off to a good start.
Signs to Watch For Getting Off to a Good Start
1. Weak Self-Esteem or Confidence
As children mature, social issues often emerge alongside academic challenges. This transition can trigger problems with self-esteem, making it vital to help your child believe in themselves. Instead of saying, “You have to study harder to pass Math,” try, “I can see that you are upset about your mark in Math. How can we work together to overcome this difficult situation?” This approach reinforces their ability to overcome challenges and boosts their confidence.
2. Lack of Organization
The demands of school, friends, sports, and even part-time jobs can be overwhelming for students. Keeping them organized is key to success. Encourage the use of a day planner to track assignments, tests, and projects. Consider enrolling them in courses that develop advanced planning and organizational skills.
3. Not Setting Goals
At this age, long-term planning often extends only to the next weekend. It’s crucial for students to begin setting and working towards both academic and personal goals. If necessary, seek help from educators or tutors to guide them in this process.
4. Weak Basic Skills
Strong foundational skills in spelling, grammar, reading comprehension, and math are essential by this stage. If your child struggles in any of these areas, take immediate action to provide the support they need.
School Success Tips for the First Three Weeks
Social issues often become more prominent as children mature, and these can hurt academic challenges. The first three weeks are important for helping your child build confidence. A school success tip is to try offering support instead of expressing frustration over a poor grade. For example, “I can see that you are upset about your mark in math. How can we work together to overcome this difficult situation?” This approach fosters a problem-solving mindset.
Your child may struggle to balance friendships, sports, and even part-time jobs as social pressures increase. It’s crucial to keep an eye on their day planner, ensuring they are managing their time effectively. Many excellent courses are available to help children develop advanced planning and organization skills—consider enrolling your child if this is an area of concern.
For students in Grades 7 and 8, goal-setting becomes increasingly important. Long-term planning may still seem abstract, with many students focusing only on the upcoming weekend. Help your child start thinking ahead by setting achievable goals and creating plans to reach them. If necessary, seek the support of a supplemental education specialist to strengthen your child’s basic academic skills.
School Success Tips for the Second Three Weeks
As the school year progresses, a school success tip is to continue your support. Reinforce the use of a day planner, monitoring it daily to ensure that assignments, tests, and projects are broken down into manageable tasks. By this stage, students should be working on additional academic tasks in the evening, even beyond their assigned homework.
Celebrate when your child meets their goals and assist them in setting new ones. These goals should include both personal and academic aspirations, helping your child develop a well-rounded approach to success.
By this point in school, it’s essential that all academic skills are strong. Your child should be proficient in spelling, grammar, reading comprehension, and math. If any gaps remain, take immediate action to address them.
School Success Tips for Parents
- Regularly encourage your child with their homework and assignments. Show interest in their academic progress.
- Instill a strong work ethic and set high but realistic standards for academic excellence.
- Make schoolwork a priority over non-academic activities. Ensure your child has a quiet, distraction-free place to study.
- Meet with your child’s teachers to stay informed about their progress and any areas of concern. Understand your child’s academic strengths and weaknesses.
- Keep reference materials like books, dictionaries, and encyclopedias readily available at home to support their studies.
Check out more back-to-school strategies in our back-to-school guide here.
Need More School Success Tips?
The first six weeks of school are important for setting the tone for the rest of the year. By closely monitoring these key areas and providing the necessary support, you can help your child get off to a strong start and set the foundation for a successful school year.
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