Tutor Doctor Longmont: What to Expect in High School

Feeling a little intimidated about starting at Skyline or Silver Creek?  It’s no small wonder! This is the year when every grade matters and your permanent record counts. The transition to Erie or Frederick High School is a big one  too and may take a couple of weeks or months to get used to. It’s really good practice for the jump from school to college life which is an even bigger change. One of the ways in which you can make a seamless transition to high school life is to learn good organizational skills and have a solid base in math, science and language arts.

Academic tracks

You’ve already selected the academic track you will take to realize your future career aspirations, but it’s impossible to judge how much you will enjoy a subject before you start taking it. If you find your workload is too big, it may be advisable to defer some courses until you have found your footing. It’s best to do a few things really well than many things badly. If you are feeling overwhelmed or you have trouble keeping up with or grasping material, speak with your teacher, parents or student counselor.

Dealing with academic issues early on will mean you have time to change tactics or get a tutor who can help you to stay ahead of the curve. Great teachers, such as the ones at Longmont High School and Lyons High School, and parents are there to support you and help you through the transition.

Take care of yourself

With the increased academic load, it’s important to maintain a good balance in life. This is a life skill that will ensure a happier healthier you. Take time out with friends and socialize, eat well, exercise regularly and make space in your life for family time too. Getting the balance right is tricky, so speak with counselors or your parents if you are finding that you don’t seem to have enough time to fit everything in. 

Be prepared

The first few weeks at Mead or Niwot High School or any St Vrain Valley High school are the hardest. You can ease the transition by getting organized before your academic year begins. Ensure that you know the basic layout of the school so that you can find all your new classes with ease. You should also be aware of how long it takes you to get from one class to another so that you can avoid being late.

Identify your support group and know which of your friends will be attending school with you, who your teachers are and which counselors are there to help.

Join social and sports groups early on to help you to make new friends with similar interests. Getting involved will help you to feel at home.

Tour the school’s website for important information, teacher profiles and other pertinent rules and regulations that may apply to you.

High school is a fun, exciting time for you. While it may seem strange and intimidating in the beginning, you will soon get the hang of things. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are not coping socially or academically. You will be amazed at how helpful your fellow students, parents and counselors will be. 

Need organizational skills or test taking skills help? Are your math or language arts classes getting harder and harder?  Are you starting a new language and need some extra help?  Call Tutor Doctor Longmont for one to one learning in your home.  We serve the St Vrain Valley School  Longmont, Firestone, Erie, Frederick, Niwot, Dacono, Mead.  A FREE consultation STARTS YOUR BEST YEAR EVER!! We take the stress out of homework and tests. :)

Back to School Organizing Tips

SOURCE  Just like a fresh box of crayons, the new school year is ripe with possibility—the possibility to create something new. Fresh crayons and fresh starts—it’s a wonderful time of year! Take advantage of the clean slate in front of you by bringing some simple organizing strategies into your home, making the transition back-to-school even more invigorating. Sound like a plan? Let’s go.

Establish fresh routines.

What’s working well in your daily routine…and what could use a pick-me-up? If mornings are chaotic (or just not your prime time of day) consider taking care of as many daytime preparations as possible the night before. Layout clothes. Pack lunches. Set out the breakfast dishes and cereal. Pack the backpacks. And so on.
Make your new systems kid-friendly so your young helpers can help you get things checked off your to-do list. (The more help you have, the more time everyone has for fun.) For example, carve out a spot on a low shelf in the pantry to store lunch boxes and lunch making supplies. Then, have your helper be responsible for putting away his empty lunch box at the end of the day or even packing lunch. Install low coat hooks so your child can hang up his own coat and backpack at the end of each day.

Create a homework station.

If a task is simple to do, it’s more fun to do. Homework is no different. Decide on the best spot in your home to set up homework central. Take into consideration how involved you need to be with homework and your child’s style. Does he focus better with people around or when working on his own? Is he better suited to sit at a table or curled up on the couch with a lap desk? Once you have a
place picked out, corral together handy homework tools and supplies into a nearby bin, cabinet or drawer. Stock up on age appropriate supplies such as pens, pencils, erasers, paper, crayons, markers, a ruler, a calculator, a dictionary, basic craft supplies and a pencil sharpener. Ask your teacher for ideas on supplies to keep on hand throughout the year to avoid last minute trips to the store for special supplies.

Create a system for school papers.

There are two types of papers, those you need to take action on and those you’re keeping for future reference. Designate a convenient spot for items you need to act on or refer back to throughout the school year. Items like classroom rules, schedules, class lists, and teacher contact information will be right at home in the command central binder (and best yet, you’ll know right where these important papers are when you need them.)

For schoolwork and artwork you want to keep, I suggest a two-tiered approach. First, purge unwanted items as soon as they come in the door. Collect the possible keepers into a small storage bin. Go through your bin using a regular time interval that works for you, like once a week, once a month or once a quarter. Keep in mind, the more you accumulate, the easier it will be to keep fewer items—the best pieces will stand out from the crowd. On the other hand, if dealing with a big pile of paper is overwhelming to you (I’ve been there, too!) it may be simpler to go through your bin more frequently. For school papers and artwork you’re keeping indefinitely, a simple three-ring binder can house a year’s worth keepsakes in one simple, tidy system.

Do your homework everyday.

That’s right Mom, you have homework, too. You know, all those papers that come home in the backpack each night? Homework. And it’s yours. Once you have your paperwork system set up, create a homework routine to help you and your kids stay on top of everything. Pick a time that works well for your energy level and fits with your other after school obligations—and then dig into those backpacks and get going. Take action on any paperwork that requires your attention. Sign and return permission slips. Add important dates to the family calendar. Pitch school work you no longer need…and accumulate those you want to hold onto for posterity sake into your collection bin.  Need help with homework?  Don't understand a math concept or writing assignment?  Contact Tutor Doctor Longmont for help with 1 to 1 tutoring in the home.

Your communication hub can include a family calendar, colored markers, pens and pencils, and a notepad for taking down phone messages. Consider color coding your family calendar by assigning each family member a color. If you’re a visual person who needs to see things to remember them, consider using a bulletin board for posting messages, invites and your calendar, or take advantage of your built-in magnetic board known as your refrigerator door. Keep phone messages neat and tidy by using a family message book, a covered composition book used to keep a running tab of phone messages and notes.

Create a put-away bin.

Keep household clutter at bay by corralling items into a put-away bin. Assign one for each family member, or collect everything into a single bin, and take turns on put-away duty. Clearing out your bin each and every day will keep clutter at bay.

Remember not to forget.

Create a simple system by the door to help you remember your new routine or special items you need to take with you each day: gym shoes on gym day, violin on music day, and snacks on snack day. Hang a bin or basket by your door to corral the items you need to remember, or create a fun little “don’t forget” door hanger with a built-in pocket for your daily checklist.
With these simple strategies, staying organized all school year is as certain as a fresh box of crayons on the first day of school.

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6 Important Things to Tell your Teacher

With the start of the new school year, your students will be getting a new teacher and there are several bits of vital information you can convey that will make their lives easier and help them to forge a connection with your student. If you have the opportunity to speak with your student’s new teacher, you can let them know the essentials which will help them to foster a better relationship with you and your student.

Allergies and medical conditions: If your student has any allergies or existing medical conditions, please inform their teacher. You should also leave a basic outline of actions to take should a medical emergency arise. This could be instructions on how to administer an inhaler or medication to combat the effects of allergies how to recognize symptoms which will require medical attention. Teachers should be aware of any side effects that the medication could cause like drowsiness or vomiting.

Always ensure that your teacher and the school office have your contact details as well as those of your secondary contact person and your doctor. Providing adequate information will mean that your teacher is ready for every eventuality.

Academics: Discussing your student’s academic history will help to highlight areas in which your student excels and where teachers and a tutor from Tutor Doctor Longmont can possibly provide more challenging materials and exercises. You can also highlight areas that your student may have found challenging in the past so that the teacher can keep an eye on progress and provide additional assistance where necessary

Hobbies and interests: The more your teacher knows about his or her students, the easier it is for them to build a relationship and make a connection. Knowing what your student’s interests and hobbies are will help to provide topics for conversation and will help your teacher to get to know your student better.

Extenuating circumstances: Throughout the year, its best to keep your teacher up to date on major life changes that your student is experiencing in their home life. A death in the family, divorce or an ill relative may have an impact on your student’s academic performance or behavior. When your teacher understands what is happening at home, they are better able to deal with any issues which may arise at school. They can be more understanding and provide support while allowing more time for academic work to be completed.

Religion: If your family practices a religion that stipulates clothing or food choices, tell your teacher so that they can help your student to navigate social and practical issues. You can also help teachers to plan their academic calendars more effectively when they know which days are religious holidays for their students.

Learning style: Each student has a particular learning style which is the way in which they are best able to absorb information. While most lesson plans should present information in ways that students from every learning style should grasp, knowing your student’s learning style will help their teacher to present information in ways that they can relate to and understand. Tutor Doctor Longmont  provides one to one learning that is individualized to a student's learning style. 

Forming a partnership with your new teacher will benefit everyone. Be open and honest and provide all the necessary information to ensure a smooth start to the new year.  Is your student struggling or apprehensive about school?  Does your student deserve INDIVIDUALIZED attention to BUILD CONFIDENCE AND STUDY SKILLS for the BEST SCHOOL YEAR EVER?   call today for your FREE consultation so we can show how! 

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