It is an exciting, heart-wrenching, and overwhelming time when you send your teen off to college for the first time! There are so many things to pack, prepare, and plan. And there are so many changes coming to your lives. As a parent, you will likely feel the need to prepare your teen for what lies ahead. That might mean
Read moreOctober is National Bullying Prevention Month. Many organizations, including Middle Earth, are working to increase awareness of the prevalence and impact of bullying on all children. While this blog has covered many aspects of bullying in the past (see past topics on bullying), today’s article is focusing on an aspect of bullying that is not always discussed: the bystander. So
Read moreMany parents attend parent-teacher conferences when their children are in elementary school, but most stop when their children hit middle and high school. For some parents, it may feel overwhelming to try to meet their teen’s teachers when there are so many of them! And, sometimes parents feel that, by the time their teen is in middle or high school,
Read moreAs the new school year begins, many parents are concerned with helping their teen establish better study habits. Every student learns in different ways, so what may work for one teen, may not work for another. One idea that may help to improve grades is to encourage your teen to join a study group or connect with a study partner.
Read moreEvery parent wants their child to have a great school year, but that doesn’t always happen without a little work. If you have teenagers heading to middle or high school this coming Fall, there are some steps you can take to help your teen thrive in the upcoming school year! Here are some great back-to-school tips: Teach Teens to Get
Read moreIf you have a student in their junior or senior year of high school right now, you will likely be spending some of your summer touring colleges. Visiting a college is absolutely one of the best ways for a teen to decide whether a school is right for them or not. It can be a fun bonding experience for families,
Read moreIt can be devastating for a parent to hear their teen announce that they are considering dropping out of school. As parents, we know the hardships that typically come from lacking a high school diploma: lower-paying jobs, poorer health, poverty, and less opportunity. They are also at an increased likelihood of being unemployed or incarcerated. Unfortunately, many teens follow this
Read moreSocial media has made it possible to connect with anyone, anywhere, which includes teachers and students. There are both pros and cons to this type of interaction. Teens rely heavily on social media for communication, so many teachers see this as an opportunity to engage and motivate students. However, social media can potentially provide teachers and students direct, unsupervised contact
Read moreGood discipline is a frequent area of focus for schools, but how to achieve it is an ongoing debate. In the past few decades, out-of-school suspensions have become increasingly popular as a way of gaining control of the classroom. In fact, schools are now suspending and expelling students at a rate more than double that of 1974. In an effort
Read moreCheating in American high schools is widespread. A recent ABCNews poll of 12- to 17-year-olds provided these statistics: 70% of teens say at least some kids in their school cheat on tests. 60% have friends who have cheated. 30% say they themselves have cheated, rising to 43% of 16- and 17-year-olds. More than 50% say cheaters don’t get caught.
Read moreIf your child’s grades are acceptable and you receive positive reports from their teachers, then your child has earned the privilege of not having strict rules about how, where and when they do their homework. If your teen’s grades reflect missed assignments or their teachers are indicating that your teen is falling behind, then you need to establish some structure
Read moreSetting goals is an important skill that can help anyone be more successful in life. Goals can provide direction and purpose in our lives. Learning to set goals takes practice, so it’s a great idea for parents and teachers to teach this skill to teens now to help them to become more successful in adulthood. The beginning of a new
Read moreDid you know that the United States has one of the highest college dropout rates in the industrialized world? This seems unbelievable since we are the “land of opportunity,” but unfortunately, the percentage of full-time students at four-year institutions who complete a bachelor’s degree in four years is only 37.9%, and the completion rate after six years is only 58.3%.
Read moreHave you always assumed that your child would go to college? It can come as quite a shock to hear your teen say, “I don’t think I want to go to college.” Perhaps you didn’t go to college, and you hope for something better for your son or daughter – it may feel frustrating that your child would choose to
Read moreCollege has always been a recommended path for teens headed to adulthood, and for good reason. Studies show that college graduates earn more than individuals without a college degree, develop more independence and confidence, create a better network of friends, have better communication skills, are more likely to move up the socioeconomic ladder, more likely to make healthy lifestyle choices,
Read moreHow often do you hear the groan, “I don’t want to go to school”? Do you have to poke and prod your teen to wake up and get out of the house on time? Does your teen come home grumpy and full of complaints about homework, friends, or teachers? While this is not unusual behavior for teenagers, it doesn’t mean
Read moreSchool shootings, bullying, fighting, and other forms of teen violence are becoming more frequent in America. To prevent violence, we need the cooperation of our teens. They are on the front lines, not adults. The students are the ones that see the knife that some kid brings to school, or see the bully humiliate his victim, or hear the rumors
Read moreSome teens are naturally motivated and others are not. Some teens are able to succeed at school with ease, and others struggle. But, what is a parent to do when their teen simply refuses to do homework or is suddenly failing a class? Experts recommend parents work to discover the root cause and creatively problem solve with their teen. Ask
Read moreEven though the school year has just begun, if your teen is a junior or senior in high school this year, more than likely the main topic in your household is what your teen is going to do after they graduate. If your teen would like to attend college, they are probably feeling a little overwhelmed. While they may feel
Read moreHeading back to school brings every teen some level of anxiety. Common fears that teens face are: Making new friends Facing bullies Feeling “uncool” Finding someone to sit with at lunch or on the bus Developing their identity and/or fitting in Dating issues Not being able to understand the schoolwork Getting a bad teacher Pressure to perform academically as they
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