Build an Interest in Math and Science
Has your child expressed an interest in math and science? If not, helping them build an interest in these subjects early will equip them for a successful academic career and more. Even if these are not your areas of expertise, discussing the importance of math and science with your kids is a great step towards developing their interest.
Math and Science are the Future
Technology is making advances at such a fast rate that it can even be hard for the professionals to keep up. Still, one thing remains clear; math and science are the foundation that any new technology will be built on.
Even students who do not intend on pursuing a career that directly relates to the sciences will likely need to have a basic understanding of math and science concepts at some point in their professional lives. In a world filled with “Do-It-Yourself” projects, it is no longer practical to claim that students will never need to know these subjects outside of the classroom.
When discussing your child’s hobbies or career interests, ask them how they think math or science will play a role. Help them do research to determine what skills are needed to pursue their hobbies and interests and how technology is used in those areas.
Perception is Everything
One of the biggest reasons students have no interest in or struggle with math and science is because they are told these are boring and hard subjects. Coming into their studies with this kind of attitude can make a student dismissive towards math and science and cause them to lower their expectations of themselves in these areas.
To combat this, be cautious of how you speak about these subjects at home. If you express a negative attitude toward math and science, your child is likely to do the same, Instead, encourage them to keep an open mind towards all their subjects and seek help if they are struggling. The more objective you can be towards these subjects, the easier it will be for your child to form an appreciation for them..
Additionally, do not lower your expectations of your kids because of how you perceive the subject matter. If a student knows you are ok if they only receive a C in math or science, they have little reason to strive for higher. Keeping your expectations high shows your child that you know they are capable of doing well, no matter what the subject.
Stay Busy During Spring Break
Spring break is almost here, and our students are definitely excited. However, many of you may be wondering how you can keep your child busy during their time out of school. Well, our staff is here to help with a few suggestions.
Read
Reading may seem like the last thing your child wants to do during a short break from school. Still, there are few things that can equal reading a good book just for fun. Make it a goal for your child to read one book of their choosing over spring break. If time permits, make a plan to read a certain amount with them each day. Sharing a story together will make for great conversations well after break is over
Do a STEM Project
A STEM project meets the requirements of being educational and tons of fun. Whether your child works on a project that you discuss together later, or you work with them on one, it is a great way to keep them busy and learning during their time off. It will also give you a chance to learn fun math and science concepts with them.
Get Outside
It may be called “Spring Break”, but Michigan weather may have other ideas. That being said, even if it snows, try to get your child to be active outdoors if possible. Going for a walk, shoveling, playing in the snow, going for a bike ride, etc… are all great ways to get your kids moving and away from a screen for a little bit of time.
Learn Something New
Learning does not always have to be academic. There are many things that can be learned over the span of one week; knitting, crocheting, drawing, painting, or even woodworking. Ask your child what interest they would like to pursue during their week off and challenge them to do it.
Preparing Your Child For High School
In less than 6 months, our 8th graders will be getting ready for high school. Transitioning to high school may seem slightly overwhelming, but we are here to make the process as smooth as possible.
You, too, can begin preparing your child for high school by simply talking with them about their future home for the next 4 years.
Expectations vs Reality
Thanks in large part to movies and TV shows, kids often have a misguided view of what high school is like. Though we do many things to prepare our middle schoolers for life at Summit Academy North High School, it is still important for you to help them develop realistic expectations.
Ask your child what they think high school will be like. What are some of their fears? What are they looking forward to? Once you have a better idea of where they stand, it may be a good idea to reach out directly to our high school staff with any questions you or your child may have. Additionally, our Facebook page is a great way to get feedback from parents of students who currently attend Summit Academy North High School.
Build Excitement
High school is an exciting time in life. It is where students have the opportunity to explore interests and learn skills that will help them thrive in college and beyond. You and your child should be very excited to enter this stage in their life.
To build the excitement about starting high school, help your child look into groups, classes, and sports that they want to participate in next year. Encourage them to make a list of things they want to get more information about and help them act on it. The more excited your child becomes now, the more likely they are to get the most out of their high school experience.
Create Goals
As with any new stage of life, making a plan and setting goals will help your child stay on track for success. Discuss their academic goals for high school and how they plan to achieve them. Look into the resources available at Summit Academy North High School and find ways to make these tools work for your child. No matter what success looks like for our students, both our staff and the high school staff are here to support their goals.
Do You Let Your Child Make Decisions?
Decision making is not just about taking on responsibility; it is about building confidence. As children get older, they will become more informed and have the ability to use the information they receive to make decisions for themselves. However, unless they have developed confidence in their ability to make good decisions, they may refrain from taking an active role in making their own choices altogether.
As a parent, it is natural to want to make decisions for your child to prevent them from experiencing any negative consequences. Yet, you can actually be doing a disservice to your child later in life. Remember, you will not always be around when your child needs to make an important choice. By empowering them to make decisions at an early age, while you are still able to help, you will be helping them learn how to make sound decisions on their own down the road.
How to Do It
The type of decisions you allow your child to make should be determined by a couple of factors.
Age
The type of decisions a kindergartner can make are different from what a fifth grader can handle. For younger kids, you may start out by letting them select what they wear to school or what they want for a snack. Decisions you let older kids make may include what activities they want to do with their friends or even choosing an item they would like to save money for.
Level of Understanding
Even children of the same age mature differently. Before deciding what decisions you are comfortable letting your child make, take into consideration how well they understand the consequences of their choices. For example, if you let your child pick out their own clothes, make sure they understand that if they wear summer clothes in winter, they are likely to get cold.
Ability to Handle Consequences
If your child makes a bad decision, how prepared will they be to handle the consequences? The goal is to build confidence in making their own decisions, so be sure to assess the type of results your child is able to handle to ensure they do not become overwhelmed or discouraged by decision making early on.
Summit is Better: Empowerment
At Summit Academy, empowerment isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a promise. As the school of choice, empowering all members of our family is the only way we can help our students secure a promising future.
No Limits on Potential
Individualized learning gives students the power to get the most out of their education. Instead of setting the bar for them, our students are not limited by cookie cutter curriculum or a one size fits all approach to learning. As a student of Summit Academy, your child is able to choose the best path for them to achieve their goals. When combined with our advanced resources and dedicated staff, students are empowered to be their best self.
The Freedom to Teach
The best teachers are the ones who are able to personalize their teaching methods and connect with their students. Our teachers are empowered by their freedom to create curriculum based on their unique styles of teaching and the needs of their students. Though they are guided by school requirements, our teachers have the ability to focus more on the “what” of teaching without being told “how” to do it. Teacher empowerment is what paves the way for new classes and activities to be offered to our students. Ultimately, empowered teachers are what helps our schools to continually grow and improve.
Power to the Parents
Empowering you with the ability to be directly involved in your child’s education is extremely important to our staff. We not only want you to be aware of what goes on at our schools, we want you to be apart of your child’s experience and participate as much as you are able. Your participation is what encourages your child to be successful and it allows you to work with our teachers as we all work towards the same goal: preparing your child for a rewarding college career.