October 2012
Madison Public Schools
Lee S. Nittel, Director of Curriculum
Work with your teen to build
strategies for upcoming tests
Your teen has a big test coming up and he’s anxious about doing well. You’d
like to help, but you don’t quite understand the material.
Don’t let that stop you. You can support your teen’s
studying even if you don’t have in-depth knowledge of
the topic. You can:
• Reduce test stress. Remind him that he did
well on tests in the past. The study skills he used
then will help him now.
• Ask for a textbook tour. Have him
show you the chapter he’ll be tested on. Can he explain the illustrations and charts? What does he
think will be on the test?
• Have him make vocabulary
flash cards. Put each word on
one side of a card and its definition
on the back. Have him review the
cards frequently.
• Avoid morning madness. Make sure he gets enough sleep the night
before the test and eats a good breakfast that morning. Have him put
everything he needs in his backpack so he won’t be rushing at the last
minute.
• Offer some test-taking tips. Tell your teen to read the directions
carefully, answer the questions he’s sure of first, circle key words in long
questions to find the main point, and to use his time wisely.
Understanding consequences can
encourage responsibility in teens
Teens should anticipate the consequences of their actions and act in positive ways. Sounds good, but how do you promote responsible behavior?
Remember to:
offer to drive her to school in the
• Have some rules. Your teen
morning so she can sleep later.
needs to learn the skills that will
help her after she graduates.
• Follow through. If you have
a curfew, don’t let your teen get
• Model thinking out loud. “If
away with coming in late.
I do this work tonight, I can get to
your game tomorrow.”
And don’t forget. Your teen always
needs to know you love her even if
• Let your teen experience
she makes a bad choice.
the consequences of her actions.
If she stays up too late, don’t
Source: H.S. Glenn and M.L. Brock, 7 Strategies for
Developing Capable Students, Prima Publishing.
Spending time with your
teen is still important
Communicating with teens can be a challenge. Sometimes it’s easier when you’re
engaged in an activity. Together you and
your teen could:
• Attend a school athletic event.
• Play cards or a
board game.
• Prepare a meal.
• Do a home improvement project.
• Look at old family photo albums.
• Volunteer to help others.
Source: K. DeBord, Ph.D., and L. Shannon, Ph.D., “Secrets
of Parenting: Building a Great Relationship with Your Teen,”
newsforparents.org, www.newsforparents.org/expert_secrets_
to_parenting_teens.html.
What does STEM stand for?
STEM, a relatively new term in education,
stands for Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics. Educators emphasize the
importance of these subject areas for future
success, not only for students, but for our
country as well. Make sure your teen enrolls
in challenging classes that prepare her for
jobs of the future.
Source: M. Schiavelli “STEM education for the benefit of all,”
American Council on Education, www.solutionsforourfuture.
org/guest_MelSchiavelli3.htm.
Promote a positive attitude
A positive attitude is a foundation in building character. Encourage your teen to:
• Focus on what went well. Don’t
dwell on what went wrong.
• Move on. If he didn’t make
the team or had another disappointment, encourage him
to put it behind him for now.
Look in a new direction.
• Laugh. Remember: Nothing is better
than humor for getting rid of a negative
attitude.
Source: B.A. Lewis, What Do You Stand For? For Teens, A Guide
to Building Character, Free Spirit Publishing.
Copyright © 2012, The Parent Institute®, www.parent-institute.com
Being on time should be
a priority for your family
October 2012
Does your teen get distracted
while she’s multitasking?
Q: When my daughter does her homework, she’s also listening
to music and texting her friends. When I say I’m concerned that
she’s not concentrating, she says “Mom, don’t worry, everyone
multitasks now.” Am I worrying about nothing?
A: Researchers have studied how students concentrate. Can they remember
what they read if they’re also watching TV? Can they learn
vocabulary words if they’re also texting friends?
Results show that there is always a cost
to multitasking. Teens really can’t do two
things at once. Instead, they switch back and
forth between them. So when your teen does
her homework while the TV is on in the background, her homework is more likely to be of
lower quality.
What about listening to music? Research says
teens use the same part of their brain to process the
words to a song and the words they’re reading in
their textbook. So songs with words can interfere with
studying. Music without words is processed by a different part of the brain
and may not affect your teen’s ability to focus on schoolwork.
Still, the research is clear. If your teen wants to do something well, it’s
best for her to focus on one task at a time.
Source: D. Willingham, “Data Shows Kids Shouldn’t Multitask,” The Washington Post, http://voices.
washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/guest-bloggers/data-shows-kids-shouldnt-multi.html#more.
Are you prepared to survive your
teen’s first high school romance?
You survived teething and toilet training. You lived through the middle
school years. But now your teen is dating! There are ways parents can help
teens navigate their first romance. Answer yes or no to each question.
___1. D
o you talk with your teen
about qualities to look for in
a signigicant other, like kindness and respect?
___2. Do you talk with your teen
about your family’s values? If
she feels pressured to become
sexually active, she knows she
can talk with you.
___3. Do you know where your
teen is going, who she’ll be
with, and when she’ll be
home before she goes on a
date?
___4. Do you insist on meeting
anyone that your teen dates?
___5. D
oes your teen know that
you will be completely in her
corner if the romance ends (as
it likely will)?
How did you score? You can’t
prevent broken hearts, but each yes
means you’re helping your teen navigate
today’s dating game.
Is your teen often late for school? If you
justify it by saying, “We’re just so busy!”
you’re sending the wrong message. When
you allow your teen to arrive late for school
you’re saying:
• School isn’t that important.
• Rules can be broken.
• A commitment to teachers and classmates doesn’t matter.
• Your teen isn’t
important to his
group’s success
when working on
group projects.
Kids who are on
time for school are more
inclined to take school commitments seriously. They respect others’ time and needs.
As a result, they do better in school.
Saying fewer words can
create more discipline
Does it seem that you’re constantly reminding your teen to do homework or chores?
Save your breath—and get results—by using
fewer words. Trim your speech down to just
the bare minimum: “David. Trash. Now.”
“Emily. TV off. Homework first.”
Encourage your teen to
find an adult mentor
Teens are influenced by their peers, right?
Actually research indicates that adults—
parents, teachers and coaches—make a big
difference in keeping teens in school and
promoting the value of an education. Get
to know the teachers and staff at your teen’s
school. They want your teen to succeed just
as much as you do.
Source: M. Wang and J. Eccles, “Teachers, parents trump peers
in keeping teens engaged in school,” University of Michigan
Institute for Social Research.
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Copyright © 2012, The Parent Institute®, www.parent-institute.com
Helping Students Learn®
Published in English and Spanish, September through May.
Publisher: John H. Wherry, Ed.D.
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