Helping Your High Schooler Finish Strong

David Owen: 00:00:00

Here we go, heading into the final stretch of this school year. But is there time to help your child finish strong? That's up next on the Inside Scoop. Hello and welcome back to the Inside scoop. I'm David Owen.

If you hear something that could help your student cross the finish line successfully, please give us that cherished like subscribe and share. I'm joined today by someone intimately familiar with student struggles this time of year, high school counseling consultant, Dr. Brandy Brady.

Brandy, welcome back.

Brandy Brady: 00:00:34

Thank you so much for having me.

David Owen: 00:00:36

So progress reports went out not that long ago, right?

Brandy Brady: 00:00:40

Correct.

David Owen: 00:00:42

And parents can see what's going on academically through ctls Parent.

So I guess the question right now is here in early May, what should every high school parent check, let's say just this week to make sure their student is going to finish strong, finish the year successfully?

Brandy Brady: 00:01:05

Well, hopefully they're checking their student's grades in parent view and looking at all of those grades, if there's anything that's missing, any missing assignments, sitting down with their student to check those missing assignments and then also communicating with those teachers just to make sure that if those missing assignments can be turned in and there's time to turn them in, that that's getting done, making sure that those students are attending regularly. I know there's not that much time left in the school year, but sometimes students still get sick.

But when they do come back to class that they are talking with those teachers to make sure that those missed assignments that they missed while they were out are getting turned in and preparing for any AP exams, final exams as we finish out the school year.

David Owen: 00:01:51

Okay, so I got a curve ball to throw at you right out of the gate. I heard from some teenagers who may live in my house that complains, well, the teacher hasn't put in all the grades.

It'll come up as soon as they put in all the grades. How often do you hear that?

Brandy Brady: 00:02:12

Very often. But also with parents checking parent view, students can also check student view.

And if there are questions or concerns, students need to be communicating with their teachers too, just to make sure that everyone is on the same accord. Because again, we're at the end of the school year.

As long as those assignments and those grades are accounted for, everything should be in working order.

But I think the main component here is making sure that communication is happening between the student, the teacher, the family, so that everything is happening the way that it should.

David Owen: 00:02:44

So being that it's so late in the year, then it's wise to make sure you've got good Contact with the teacher for the course. That's of question.

Brandy Brady: 00:02:55

Yes.

David Owen: 00:02:56

So what realistic.

I mean, not that what said is unrealistic, but what realistic actions do families still have available as resources for helping their student this time of year? You've already mentioned contact the teacher right away as soon as you realize something's off track. What else can they focus on?

Brandy Brady: 00:03:20

Depending on how bad that grade is, if they're truly failing and it's not something that they can repair. Making sure that that student and their family are in communication with their school counselor.

If summer is an option, then talking through that to see what that process would look like for that student. So just making sure you're also communicating with your school counselor, too.

David Owen: 00:03:41

Okay, so there are summer options available. I guess really what we should do is maybe put a link to where those summer options are available through the website. Is that the kopk12.org website?

Brandy Brady: 00:03:54

Yes. And those conversations are happening. And it's just making sure that you know, the student and the family and the counselor all working together.

Because I think it's important for students and families to know there are options.

But if that communication is happening, then we've laid the framework for that to let your child know, even though you haven't passed the class thus far, and even if you don't pass the class and it's one that you need to graduate from high school, we can help you do that. And it may be through summer school,.

David Owen: 00:04:24

If it's available, and particularly for high schoolers who are looking at graduation. Hopefully it's not your graduate.

Brandy Brady: 00:04:30

Yes.

David Owen: 00:04:31

Your year of graduating.

Okay, so one thing I found, I've heard actually, is sometimes if you set the A as the standard for a student succeeding, you're more likely to be disappointed if it's a struggling student. Right. If it's a struggle because of just not doing the work, that's different than a child who just simply isn't getting it.

They're trying and so forth. So in that case, would a lower target be wise? I mean, always we want to aim for the highest, but it might be their own personal gain. Is that.

Are we shooting ourselves in the foot, so to speak, with setting that approach for them as a goal?

Brandy Brady: 00:05:17

You mean them just working to get the A?

David Owen: 00:05:20

Yeah. Feeling defeated at getting an A where maybe they could hit a C if they really put the effort in.

Brandy Brady: 00:05:28

Yeah, we just want them to work as hard as they can, you know? Whereas if I'm a student who doesn't do well in honors and AP classes, and you know, maybe I do better in on level classes.

Depending on the subject area.

We want them to work as hard as they can using the resources that they have after school, tutoring, working with your teacher, whatever the resources are.

David Owen: 00:05:50

Yeah.

Brandy Brady: 00:05:50

We want our students to know there are so many resources in your building with your teachers tutoring. Your counselors may be aware of some additional resources to support your students just to make sure that they are successful.

David Owen: 00:06:02

Yeah. Would you say that the emotional demeanor or position of a student at the end of the year is really impactful?

In other words, there are some families that really, they're like, you got to get good grades, you got to, got to. And, and they can begin feeling defeated and give up or is that actually motivational?

Brandy Brady: 00:06:25

And sometimes they might feel it just depends on the student. It depends on the course, the scenario.

I think there are so many different factors that go into that because I think our students have worked so hard throughout the year. At the end of the year, they're tired.

David Owen: 00:06:37

Everybody's getting tired. Right.

Brandy Brady: 00:06:40

They're tired.

David Owen: 00:06:41

Teachers too. They don't want to say it, but they are.

Okay, so just a minute ago we were talking about credit recovery and all that for students who are seniors and they're like, am I going to be able to walk across the stage? Am I going to graduate? What are the most common last minute issues that can prevent graduation that parents might help avoid?

Brandy Brady: 00:07:09

Maybe not passing a class that you need to graduate, or you haven't showed up for your final exam, or maybe you didn't take it quite serious, not attending the class. So all of those things are important.

And our seniors know what they need to graduate because they got that senior letter at the very beginning of the school year.

David Owen: 00:07:26

But did they read it?

Brandy Brady: 00:07:27

Yes, and hopefully they have.

We want our families and our seniors to have read that senior letter that came out the beginning of the school year because they know what's expected of them. But attending school regularly from start to finish, and we're not quite finished yet, seniors.

David Owen: 00:07:43

We did a podcast on that. Not sure if it was last week.

Brandy Brady: 00:07:47

Or we want them to finish.

David Owen: 00:07:48

It's important.

Brandy Brady: 00:07:49

We want them to be there because their final exams have not started yet. So we want them to be there to take that final exam to do well on it so that they can graduate next month.

David Owen: 00:08:00

It's amazing. It's here already, folks. It's amazing.

Brandy Brady: 00:08:04

It is.

David Owen: 00:08:05

All right, so looking ahead to next year, is it too late for families to make changes to their students course schedule? I mean, is that all set in stone before now. Because the reason I'm asking is I've found that one of my kids in high school has a high level of rigor.

She's an honors student and others are in a general class, but they're just blowing it out of the water. If I wanted to bump them up to a class, what do you call that differential?

Brandy Brady: 00:08:46

You want to change the level of rigor, I guess.

David Owen: 00:08:49

Right. If I wanted to change that. Is that, is it too late? Has that ship already sailed?

Brandy Brady: 00:08:55

So I just wanted to say that each school, they have their own scheduling process so that students and their families can select their classes, review what they've selected, and if there's a change process, they've explained what that change process will be.

David Owen: 00:09:10

Okay.

Brandy Brady: 00:09:10

So with the level of rigor, it's not always going to be about the number of the honors and AP classes that students have.

It's going to be a balance because we really want, we care about the overall readiness and we care about their goals and, you know, what they're good at and their strengths. So all of that's going to be important because we want to make sure that we have well rounded students.

David Owen: 00:09:30

Yeah. You want to make sure the, I guess the rigor in the class matches the students desires and abilities, Right?

Brandy Brady: 00:09:37

Correct. Absolutely.

David Owen: 00:09:38

That's interesting. I hadn't considered that. And you say it's a up to the schools. Pretty much.

So I guess the standard answer would be check with your counselor if you don't already have documentation that shows up.

Brandy Brady: 00:09:49

Absolutely.

David Owen: 00:09:50

Right.

Brandy Brady: 00:09:50

And I'm sure all of those schools have communicated that information to each of their school communities.

David Owen: 00:09:56

Okay, so I think we kind of already touched that you addressed the senioritis issue right off. So students lose their motivation toward the end of the year. Again, everybody's getting tired and maybe short tempered at times, but.

So what's the best way for parents to respond when their child just starts to give up?

Brandy Brady: 00:10:21

Paying attention to those signs, maintaining that open communication with your child, continuing their routine, whatever that looks like for them, I think setting those short term goals, understanding and writing down when their final exams are, if they are part of any AP testing, knowing when that happens just to be prepared and ready for them. And again, staying open and allowing them to be open with you about whatever those struggles are.

David Owen: 00:10:51

Yeah. Be welcoming when they have a question. So when parents are experiencing this, their child just has that look of I gave up in their eyes.

One thing I've found helpful is to remember that these are kids whose brains are still developing and some of them catch on to keeping up with things. And others are like, wait, there's school.

So there has to, you have to, obviously you know your kid, but you have to always remember that point of grace, right. That they are still in that developmental stage. So how can families use the summer strategically?

I mean, we're all looking for the finish line academically, right?

I mean, yes, we, we said everybody's tired, but without it becoming, oh, summer just is more school, what can we do now to help make that a smoother next round?

Brandy Brady: 00:11:53

Of course we want to rest and relax because we all need some downtime for that. But so that we don't forget what we've learned, it's also going to be important to maybe incorporate summer reading.

And it doesn't have to be something that you're required to read. Maybe it could be something that you enjoy reading so that you're still practicing what you've learned. You know, just the art of reading.

But maybe it's something that you enjoy reading. Maybe it's the topic. Okay, that could be different.

Maybe you could apply for internships, volunteering in your community because again, you want to become a well rounded student. So you could do that by volunteering within your community.

David Owen: 00:12:30

That's a good point because that brings about some level of self discipline, right?

Brandy Brady: 00:12:35

Absolutely. If you're planning on, you know, going to college, maybe you're, you know, involving yourself in college prep activities.

Maybe you are involving yourself in some academic recovery or maybe you're accelerating, you know, math, reading, science activities.

David Owen: 00:12:55

You know, that brings to mind CVA Cobb Virtual Academy has that available. I think I may regret telling you that, but we'll put a link to it and you can investigate it through the link.

But I've understood that sometimes that could be used for credit recovery as well.

Brandy Brady: 00:13:16

To earn initial credit.

David Owen: 00:13:18

Oh, initial credit. Okay. All right. Listen to her, not me. That's why we have the experts on.

Well, Brandy, is there anything else that you, you feel like our parents and students need to know so that these last few weeks are like, yes, crossing the finish line.

Brandy Brady: 00:13:35

Finish strong, students. Check your grades in parent view. Parents, I know you're doing an awesome job checking your students grades in parent view.

There are also parameters to change the numerical value if your child's grade goes below a certain level.

If you just want to make sure that your child's grade is staying at a certain level and you're doing an amazing job and let's just finish out this year just as great as we started, that's awesome.

David Owen: 00:14:04

The students hate hearing about that threshold. You get notices whenever that their grade drops below that threshold. And so they're like, ah, she found out.

Well, Brandy, thank you so much for coming in and sharing. These are, you know, here we are in the last few weeks of school, but there's still hope if you've got a student who's struggling.

And just these little things can make a big difference, right?

Brandy Brady: 00:14:30

Absolutely. And communication is key.

David Owen: 00:14:33

Always communication. That's true.

So nervous parents should feel a little more empowered, if not by your practical tips that you've offered, but just the awareness that they're not alone. I mean, this is. This is important not to feel isolated. So there is hope.

Brandy Brady: 00:14:51

Absolutely.

David Owen: 00:14:52

So if you got something out of this episode, remember that, like, subscribe and share it with a friend today.

Also, make sure you check out the show notes and description for those helpful links and other information, including our vast library of past episodes that you might find helpful. Thank you for listening to the Inside Scoop, a podcast produced by the Cobb County School District.