HS Freshman Struggling with Grades
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Anonymous
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DD has had a great transition to HS socially but has really struggled academically. I never thought she was stellar as there were things I was surprised she didn't get quickly despite her great grades. She did have all As in 6th and 7th grade. In 8th she had mix of As and Bs but did fail a few tests. She has not done well in High School. Except for two electives (PE and Art) her classes are all Honors. She started with Computer Science and then changed to Art after one week of the class. She also failed her first two tests in Language so dropped back to repeat the language from the prior year (Level 2). She has gotten Ds on the first two Honors Algebra 2 tests. She also got a E on her only Honors Biology test (but still technically has C in class). It doesn't seem like friends have had a hard transition. We have set rules for the weekend to increase the study time. It seems to me that she puts in the time but it is not sinking in. I have a few questions that I hope others can offer their insight. I am not ready to go to counsel because DD has already been high maintenance by switching two classes the first three of week of school but I will also talk to him after first quarter.
1) It seems like 70% or more of kids take the Honor class (i.e. Honors English, Honor Algebra 2, Honors History). Should DD not be taking Honors (she says not one of her friends is in the non-Honors classes in any subject)? 2) Is it more normal than I think to get 90% As in Middle School but have a mix of A, Bs, and Cs in High School? 3) Should I be getting tutors for her - have never done that for any of my kids? 4) What level of pressure should I be putting on her? I try to make it about the effort not the grade. But my only measure of effort is the time she puts in. I think it is the quality and concentration is not good even though she is not on phone etc. Any other advice, I want her to be able to get into a decent college, not top level, but I don't want her to have little options. But I also don't want High School to be miserable and her to feel like a failure. |
Anonymous
| OMG run don't walk to the school counselor. If you wait until the end of the quarter she'll never catch up. Get her signed up for whatever the non IEP version of Resource is in your school. |
Anonymous
| Go to the counselor. Have them talk study strategies. Manuel your daughter doesn actually know how to study and prepare. They don't teach that well anymore. Just because she's sitting there at home trying to learn doesn't mean it's well spent time. Maybe she has trouble processing information, maybe she's anxious and distracted. Go now. Be high maintenance. It's worth it for your kid. Research some good tutors not hair to get her caught up but to give her study skills and learn how to learn!! |
Anonymous
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I agree with getting her to the counselor. Also,
1. Work with her on her agenda. Ask about what she has coming up. Help her think about what she did wrong and how she can do better. I have two kids that do this well and one (high schooler) that does not. 2. Take away screen time during the week and/or limit access to her phone for certain hours. She could be distracted. 3. Get her involved in an activity that lets her move around - athletics, etc. It's shown to help brain functioning - particularly executive functioning. good luck. my son only got better the summer before his junior year after he grew 6 inches. |
Anonymous
This post doesn't apply to me because my oldest daughter is in fifth grade and she seems like OP's daughter did. My concern is that she will face something similar once she reaches high school. How do you teach your child study strategies? What can be done now (or even starting next year in middle school?)? |
Anonymous
| Agreed you need a meeting with the counselor. They should be able to set up a team meeting with her teachers too. You did not say which school but it is true that most college bound kids are in honors classes..but not all. My DS took non-honors language as it was a struggle point for him (just before dropping it) Good Luck! |
Anonymous
| OP here. Ok, I hear everyone loud and clear and will go to counselor. I have to tell you, it has been a shock. |
Anonymous
Start now teaching your child to be responsible for her homework and schedule. Give her the tools let her make decisions, including bad ones. Let her work out better plans when what she tries fails - but let it fail so she learns now. Teach her to break down big projects into smaller parts and make a schedule. Once she reaches middle school, teach her to manage her grades. Since you can retake many tests, teach her strategies for maximizing her grades. At the end of each marking period show her where she lost free points (not turning in homework or not retaking tests). If she struggles with things, teach her strategies. Teach her to organize her backpack and her binder (middle school). Hardest things are to let her do things her way not the way that you think should work best and don't save her. Let her fail and the. Teach her to pick up the pieces and make better plans and decisions. |
Anonymous
Not the PP, but thank you for this! -Also a parent of a MS kid. |
Anonymous
| Maybe its less about the schedule and more about the topics. Could she have an underlying learning disability that is just now coming to a head when she has harder classes? Yes to counselor and be open to some additional testing on the off chance there is something bigger a foot. Also realize the teachers and counselor may not have the answer - they may just assume she isn't trying - it will likely fall to you as her parent to explore further where the issue lies. |
Anonymous
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Not everyone is cut out for honors. I get that parents enroll their kids in honors to keep them away from the bad kids, but the reality is that most kids can't handle it.
The more I hear about mcps high school craziness, the more I think I should just focus on having my kid learn the basics, enjoy life, and plan to do a semester or two at mc and transfer to umcp. |
Anonymous
Our third child had nearly the same experience after the two older kids sailed through academically. At the end of Sophomore year we had her tested and found out she was dealing with ADHD and a mild learning disability. She's doing much better now, with the help of tutors, extra time on tests, and medication. I wish we'd tested her sooner, to be honest. Not that I'm saying your child necessarily needs to be tested, as her issues may be something else and may kids have trouble Freshman year transition to HS. Just be aware it could be more than this. Good luck. |
Anonymous
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The transition from middle to high school is real. Middle school still involves a lot of hands on teaching and practice. High school is more set up for independent learning like read the textbook answer the questions.
I'd talk to the counselor. It is hard for a lot of students to adjust. They have seen it before. I would also get her a tutor. She needs to learn how to identify important information that will be tested and learn to study actively by making her own flash cards, rewording information herself, outlining chapters, etc. |
Anonymous
| She may need addition support to learn organization, study skills and time management. HS is just a huge transition both academically and socially. Also, maybe this year she may not be prepared for honors classes. |
Anonymous
| I don't know how much it depends on the school but our experience with the honors/regular divide in MCPS is that the difference is minimal. The honors classes seem to just have "projects" on top of the regular work, but, I can't say we have lots of experience. |