As we wrap up winter break and look forward to spring break and
summer break, it’s important to consider how your child can academically take
advantage of that time off. At mid-year, usually at winter break, it’s a good
idea to review grades and strategize. Often, GPAs are based on final averages
and those are derived from the averages of first and second semester grades.
Make sure you understand your schools GPA and grading policies then review
grades at semester. Be certain your child understands what they need to do
during the second semester to bump, say that high B, to an A for the year.
Breaks can also be an opportunity for reflection and research. This is a good time to have family discussions about college and talk about what schools your child might attend. Use tools like the College Board’s College Search Engine to research colleges based on a number of factors including size, location, cost, and intended majors. Majors themselves are worth researching as well and many sites offer information related to those including employment forecasts and pay opportunities.
Once your child reaches their junior and senior years it’s time to get in the car and go take some tours. Use breaks from school to take a family vacation and visit a handful of schools your child is interested in attending. Nearly all colleges and universities as well as vocational and community colleges offer tours in one form or another. Times and availability can vary from school to school though and availability can disappear quickly during traditional break times so check with the post-secondary schools you are interested in about their tours before you head out for your visits.
If you have an especially ambitious child, school breaks can be a good time to job shadow as well. If a student is very interested in a given career field, talk to someone you know in that industry and ask if he or she can shadow for some time over their break. Nothing can enlighten a student into what they want to do for a career so much as the opportunity to see what happens on a day to day basis within that job.
Lastly, if nothing else school breaks can be a time to take care of some school “maintenance” that might otherwise get lost in the shuffle. Use the free time to sign up for and prepare for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. Explore the federal government’s financial aid website (fafsa.ed.gov) and estimate the financial aid you can expect. Clean out backpacks and restock school supplies. Update resumes and list accomplishments over the past semester. This will be a handy list to have when it is time to complete college and scholarship applications rather than trying to recall what you did three years ago.
Whatever the case, there is plenty to do when your child has some vacation time. Just as parents might use their vacation time to get home improvement projects done or get through some spring cleaning, your child can accomplish some things too that will put them in a better place as they move through high school. Sure, it’s important they have some time to relax and clear their heads but 90 minutes of “life homework” over a couple of weeks off won’t hurt them.
Breaks can also be an opportunity for reflection and research. This is a good time to have family discussions about college and talk about what schools your child might attend. Use tools like the College Board’s College Search Engine to research colleges based on a number of factors including size, location, cost, and intended majors. Majors themselves are worth researching as well and many sites offer information related to those including employment forecasts and pay opportunities.
Once your child reaches their junior and senior years it’s time to get in the car and go take some tours. Use breaks from school to take a family vacation and visit a handful of schools your child is interested in attending. Nearly all colleges and universities as well as vocational and community colleges offer tours in one form or another. Times and availability can vary from school to school though and availability can disappear quickly during traditional break times so check with the post-secondary schools you are interested in about their tours before you head out for your visits.
If you have an especially ambitious child, school breaks can be a good time to job shadow as well. If a student is very interested in a given career field, talk to someone you know in that industry and ask if he or she can shadow for some time over their break. Nothing can enlighten a student into what they want to do for a career so much as the opportunity to see what happens on a day to day basis within that job.
Lastly, if nothing else school breaks can be a time to take care of some school “maintenance” that might otherwise get lost in the shuffle. Use the free time to sign up for and prepare for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. Explore the federal government’s financial aid website (fafsa.ed.gov) and estimate the financial aid you can expect. Clean out backpacks and restock school supplies. Update resumes and list accomplishments over the past semester. This will be a handy list to have when it is time to complete college and scholarship applications rather than trying to recall what you did three years ago.
Whatever the case, there is plenty to do when your child has some vacation time. Just as parents might use their vacation time to get home improvement projects done or get through some spring cleaning, your child can accomplish some things too that will put them in a better place as they move through high school. Sure, it’s important they have some time to relax and clear their heads but 90 minutes of “life homework” over a couple of weeks off won’t hurt them.
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