Students are out of school nearly as much as they are in school in the months of November, December, and January.  Here is one example:  students in Alachua County public schools will attend school for 15 days in November, 14 days in December, and 17 days in January.  Students also deal with some quirkiness during this time as the semester ends.  Exams are often administered just before the Winter break while the semester officially ends in January (January 11 in Alachua County Schools).  This schedule is less than ideal, but we can’t change the holiday schedule for the sake of school. Here are some tips and reminders for preventing holiday slippage during a time when it is easy to put school on the back burner:

1.      Figure out the deal with “exams”

Some classes feature a comprehensive exam based on everything covered since August.  Some classes will have a test covering recent material.  Some will have a project or presentation.  Some won’t have anything.  Students need to know the when (before or after the Winter Break), the what (exam, test, project, etc.), and the how much (exams may be worth 20% of the semester grade, tests may be worth 33% of the nine weeks grade, etc). 

2.      Win the “on the border” battle

Many students are between two letter grades in one or more classes.  That is, they have high B, but could earn an A in a course.  Good students find a way to win these battles and earn the higher grade.  Average students win some and lose some.  Below average students lose these battles.  Bad students don’t even know what their grade is or that there is a battle to be won or lost.  Win a battle or two because …..

3.      Only the semester grade matters to colleges

Official transcripts show semester grades to colleges.  First semester grades are a combination of the grades for the first nine weeks, second nine weeks, and the semester exam (if there is one).  Here are two scenarios:

1st nine weeks low A, 2nd nine weeks B, semester exam low B = B for the semester

1st nine weeks high B, 2nd nine weeks high B, semester exam A = A for the semester

Colleges will not know what the nine weeks grades or the exam grade was.  They just see the semester grade.

4.      It is holiday time for teachers too.

Teachers are some of my favorite people, but they are just regular people.  They deal with all of the same things you do during this time of the year.  They shop.  They travel.  They have family visiting their homes.  Don’t be shocked if teachers aren’t especially proactive during this time of the year.  The caring teacher who would have contacted you about something in September might not contact you in December.   The hard-working teacher who always updates grades and grades tests or papers quickly may not be able to keep up their speedy work during the holidays.  Your student’s progress is up to your student (and then up to you as their most passionate advocate). 

5.      Going back to school after long breaks is rough

Going bed very late and sleeping in during the holidays is the norm for teenagers.  Don’t let your student be the one with their head on their desk the first day or two back from Winter break.  Make your child put their phone in the charging area of your home (which is not their room, right?) and get some sleep the night before school resumes.  Two nights of quality sleep will put your child way ahead of most of their peers.

6.      Learning doesn’t have to stop during the holidays

If you hard-working child needs a break from school, let them take it.  If you think that your child needs to stay plugged into learning, here are some suggested activities: 

Read a book

Catch up on or get ahead on a virtual class if your child has one

Watch a movie based on a book your child has read

Take a virtual tour of a college your child might be interested in

Begin preparing for the February 8 ACT or March 9 SAT

Happy Holidays.  Stay on top of school and contact Student First Education if you or your child need help.