Why Advanced Placement Classes?

     Advanced Placement classes, otherwise known as AP classes, are college level classes that high school students take.  The classes are more rigorous and follow specific guidelines.  The student's knowledge is measured in May with a national test.  If a student scores a 3, 4 or a 5 on the test, most colleges will honor college units.  Colleges also then know that a student can handle the work and a rigor of a college class.  High schools also weigh the AP classes with a higher GPA score.  Where a tradional class's GPA ranking ranges from a 0 to a 4, an AP classes ranking ranges from 0 to 5.  An A grade is now worth a 5, and a B is now worth a 4 on the GPA scale. 
     Where students run into issues is when their grades are not good in an AP class.  A D or an F is still a D or an F.  Colleges accept neither grade. 
     My advise:  Choose your AP classes wisely.  Be sure you have the time, the work ethic and the commitment to start the class, be successful in the class and complete the class.  Colleges do not want to see students quit.  Colleges want students to finish what s/he commits himself to and take the test in May.  A student must plan to set a good amount of time each night to studying and truly doing the work assigned.  Success in an AP class is big.  The sacrifice is well worth it.

Weighted Grades

     Parents often ask me, "What are weighted grades and what are the advantages of a weighted class to getting into college?"   First, a weighted grade is a grade that allows for a higher grade point average.  For instance, where an A in a regular class is a 4 when calculating the GPA, in a weighted class, it is equivalent to a 5.  This is how students can potentially earn a GPA higher than a 4.0.
     In some schools where honors classes are taught, the school and the district will weigh their own grades.  Colleges do not typically accept this GPA and use their own rules to recalculate the GPA.  However, if the the class is an Advanced Placement class, the colleges will typically recognize the higher ranking. 
     Why do colleges look at AP classes differently than honors classes?  An AP class is a college class.  It is taught by strict guidelines that have to be approved by the governing board.  The student also takes a national test in May to prove the knowledge.  The student's grade should match up with the score on the test.  If students who receive A's in this class, often fail the test, this is a red flag that the grades are inflated.   For colleges that are accessing the curriculum of a school, this is a valid way to check that students are being taught and are learning college level curriculum.  Honors classes have no built in controls.  Even though the class may be rigorous, colleges have no ability to truly access the rigor.  Remenber, however, a D is still a D.  Colleges accept no D's, even in an AP Class. 
     If you are concerned whether or not a specific college wants to see AP level classes on the transcript, call the school. Even better, call or e-mail the specific department of the college your child wishes to attend.  Even though, colleges want to see high GPA's and rigorous classes, the colleges also want to see success.  If your child takes AP classes or too difficult a load, and does poorly, this proves nothing to the colleges.  The goal is to take the "challenge" your child can handle.   And always remember, when in doubt, ask.

High School Academies - How do Colleges Look at Academies?

     A while back I visited the topic of academies and career paths but felt I was not complete in my discussion.  Many high schools focus on academies - career paths - as a way to keep student interest, keep it real, and give students exposure to careers and career paths.   How do colleges feel about this emphasis?  Ofcourse, every college will have their own take and as a parent or student who is interested in a specific college and major, they should call the department of that university.   When I was involved in the opening of a new high school several years back, one hat I wore was academy coordinator.  I worked with community members and major colleges to create the focus of our academies.  The colleges appreciated our work for several reasons:
1.  It exposed students to their field of interest. If a student "loved" what was learned in high school, the major that was chosen was out of experience and not from what the student "heard".
2.  If the student found that this path was not for them, the student did not waste time and money or the university's efforts in accepting him/her.  The student was able to pick a different path and major before starting college.
     The second reason is especially important.  If a student is accepted to a 4 year college right after high school, nothing is more expensive for the university than if the student drops out by Christmas and returns to the local junior college.   Not only has the university given up a space to the student, but it had turned down other strong prospects who now are at other choice campuses.
     Ultimately, career paths and academies help a student to pick their colleges and their majors a little more wisely.  The colleges are provided with some insight of the student's exposure to the major, their success in the high school classes and their passion for what the student wants to do as a field and a career.

Choosing High School Classes

     It is that time of year when parents and students ask me, "What are colleges looking for?  What should I take next year to be accepted into a good college?"  Each time I answer a little differently depending on a student's success the current year and what they are shooting for after graduation.  It also depends on their extra curricular schedule.  Colleges do want to see rigor in a student's schedule.  But they also want to see success.  By success, I mean A's and B's.  A C, though exceptable, means the student is only average in the course.   So, it comes down to, what is the proper balance for your child?
     Year after year, I see students take on too many difficult classes at the expense of all classes.  It is a great idea to take Advanced Placement classes.  However, to take three and end up wih just C's while the other classes also suffer is not a good idea.  Pick and choose a balanced schedule and keep in mind how long you will be at play practice, football practice, swimming or any other time demanding activity.  Make up a schedule of when and how you plan to study that can fit into all the other activities.  Your goal:  To show success in every part of your schedule.  Also, keep in mind, colleges want to see you committed to completing the class and taking the AP test in May.  Colleges will avoid students who show they may drop out.   Good luck and happy picking.

The Angry Teen

     A teenager can be angry at you, at school, and at the world for many reasons.  Life changes can cause this anger - divorce, death, a new child, a move to a different house and school.   Not feeling popular at school or being bullied can result in pent up aggression where the teen takes it out by being passive aggressive.  Overall, not feeling in contol of one's life can result in anger.  And of course, plain old growing pains, can result in behavior where your child no longer acts like the child you know and love.   So, what do you do?
     Patience is part of the remedy.  Though you may want to change him/her back to that loving child again, patience and time has to be part of the picture.  To have a positive relationship with your child is critical.  This relationship involves doing things you both enjoy.  Each family is different.  Create time where activities can happen.  While achieving that common ground again with your child, listen.  Listen to his/her opinions, his/her activities, and what helps your child strive.  You might have an idea what you want your child to become one day.   But, is that what your child wants? 
     Where school is involved, help your child become part of the school's community.  This may be through sports, plays, music, or other clubs on campus.  Help your child feel that the school is his/her school and that s/he has a place to belong at school.
     Most importantly, get to know your child's friends.  If your child is bringing friends home, this is a good sign.  It means the child is proud of his/her home and the members in his/her home.  Even if you are busy, help them to feel welcome.  Yes, it may intrude on your personal space, but at least you know where your child is and who the child is with.  The best part - you know your child is safe.

More Passive Aggressive Teens

In any task, if a student feels constant failure, the student will eventually shut down. Sometimes, the student may seem passive aggressive because the student is tired of trying and experiencing failure from his/her efforts. This is where it becomes critical for the parent and school to work together to find out the cause of failure. It is very possible that something else may be occurring. The parent may want to start with the child’s pedestrian to make sure the issue is not physical. By physical, it could be a hearing problem or a sight problem. But it could also be a chemical issue where the student cannot focus and school. An example of this would be Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD). Often, if treated correctly with a medical doctor, the student can focus and understand their work. The distractions the student previously experienced become manageable. Once the issue is identified, the school can then work out a plan for the child’s success. The key is to have everyone on board working together for the child’s success. My next blog will discuss the angry teen.

What to do With Passive Aggressive Teens

     On the surface, all passive aggressive teenagers seem to be the same.  This is far from true.  As discussed previously, passive aggressive behavior is the result of several potential issues.  How do you recognize the cause of this behavior, and once this is identified, what should be done?
     If the behavior stems from a student really not knowing how to do the work, either from lack of ability or lack of focus, there are several ways to approach the issue.  Talk to your child and share a more active interest in their work.  Have the child read to you and ask to explain back what was read.  Encourage your child to teach you the information.  It is here you may recognize discrepencies between what was read and what was understood.  If this is the case, where do you go from here?  You or an expert can teach basic compensation skills to help with the material.   The compensation skills may include reading short passages and then summarizing the infomation on a three by five card, or a post it.  Encourage your child to discuss the information and teach the material back to you.  If you feel it is appropriate, a professional can be brought in to test your child and create educational tools to guide the child to understanding and holding on to information.  Next time, I will discuss other causes of passive aggressive behavior.

The Passive Aggressive Teenager

     To be passive aggressive is a very powerful tool.   Someone who is passive aggressive tries to win in issues by not doing anything.  This might include not doing homework, chores, not participating in discussions or other things that may be important to you but seem to not be important to the other person.  Ultimately, if the activity is something you really wish the other would do, it can drive you crazy trying to win in the battle to get the person to participate.   For many teenagers, this is a very powerful strategy to drive teachers and parents into a frenzy.   Lets focus on homework.  Why do teenagers choose not to do their homework?
     Most parents will say, "My child is smart but s/he is just lazy."   Rarely is being lazy the true reason why a child does not do their work.  Let's list more likely reasons this may occur:

1.  A child may not want to admit that s/he really does not understand the work.
2.  A reading comprehension issue may be involved that keeps the student from understanding the the work.
3.  The student may possibly have a learning disability such as ADHD and has a hard time staying focused to complete the assignment. It then becomes easier to give up instead of recognizing what the real issue is.
4.  The child may be mad at either their parents, the teacher or someone else involved in the class.  This is a  way to punish the person s/he is mad at.
5. The child does not feel good about himself and therefore chooses to no longer participate in his/her  education or other school activities.

     The first key to ending a passive aggressive teenager is to narrow down the reason the child chooses to not do their work.  Depending on which of the above reasons or others are causing the child to stop working will then lead us to find out methods to end the passive aggressive behavior.   In my next blog, I will discuss possible remedies to this problem.

More on Successful Parenting and Divorce

My previous comments could be true for a couple that is married or divorced. Now I will specifically speak of children of divorced parents. By divorced, I specifically mean parents living in different households and sharing custody of the children.

No matter how you may feel about your ex – spouse, you share the most valuable possession: your children. As parents, to properly raise the children the differences you and your spouse feel must be put aside. The following are points to consider in order for shared parenting and shared custody to occur smoothly.

1. Children still need to see you united – even if it is just a front.
When both of you can talk without an audience (your children) is the time to disagree and to come to reach an agreement.
2. Share common household rules and schedules:
a. What time the children come home
b. What time they study, do chores and even eat
c. Common bedtimes
3. Support each other in rules and consequences. Of course it is always best to revolve around your own schedule if grounding is involved. But for things like limited phone usage, friends, and other punishments that may fall into the other household, it is important both parents respect the other’s decision.
4. Don’t be outrageous with gifts and rewards. This is not some kind of competition. Both of you want what is best for your children. Discuss what is reasonable so both can support the reward.
5. Always remember: If your child does not see a unified front, your child will divide and conquer.

Ultimately, you will both take pride in your child’s successes. What you raise now and how well you work together seeds your future and your child’s choices for the future.

Divorce: Who Are Your Hostages?

     "I don't know, however, when my mother and father began their long, dispiriting war against each other.  Most of their skirmishes were like games of ringolevio, with the souls of their children serving as the ruined captured flags in their campaigns of attrition. Neither considered the potential damage when struggling over something as fragile and unformed as a child's life."  (Pat Conroy's Prince of Tides)
     Too often parents choose to not see what is best for a child in their upbringing.  If the parents do not agree, one may choose to be more lenient and become the child's "friend" to balance and compete with the strictness of the other spouse.   Ultimately, the child cannot be a pawn in the struggle to do proper parenting.  Consistent rules with both mom and dad need to be set and agreed on with proper rewards and punishments for the child's behavior and choices.   If the parents disagree, it is critical to show unity in front of the child.   The parents can discuss and "hash out" later what each feels to come up with a better plan next time.  If a child does not see unity among the parents, divorced or not, the child will "divide and conquer".  The child will play one against the other to obtain what s/he wants.  Likewise, unity needs to be demonstrated in supporting the teacher.  If the parent does disagree with a teacher's decision, the parent can meet separately with the teacher to understand better the situation.  If the child sees consistent and practical "walls" in each adult's answer, the child will stop pushing and realize the choices made are to make the child better.   Divorced or not, children need to feel secure and confident in the decisions parents make.  Don't hold your child hostage in your anger toward your spouse or ex-spouse.

Food Does Count!

     I watch students each day show up to classes with energy/power drinks in hand, soda cans or their favorite Starbucks coffee. After waking up during the first class and "hyper" the second class, it is time to load up with pizza, tacos, fries or other starchy non healthy meal, so the student is ready to be half functioning through the afternoon classes.   FOOD DOES MATTER!  If the student is loading up on fast energy drinks in the morning and fatty foods for lunch, the ability for the student to perform at their best is impossible. The mind needs to be fine tuned.  Eating properly is part of that training to be ready and prepared to learn.
   Often parents are out of the house or rushing themselves and don't have time to make breakfast.  There are healthy foods that a child can have ready to go to solve this problem.  Fruits and some type of healthy cereal and milk are a great start.  Nutrition bars are easy to grab.  Many fruits can be easily packed, from bananas and apples, to various berries and citric fruits.
     Between classes, a student can eat a healthy snack.  This might include cheese and crackers to a banana.  There is nothing wrong with packing a lunch for your child.  It can be made the night before and your child can help do the preparations.  The goal is to control what your child eats.  Keeping a balance between proteins, sugars and carbohydrates is ideal for "good learning".
     When a child arrives home, whether it is right after school or after various school activities, have choices of foods at home that they can enjoy but are still healthy. Encourage your child to eat something small and nutritious before doing homework.  Finally, try as a family to eat dinner together.  This is a perfect time to have dinner conversations.   Include in the dinner well rounded combinations of foods.  Vegetables can be in soups, salads, stews, or by themselves depending on your family's taste buds.  It is always smart to include a starch, such as potato, rice, or a light pasta.  If your family are meat eaters, the choices are endless.  If not, great protein supplements can include:  beans  and tofu dishes. (My family loves my bean and lentil soups).  These habits can be started early so that they last a lifetime.   Happy cooking and even better eating!

Sports and Education

    So, how do you know if your child's athletics and sports are good enough for college?  This is a great question.  It is important for parents to not only understand the A - G requirements for four year colleges, but if your child is an athlete, the student and parent should also understand the NCAA requirements.  Though the two requirements are similar, they are not exact.  Each require a certain amount of rigor in different categories with NCAA requiring an extra year in some academic areas. 
    What this means is the following:
     In order to attend a four a year institution, for instance, four years of English is required.  NCAA may require, however, in one of the main core areas an extra year of English.  Four year colleges require at least 3 years of Mathematics, up through Algebra 2.  To qualify for NCAA rules, the student may meet the extra core requirement by taking four year of math.
     To be sure your child is picking an academic schedule wisely, enroll on two websites.  They are:

     http://www.ncaaclearinghouse/
     http://www.coursecoursegpa.com/

     Both sites can be very informative of requirements and where your child is to be successful. Encourage your child to talk to his/her coaches and academic counselor.   As a team, these experts will help your child in getting to where s/he wants to go.

Academics vs Sports- Does Something Have to Give?

     From a young age we groom our children to play sports, a musical instrument, dance, cheer or some other activity to make them well rounded and maybe even famous one day.  We commit time and money to soccer camps, CYO Basketball, Club Sports, Cheerleading Camp, and music lessons.  So...why don't we do this early in academics?  We assume the schools will prep our children to be the best they can be.  For some students, that is all they need.  For others, individual attention to study habits, organization skills, and indepth practice is critical if you truly want your child to be competitive.  Would you cut short giving your child the competitive edge in the other activities?  Then why would you think otherwise when it comes to your child developing the mind?
     Start early having an organized time to study.  This includes reading and math practice beyond the daily homework that is assigned.  Teach your child early what it feels like to be successful at school.  Other points to consider:
1.  Take your child early to libraries, museums and zoos.
2.  Talk to your child about what they see and make it a fun conversation.  Listen to what they have to say.
3.  Include plays, musicals and other activities early in their upbringing.
4.  Travel when possible.  My first exposure to Europe when I was twelve years old changed my view of the world forever. Help your child understand other cultures and viewpoints to make them well rounded in their opinions.
     My next blog will look at the other perspective.  How to tie in sports and other activities to this complete package.

What? Me Study?

     There is an art to studying.  Often we believe our students when they say:

“I am done with my homework.”  “I am done studying.”

We want to believe our children.  Then of course….the grades arrive.  I hear weekly from parents, “My child is not good at tests.”  What the parents should be saying is that my child is not good at studying, especially for tests.

     As students move into middle school and high school, doing homework is only a fraction of what it takes to be successful.  Parents need to be partners in the learning process.  Here are some helpful suggestions to be part of this process.

1. Ask to see the homework and what was assigned.
2. Expect to see thorough explanations with full sentences.
3. Ask your child to explain to you what the answer means in his/her own words.
4. If the child is preparing for a test, have the child teach you the subject.  You don’t have to be an expert or know what the subject is about.  Just be willing to learn and ask questions.  A person will remember 10% of what they hear.  But s/he will recall 90% of what s/he teaches someone else.
5. Encourage 3 by 5 cards for terms, major events, concepts…
6. Use post its to take notes within the book while reading.  Revisit the notes and translate on 3 by 5 card is necessary.
7. If a teacher lectures, when the student comes home, have them type up the notes.  The process of doing this helps the student revisit the lesson.
8. Encourage your child to keep a good dictionary near to look up difficult words and terms.  My favorite book is my Synonym book.

     The process can be part of a daily routine.  Eventually your child will be rewarded with those great grades that colleges want to see.

College - How to Choose

                     

     From campus to campus, colleges are completely different from each other.  Since this will practically be your child’s home for the next four or more years, this will be one of the biggest decisions your child and you will make.   So, how do you decide?

     The first step is to talk to your child.  If you are a college graduate or have experiences you want to share, this is the first big step.   Talk to family members, friends, and encourage your child to do the same.  But always remember, you and your child ultimately need to form your own views.  This is why it is critical to do road trips early.  Look at the environment, the students and all the features you feel are important for a successful college life.

     There are many things to consider when visiting and picking the college that fits your student.  Here are some:

    

·        Type of  University:  public vs. private; two year vs. four year

·        Location of University:  City, country, by the beach

·        Admissions criteria

·        Academic programs and majors

·        Student activities

·        Campus Safety

·        Campus Philosophy

·        Cost/Financial Aid Availability

·        Athletics

·        Housing Options

·        Size of Student Body

    

     To broaden your search, meet with your High School Counselor to get information on college catalogues, guidebooks, college fairs, visitations from colleges to the High School and more.  Here are some helpful websites to guide you:

·        www.cpec.ca.gov/collegeguide/

·        http://www.ecampustours.com/

·        http://www.csumentor.edu/

All of the above can give you further insight as you plan your road trips.  Good luck and happy travels.

Financing College – “If you build it, they will come.”

     The above title, a quote from the movie, Field of Dreams, best describes the importance of preparing your child for college.  If you “build” your child to be prepared with good grades, community service, a solid foundation in some activity – music, sports, clubs, leadership, volunteer work – the colleges will come.  And with the colleges, opportunities for financial aid will also be possible.

     Of course, my first advice to parents is to start budgeting early.  But as the fees for college continue to escalate, it becomes more and more difficult to put away enough for your child’s education.  For this reason, parents need to know about websites that can help financially in this area.  The most important website to sign up for is:  http://www.fafsa.gov/.

     This is a government website to provide grants and other possible financial aid packages to help pay for a student’s education.  There is no charge for this website.  There are many websites that look like this website but they will ask for a credit card, often at the end of the application and after you have spent hours filling out the form.  Should this occur – RUN!!  You are on the wrong site.  Also, it is critical that it is filled out whether or not financial aid is needed right now.  Should a parent lose a job, a parent dies, or some other unforeseen crisis occurs, and it is not filled out for the upcoming school year, you will have to wait until the following year to apply.

     Besides applying on the federal website for financial aid, private colleges in particular, are especially willing to work with you if they want your child.  On the web there are a multitude of scholarships that have specific criteria.  The scholarship may be providing money for students who major in a field, who are a specific race or nationality or that are left handed.  The list goes on.  Our local cities also have programs and scholarships for the students.  Check with the high school career center and they can guide you.  And remember: “If you build it, they will come.”

When do You Start Talking "College"?

     As a child I remember my family talking "college".  I wasn't sure what college was, but I knew I would be going one day.  Just like elementary school and high school, I knew I would one day be attending college.  It was never assumed otherwise.  If college is part of your vocabulary and your child's vocabulary from a young age, it will become an expectation that you and your children will automatically shoot for.  I never asked "if or when". I only asked "where".
     As part of this way of thinking, my family, and I later with my own children, included colleges when possible, on our road trips.   If we went to Disneyland, we visited UC Irvine, and UCLA.  If we traveled to the East Coast, we visited Boston College, Georgetown and Harvard.   When it came time for my own children to visit colleges to pick for themselves, they already knew what they were looking for.  Just like when we start our children in soccer, T Ball, Dance, Swimming or Gymnastics at 4 or 5 years old, we want them exposed to and be used to the plays, the vocabulary, the rules, and all the other things that come with early activities.   Why would we expect less of our children's education?