ate ? Are counselors available to help students make important decisions about classes and post-graduation plans ?
• What percentage of students who start at the school in ninth grade graduate ?
Step IV :
Make your Decision
After you ’ ve visited the private schools , you should prioritize the schools that you want your child to attend and then apply to as many as you feel you need to in order to safely get your child into at least one of them for the following year . It doesn ’ t hurt to apply to your top three choices with the plan that if your first two don ’ t accept you or run out of seats , you can always enroll your child into your third school .
Get financial aid information early in the process . Each school has its own programs and policies . You cannot actually apply for financial aid until you apply for admission . However tuition and other costs may be a factor in whether or not you choose a particular school ; likewise the likelihood that your family will receive financial aid may fill in the big picture of whether a school fits your practical requirements or not .
Step V :
Making the Most of School by Stage
Most kids don ’ t need a lot of help navigating the landscape , especially the older they get . But it helps to be aware of what ’ s normal so you can know when to step in , if necessary .
Use these strategies to tune your radar and help your child make the most of every age and stage in elementary and middle school .
Elementary School :
What ’ s happening now : From kindergarten through the fifth grade , kids make major strides , from initially learning how to transition to school and being comfortable with a classroom routine to learning how to read ( kindergarten and 1st grade ) to reading to learn ( 3rd grade and beyond ) in all subject areas . Emotionally , they begin to develop their academic self-esteem based on feedback from you and their teachers . By the 4th and 5th grades , they ’ re moving from concrete to abstract thinking . “ When a concrete thinker sees the Statute of Liberty , they see it as a lady with a torch . An abstract thinker also sees it as a symbol of freedom and democracy ,” says Rebecca Branstetter , an educational and clinical psychologist . By the 5th grade , they ’ re also beginning to set goals , work independently , work better in groups , make more complex decisions , and become organized with their school and homework .
Success Tips
Extend learning beyond school . Work activities into your child ’ s day that use concepts she ’ s learning at school . For example , let your child count change at the checkout and measure the ingredients while you ’ re baking cookies together ( fractions ). Have her tell time . Talk about numbers while you ’ re driving , such as how fast you ’ re going and how long it will take to get there . On the weekends , consider family outings to museums and zoos to visit exhibits that coincide with school subjects . “ If your child is learning about Egypt , take a trip to a local museum with an Egyptian exhibit ,” says Branstetter . “ It reinforces curiosity , sends the subtle message that school is important , and shows your child that school and home are connected .”
Develop a homework habit . Make doing homework automatic by coming up with a routine that fits your child ’ s personality . Some kids like doing homework right after school . Others need to burn off steam by playing for half an hour ( set a timer ) before getting down to business . Whatever you choose , stick to the schedule you establish for your kids as much as possible . To minimize distractions , keep the TV off during homework time . For younger kids , begin each homework session by asking your child to explain what she ’ s supposed to do , then gauge if she can do it alone or if she needs your help . If you ’ re not around when your child does his homework , let him know you ’ ll look at it when you get home , and be sure to follow through . Praise him when he completes his homework by emphasizing the process , such as , “ You worked really hard to learn your math facts ,” rather than the product , “ Good job on learning your math facts .” “ Praising the process teaches persistence , which is a skill kids need for school success ,” Branstetter says .
Middle School :
What ’ s happening now : In middle school — the 6th through 8th grade — kids are starting to go through puberty ,
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