parenting

5 Ways to Have a Successful School Year

by Jill Greenlaw on August 27th, 2013 | 1 Comment »

*I am a member of the Invisalign Teen Mom Advisory Board. My son will be receiving complimentary treatment from Invisalign

It is that time of year when many families get back into a school routine. No more late nights, sleeping in, and care-free schedules. My kids go back to school this week and that means business. I recently took my son to the school to pay for his school fees, get a schedule of his classes, and take his picture for his student ID and the yearbook.

I have to admit, it was a little funny when my 14 year old took out his Invisalign and asked me to hold them for a minute while he had his picture taken. He didn't want to wear them in his school picture. How cool is that? You can take out your teeth straightening devices whenever you want. Okay, not exactly. My son is supposed to wear his Invisalign aligners at least 22 out of 24 hours every day.

My son was all smiles in this picture. He is going into the 9th grade and will be attending out local high school. Isn't he cute? Okay all you 9th grade girls. Watch out, you are going to want to get to know this kid. With this being my son's first year of high school, I wanted to make sure that he had all the tools he needed for a successful school year.

5 Ways to Have a Successful School Year

Have a positive "self image"

Every time we leave our home, we are required to develop a sense of self separate from our family members. Having a strong self image is vital for success. It is easy when you make mistakes to tell yourself that you are not enough or you don't measure up. Talking back to yourself and saying that we all make mistakes and that you can come back from any situation, can really help your self image. One thing you can do every day is to start the day with a positive attitude. Wake up in the morning and tell yourself how awesome you are. Believe in yourself.
Another way to have a positive self image is to not compare yourself to others. High school should only be a competition with yourself. Everyday you should try your best to do something better. Don't worry about how the boy that sits in your math class is getting a higher grade, or wearing nicer clothes. A few years from now, this will not matter. Focus on yourself and do what you can each and every day to be better. Focus on what you can do to make yourself better.
Kids can be so insecure about their smile and teeth. Having a straight smile, can significantly help your teen have a more positive self image. Have you taken your teen for an orthodontist consultation? Not all orthodontists are licensed to provide Invisalign. For a list of providers in your area, I suggest using the Find a Doctor tool on the Invisalign website. If you have any questions about Invisalign, please check out their Facebook page here.

Get organized

Keep a calendar of when your assignments are due and work towards finishing them accordingly. Never wait until the last minute to do an assignment. This doesn't always result in your best work. Find a study buddy in the classes that will be the hardest for you. Collect their phone number in case you need to schedule a study session.
Organization in high school is a learning process. As you discover yourself, you will also discover that you can find ways to be successful. The habits you form in high school, can shape your life. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Working through trial and error will help you resolve problems and be solutions oriented.
Make sure you have all the supplies you need. It may help to have one 3-ring binder with pockets for each class. If your binder starts to get full, transfer old papers into another binder to keep at home. This way you won't loose old papers, and they will be there when studying for midterms and finals.

Stick to a routine

Kids thrive on routines. They need structure and respond well to routines that help them organize their days. My kids usually complete their homework right when they get home from school. I usually give them a snack while they are doing it. Your routine may be different, but the key is to make it the same every day so you child knows what they can expect day after day.
Routines take the stress out of school work. If you know you have time at a certain time of day to accomplish your homework, then you will less likely feel anxiety about it. Do your school work at the same time everyday and don't let other things distract you from it.

Don't Procrastinate

This is probably the single most important thing you can do in high school to be successful. It is really hard to not want to put things off. When it comes to tests and essays, don't make a habit of waiting until the last minute to study for them. You will always be sorry in the end. Getting things done brings peace of mind.
If you are the type of person that likes to procrastination, here is an idea to help you. One of the hardest parts of doing homework is getting started. Force yourself to begin. Do at least 15 to 30 minutes. As soon as you get into school mode, your mindset will change. You won't feel as overwhelmed by the task, and before you know it, you will be so absorbed in the work, that you will loose track of time.
If we work hard now, success will come later. We will see the fruits of our labor. Ask questions when you don't understand something. When you get home from school, go over the notes you took that day in order to make sure you understand what you wrote down.
Develop good study habits. Don't do your homework when you are mentally and physically exhausted.
Go over all your returned tests to learn from your mistakes.

Get Involved in School

Find a sport or club to join at your high school. Being involved with different groups is a great way to bond with other people, and form friendships.
Stay on top of current events. What activities is your school involved in? Who won the basketball game last night? Attending dances and service projects your high school is hosting. Learning how to support different organizations at your school, can help you feel unified with your fellow classmates.

Here are links to my other invisalign posts:

Self Esteem: 5 Benefits of Smiling
Straight Teeth: The First Month With Invisalign
Straight Teeth: Invisalign vs Braces

What goals do you have to be a more successful student this year?

*Picture courtesy from Flickr

Disclosure: I am a member of the Invisalign Teen Mom Advisory Board. My son will be receiving complimentary treatment from Invisalign, but all opinions expressed are my own. http://shout.lt/ggGP

Jill Greenlaw has a banking background. She gave that up 18 years ago when she got married and started having kids. She loved being a stay-at-home mom while raising her four beautiful children. Jill is now working for the Mom It Forward team as a Sales Manager. She loves her job. Her interests include camping, motorcycling, boating, photography, reading, cooking, and traveling. Put her in flip flops anywhere warm and she is happy.