How to Help Your Child Excel in Secondary School

1. Boost your child’s school readiness 

Building school readiness entails equipping children with the appropriate skills, knowledge, and experiences that will allow them to become successful independent learners.

Of course, this has ramifications beyond school. Promoting independent learning also provides children with the tools to become self-sufficient, productive members of society. 

But let’s get back to the matter of their academic journey for now. Boosting your child's school readiness can definitely set a strong foundation for future academic success. 

After all, from secondary school onwards, students will have to do more self-study than ever before. 

Just remember that academic success is a multifaceted concept. It’s important to focus on a holistic approach to education that includes emotional and social development, as well as finding the right fit for your child's learning style and environment.

That’s actually why we incorporate coaching into our tuition programmes at Aspire Hub, by the way. It provides for the other elements that make a student successful, from self-confidence to motivation.

2. Promote reading and writing skills

Reading and writing are essential skills that your child will need throughout the academic journey. That’s why strengthening those skills can have a powerful effect on your child’s success. 

Encourage your child to read regularly and practise writing in different formats such as essays or even diary entries. You can even encourage them to write reviews of things they tried, from video games to films.

As for reading, you can build this fundamental skill while bonding with your child, even at this age. Read with them or encourage them to read independently by giving them books that align with their interests and abilities.

3. Encourage organisation of their independent learning 

One of the reasons children end up overwhelmed during their first efforts at self-study is that they don’t know where to start or what to do first. You can help by giving them tips on organising the process.

Encourage your child to take ownership of their learning, for example, by asking them to set clear goals. What do they want to achieve with their independent learning?

After that’s been clarified, encourage them to create a plan or schedule to achieve their goals. You can even help them by going over the plan with them. Remember to encourage them to explore new subjects and interests so that they don’t end up being overly focused on areas where they’re already strong. Areas of vulnerability should be addressed as well!

Furthermore, support their efforts by providing easy access to educational resources and materials. If your child needs practical experience in something like equations, for instance, try getting them test books with the solutions available for reference.

4. Use technology to support your child’s learning

On the topic of ensuring your child has access to educational resources and materials, why not use technology to support learning? There are so many educational apps and resources now!

You can find various online resources that can build skills in reading, writing, and even maths and science. Some offer breakdowns or explanations of key concepts while others provide free quizzes and questions to help users hone their skills.

For example, if your child wants to improve reading comprehension, you could give them a book to read paired with access to CliffsNotes (which has primers on just about every classic tome).

5. Provide a supportive learning environment

Creating a positive learning environment at home is vital. By ensuring that your child has a supportive environment, you can set the stage for comfortable, un-stressful learning. 

This is a great way to prevent your child from associating study with negativity or difficulty. It also allows them to feel as though they can always come to you for aid if they end up struggling with a topic, or even just need a little homework help.

You can also try encouraging a positive attitude towards learning by providing incentives and rewards for academic achievements. However, never make your child feel as though you worship grades over sincere effort. While you can certainly acknowledge performance, don’t forget about the toil your child went through too.

6. Build a strong relationship with the teachers

Regular communication with your child's teachers can help you stay informed about their progress and identify areas where they may need extra support. It’s a great way to make sure you know when there’s an opportunity to help. So, keep in touch with your child’s teachers. Don’t just wait for them to clue you into what’s happening either – remember that you can reach out to them if you have concerns.

Be open to parent consultations and attend parent-teacher conferences as well. This can further strengthen the working relationship between you and the teacher, which is important as you should be collaborating for your child’s benefit.