The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
New semester brings fresh start for students
Kevin Mowrer, Other Voices
PUBLISHED: January 31, 2008
Fresh starts can do amazing things for people in all walks of life. New jobs, new homes and new regions of residence can re-invigorate motivation, interest and engagement for many individuals.
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The new semester has started throughout Manchester Community Schools, and all students are starting with a clean slate and the ability to positively achieve in the second semester. There are several strategies students and parents can collaborate on to improve performance.
First, while the second semester is starting and major exams and assignments have not yet begun, students and parents may want to review the concepts and important skills from the previous semester. Much of the learning in the new semester will be built on the foundation and scaffolding of last semester.
Parents or guardians can collaborate with teachers and tutors to really support their students' review. This review can push students into a positive start for the new semester. Reviewing material is often easier than learning the first time, so students may find going over old concepts to be simple and not overly time-consuming. For success in the second semester, review of the first semester is essential. If parents and students can work together on the review, the chance of success is higher.
Second, students and parents need to understand the major assignments and exams in the class. Book projects, math portfolios, science reports and historical reviews are planned early in the semester. Laying these projects out into accessible schedules can help students avoid one of the top obstacles to adolescent scholastic success —procrastination. Knowing and planning ahead can lessen stress, improve long-term retention and build strong study skills for future academic performance.
Third, major projects, tests and assignments should be broken down into small parts. If one looks at any semester worth of work, it will seem overwhelming. Tests, quizzes, assignments, projects and reports all need to be broken into small portions, so the student can get through each smaller section. For instance, in English class, the assignment may be a book project over a book to be read outside of class. Perhaps there is a book list or a list of approved authors.
Reading a long book and having to analyze it can be daunting. First, the student has to pick a book, with help from the media center specialist or the guardian. Second, a reading schedule should be made with regular benchmarks to make sure progress is occurring. A conference between parent and student may take place every two weeks to ensure the student understands the content and is working toward the end product of the project.
A few weeks (not a few nights) before the project is due, the student should begin the project. Two or three days before the project is due, the project should be finished. That way, if anything goes wrong, the project is still on time.
Fourth, a regular time and place to study must be established and protected. Regular study time is essential to academic success. That time may be linked to more free time, but that study duration must be held in high regard by both student and parent.
Fifth, even though each semester is a marathon, it is very important to get off to a strong start. It is very difficult to motivate oneself if a person already is behind. There are times in a semester where work will be difficult for many reasons. So, the first month or two of a semester can really build in a buffer for times when work may become more challenging.
A fresh and new semester is the perfect time to begin new and better habits and a more productive outlook on academic life. If students, parents and schools can work together, this fresh start can be converted into positive academic gains for all students.
Kevin Mowrer is principal at Manchester High School. He can be reached at kmowrer@mcs.k12.mi.us or by calling 428-7300.
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