Helping Your Child Prepare For High School

For students of any age, exam time can be overwhelming and intimidating. For students in grade 6, there may be increased pressures due to the high school entrance exams they have to write. Transitioning to high school is a big change. How do you help your child prepare for these big changes? It starts with Strategic Learning Clinic’s high school entrance exam preparation workshop.

For many, the transition to high school can be frightening. Once the oldest in elementary school, students are suddenly the youngest. All of a sudden, their workload increases, with more homework and tests than in the past. They are also expected to be independent learners, with more responsibility than ever before. They will have new surroundings, make new friends, and engage in new experiences; for some students, this can also be fear-inducing.

Our popular workshops were created many years ago to help children understand and prepare for the entrance exams, interviews, and essay-writing procedure. Our goal is to give students the experience of writing a condensed version of a typical high school admission test and to prepare them for a successful interview. Some of the topics that we cover include:

• Preparing for high school entrance exams
• Understanding the concept of multiple-choice and timed exams
• Preparing an outline and creating a constructed written response
• Preparing for in-person interviews
• One-on-one practice interviews
• A brief talk about their high school of choice
• Self-awareness and accomplishments
• Managing stress and test anxiety

If your child is transitioning to high school in the fall, here are some tips that can help:

• Be positive and start talking to your child about what would interest them when they get to high school (ex.: extracurricular activities)
• Start enforcing good study habits and routines
• Purchase a daily planner/agenda and have them start using it
• Discuss any concerns they may have and expectations
• Focus on executive function skills, such as time management, organization, and planning
• Use practice exams and review old material from grades 5 and 6
• Hire a learning specialist or tutor if your child struggles with a particular subject
• Create a suitable study space
• Practice self-care such as eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and managing anxiety
• Encourage independent learning
• Ask his/her teacher which areas need the most work

The journey to high school can be challenging at times. As your child prepares for this transition, taking small steps now, such as creating a routine and staying organized, will make all the difference in making them feel more prepared and ready for what’s to come.

How your child can succeed in high school:

• Complete homework and submit assignments on time
• Participate in class and ask questions when something isn’t clear
• Attend review sessions and tutorials when offered
• Take good notes
• Avoid procrastination and become an expert at prioritization
• Create a study schedule
• Remove distractions at home and create a quiet workspace

We would be pleased to work with your child to prepare them for writing entrance exams for their chosen high schools. Our workshops will give students confidence and help to alleviate anxiety related to the exam and interview process. Our program includes study questions and take-home note packages to ensure that each student is fully prepared.

For more information on our renowned high school entrance exam preparation workshop and how we can help you and your child during this challenging and busy time, contact 514-966-1553 or info@strategiclearning.ca.

You can also read:

a) How to Prepare for Exams?

b) Benefits of Summer Learning