1. Setting your student up for success in high school
Student services team
Wheaton Academy

2. Our time together today:
Consider 3 key philosophies that are essential to growth in high school.
College admission: What you need to think about and know for grade 9
Important routines and ideas for healthy parenting

3. Key philosophies
Learning zone
Growth Mindset
College readiness

4. Fixed Mindset
For those in a fixed mindset, failure is interpreted as an indicator of low intelligence.
Dweck found that, because of risk avoidance, a person with a fixed mindset avoided growth opportunities and instead sought alternate ways to show others how smart he or she was.
In addition, Dweck discovered that individuals with a fixed mindset searched for experiences that allowed them to feel superior or smarter than those around them.

5. Growth Mindset
Students in a Growth mindset look for challenge and believe growth can result from both success and failure. Because of this, these students continue to surpass previous achievement levels.
Growth mindset students were resilient when they faced obstacles and discouragement.
These growth mindset students took an initial failure and determined how they could learn from it. When these individuals tried again, they tended to do better.

6. Growth Mindset
Students in a Growth mindset look for challenge and believe growth can result from both success and failure. Because of this, these students continue to surpass previous achievement levels.
Growth mindset students were resilient when they faced obstacles and discouragement.
These growth mindset students took an initial failure and determined how they could learn from it. When these individuals tried again, they tended to do better.

7. What should parents do?
Avoid complimenting students because of their intelligence or success. Instead commend or admonish students regarding the amount of growth and effort that went into their work.
Simply believing students are capable of growth is not enough. Maintain high standards and provide supportive resources for students.
(Dweck 2006)

8. Group Discussion Perseverance Social Intelligence Self-Control
How does growth mindset theory connect to WA College Readiness standards?
Perseverance
Social Intelligence
Self-Control
Gratitude
Passion
Hope

9. College admission: preparation in 9th grade
The goal for 9th grade:
Find your pace (right level of challenge/rigor in course selection)
Find your place
Schedule a college counseling meeting early if your student is aiming to get into a highly selective school.

10. A well-rounded college applicant: 5 areas
GPA
ACT
Co-curricular activities (in and out of school)
Writing ability
Fit to a school

11. Higher-Order Thinking Skills Monitoring, including goals
Mastery of Executive Function Skills is a better predictor of success than IQ Duckworth, A.L. & Seligman, MEP, 2005 Psychological Science Executive Function predicts SAT scores (Shoda et al., 1990)
Higher-Order Thinking Skills
Monitoring, including goals
Self-regulation
Reflection and self-evaluation
Strategic thinking and acting, socially and cognitively
Problem solving
Foundational Skills
Setting goals
Planning
Organizing Materials
Managing time
Initiating/ Inhibiting
Self-awareness
(Rush Neurobehavioral Center Executive Function Workshop 2013)

12. Routines: After school structures
Healthy and needed oversight from parents
Setting healthy limits for your teens as to when to end homework at night
Monitoring devices when on homework (games, texting, etc)
Balancing time demands, co-curriculars, “decompress time”
Nutrition and sleep
Executive functioning
Supervision of assignments
Planners or apps to stay organized and track assignments
bell schedule
Timeliness policy

13. Trust, friends, and social media
Help your teen navigate friends and develop discernment.
Engage in those conversations early about friends and INVITE THEM INTO YOUR HOME!
There is a difference between spying on social media and friends vs. monitoring what they are doing.
Build trust with your teen.

14. Discussion questions
How do you help your student balance the demands of their academics and activities?
What are a few things you do well in parenting your teen’s social life?
Where do you need to spend more time and attention?
How do you rebuild trust with your teen after it is broken?