Advocate for your Child

It's been an incredibly busy few months here at Academic Avenue.  I have been negotiating a new location for Academic Avenue.  I believe this new location will give us room to grow our retail and tutoring businesses.  I'm so excited to have an actual parking lot for the first time in 8 1/2 years!

 Unfortunately, this blog got put on the back burner with all of the moving business (yikes!).

Advocate for your Child

If your child received a "D-" in a math class, do you think your student is ready to move on to the next sequential class?  How do you think your student will fare in that next class?  Not so hot. Math is sequential. If a student has not mastered something in the beginning, they will continuously stumble.  Most schools have an online communication program for parents.  Parents should be reviewing grades on that program on a daily basis or at least weekly.  If your student is getting 100% on all homework, but fails tests, heed the warning.  A perfect grade for homework with failing test scores, means your child is getting 100% credit for turning the work in, not that they've mastered the homework.  The very first quiz or test that has a low score means you need to talk to the teacher about getting extra help.  Don't wait until half way through the class to get help.  Maintaining a high grade is much easier than bringing a low grade up.  

Graduation Requirements

Parents of seniors need to be especially mindful of what classes their student needs to complete graduation requirements. Your school website should have a downloadable checklist of the graduation requirements.  I suggest downloading this form when your child is entering high school. Check off credit for classes as they are completed.  Also, check your child's GPA (grade point average).  Maintaining a good GPA will be an important factor in getting into your student's college of choice.

Make sure your child chooses classes they can succeed in. Students that have not yet completed Algebra I-A, should not be in a Geometry class simultaneously.  Remember, math is sequential.  You must master one before you can go on to the next.


DO NOT leave these tasks up to the school to complete. This is your job, too. Mistakes can be made. If you find the mistake in your child's senior year, it may be too late.  If you discover a discrepancy in your child's record-keeping or class schedule, bring it to the school counselor's attention immediately.  Ask questions and be firm in what your expectations are for your child's success.