Ellington High School
Guidance Department - Parent Page
Ellington High School
Guidance Department
860-896-2357
A-B Mrs. Markowski
C-H Mrs. OBrien
I-Pa Mrs. Howarth
Pe-Z Mrs. Moeller
For News and Important Information check our
What's New Page!
The following articles are reprinted with permission from Parents Still make the Difference!® a parenting newsletter.
For more information or to view other articles check out the Parents Institute website.
Questions & Answers
Arm your teen with five questions to help recognize peer pressure
Are you helping your teenager get plenty of sleep?
Give your teen three test-taking strategies that lead to success
Parent Quiz: Are you teaching your teenager how to get organized?
Questions & Answers
Q: My daughter is at least 40 pounds over her desired weight. She hates to go to school. She says other kids make fun of her. Her grades are slipping and she doesn’t want to do anything except watch TV in her room—and eat. What can I do to help her get back on track?
A: No one can lose the weight except your daughter. But she’s lucky to have a parent who is so concerned about her health. If she hasn’t seen a doctor about her weight, it is important for you to take her soon. Then work with the doctor to plan a sensible weight-loss program.
In addition to the doctor’s plan, you can encourage your daughter to:
- Set limits on television time. If your daughter has a TV in her room, take it out. She’ll be more likely to get active—and studies show her grades will also improve.
- Get rid of the high-fat snacks. If you have mostly healthy foods in the refrigerator, you will help your daughter (and the rest of the family) make better food choices.
- Get regular exercise. School PE classes are one good way to add some movement to your child’s day. Talk with her PE teacher about your daughter’s goals. Ask for the teacher’s support.
- Volunteer—at a hospital, homeless shelter or animal shelter. As she learns she can make a difference, she’ll also gain self esteem. She needs to know that her weight does not define her worth.
—Kristen Amundson, The Parent Institute. Reprinted with permission from the October 2008 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (High School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2008 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.
Arm your teen with five questions to help recognize peer pressure
Is your teen too susceptible to peer pressure? Does she do things she may not want to just because other teens ask? Here are five questions she can ask herself:
- Do I often do something just because someone asks me to?
- Do I usually let my friends decide what we are going to do?
- Do I always call people to make sure I’m wearing the same thing they are?
- Have I ever gone along with something I knew wasn’t right just to be with my friends?
- Do I sometimes drink, smoke or use drugs because “everybody” else does?
Even just one yes answer means your teen is being negatively influenced by her friends. The answers to these questions can help her become more aware of the peer pressure she faces. Recognizing peer pressure is the first step to combating it.
Help your teen learn the skills she needs to say no to unhealthy peer pressure.
Reprinted with permission from the October 2008 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (High School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2008 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Douglas Bloch, The Power of Positive Talk: Words to Help Every Child Succeed, ISBN; 1-575-42127-5 (Free Spirit Publishing, 1-800-735-7323, www.freespirit.com).
Back to Top
Are you helping your teenager get plenty of sleep?
Although the average teen needs nine hours of sleep, most teens get fewer than seven hours each night. That means they are likely to be tired, crabby and tough to live with.
As a parent, are you doing all you can to help your teen get enough sleep? Answer yes or no to each question:
___1. Do you encourage your teen to go to bed earlier, instead of spending time online or watching TV?
___2. Do you help your teen adopt healthy habits? That means making sure he gets exercise each day and doesn’t drink too much caffeine.
___3. Do you limit your teen’s late-night activities?
___4. Do you encourage “power naps?” Even a short afternoon nap can help him catch up on sleep.
___5. Do you help your teen manage time so he doesn’t have to stay up late the night before a big project is due?
How well are you doing?
Each yes means you are helping your teen get the rest he needs. For no answers, try those ideas in the quiz.
Reprinted with permission from the October 2008 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (High School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2008 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.
Give your teen three test-taking strategies that lead to success
Whether it’s that all-important driver’s test or a short quiz in math class, testing is a fact of life for today’s teens. To help your teen succeed on any test, suggest that he:
- Read the directions carefully. This will keep your teen from making simple—and avoidable—mistakes. The directions could say, “Answer two of these four questions.” Or they could say that some multiple choice questions have more than one correct answer. On a math or science test, the directions will say whether your teen has to show his work. (Even if he gets the final answer wrong, he could get partial credit for showing his work.)
- Use time wisely. Have your teen read through the entire test before answering any questions. Then budget his time. If the essay question is worth 50 points, he will know how much time to allow. He’ll also know when he’s spending too much time on a single question. Using time wisely also means using all the time available. Some teens treat tests like a NASCAR race—they want to be first across the finish line. Teach your teen to use any extra time to check his work.
- Answer the easy questions first. Getting off to a strong start can give your teen the confidence to tackle tougher questions. Answering the easier questions first may also remind your teen of a fact or two he’ll need to answer the more difficult questions.
Reprinted with permission from the October 2008 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (High School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2008 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Julia G. Thompson, The First-Year Teacher’s Survival Guide, ISBN: 978-0-7879-9455-6 (Jossey-Bass Publishers, a division of John Wiley & Sons,1- 877-762-2974, www.josseybass.com).
Parent Quiz: Are you teaching your teenager how to get organized?
There may be a few teens who are naturally organized. But most need to learn how to create a structure so they get to school on time, with the books and homework they need.
Are you helping your teen learn organization skills? Answer yes or no to each question:
___1. Does your teen use a planner to record homework assignments? Does he review it after school?
___2. Does your teen have a place by the door for things that are going to school?
___3. Does your teen break large projects into smaller parts and create deadlines for each section?
___4. Does your teen schedule time for homework, work and sports—and write it on a calendar?
___5. Does your teen keep suppllies and reference books on hand for doing homework and other projects?
How well are you doing?
Mostly yes answers mean you’re helping your teen develop organization skills. Mostly no answers? Try those ideas in the quiz.
Reprinted with permission from the September 2008 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (High School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2008 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.
Back to Top
