Dougledrew Educational Consultant

High School Course Selection: Making Good Choices Is Most Important.

It’s that time of the year again for Grade 9 students in our province. They will soon be asked to make choices for high school courses that will have a direct impact on their eventual choice for post secondary education and future career paths. Students are encouraged to be sure they choose courses that interest them and allow them to meet minimum graduation requirements. From my experience as a school administrator, the choices presented to students and their parents are much more important than this and I’m not sure the public school system allows the appropriate time and resources to allow students to make the best choices. Often I encountered students and parents who were overwhelmed with the amount of information they received and the short amount of time given to process it into the best choices for their children.

It is most important that students be encouraged to take a selection of courses that expose them to a good “liberal arts and science” education – excuse the cliché. While the basic graduation requirements ensure that students do this, in today’s competitive world students need to be encouraged to not just meet minimum requirements but to exceed them when and where possible. In my opinion, students should be encouraged to take the most rigorous course load possible to challenge them academically. This means different things to different students depending on their academic ability. As well, students should factor in other important involvements such as extracurricular activities including sports, music, part time jobs, and friends. These too are of major importance in the life of a high school student, allowing them to continue on the path to becoming a well rounded, contributing member of society. It has been my experience that students who maximize their high school experience have a more fluid transition to post secondary education.

Parents and students should look to teachers and guidance counselors for honest advice as to what course load a student should choose. As well, parents should count on their gut reaction as to what their child is capable of entering high school. Students do not change overnight because they are entering high school. The habits toward school already formed from 10 years of schooling will follow them into high school unless they are determined to make changes for the better where necessary. Some students do mature and realize it is now time to be much more serious in their attention to schooling. Often time making necessary changes requires outside advice and assistance in getting the student into a better set of habits.

Students and their parents need to be encouraged to ask questions, to seek advice and explore the opportunities presented through high school.

• What does the high school offer in the way of core academic choices?
• What does the school offer in the areas of enrichment to academics? Does the school have an IB program? Do they offer Advanced Placement courses? Are there opportunities to explore extra credits?
• What opportunities are there to develop social justice skills? Are there opportunities to volunteer or school groups that give back to the community at all levels?
• Are there opportunities to develop leadership skills? Does the school offer a large variety of extracurricular activities in the areas of sports, music, drama and fine arts?
• Does the school assist students with planning to take advantage of scholarship opportunities to help defray the cost of post secondary?
• Does your zoned school offer the courses and opportunities that can best challenge your child? If not, a parent and their child may consider a transfer to another school in their community that can offer a more challenging and fulfilling experience.
* Most importantly, if a student has an exceptionality and currently receives educational supports, will the high school automatically have the supports in place for the beginning of a new school year?

It is most important that the student and parent take the required time to plan for an effective transition to high school. I have a lot of experience guiding and advising students and their families in making effective choices for high school. I am available to help answer questions and help your child make positive choices when it comes to course selection and transition to high school.

Feel free to contact me to discuss how I can be of assistance in helping your child make the transition to high school the positive experience it should be for all students. It has always been my belief the most important goal of high school is that the child has the best experience possible and graduates with the courses, grades and experiences necessary to allow them the greatest choice of post secondary opportunities.

MENTORING YOUNG PEOPLE
Teenagers need role models in their lives to teach them how to be good people and to make good choices. We hear so much today of the negative influences they are exposed to both online and off line; but the truth is, they still learn the most about love, respect, empathy, and resilience from their parents in their homes.

We need teenagers who are healthy and happy to grow into productive members of society. They need to be given every opportunity to grow emotionally and academically. It is essential they be presented opportunities to develop self-confidence, critical thinking skills, and independence.

Yet the teenage years can be very challenging. I want to use my years of experience in mentoring young people and helping them deal with adolescent issues to assist parents, guardians, and educators to do the same. If you would like to discuss ways to help your child improve academic results, organization skills and/or self-confidence, I would be pleased to meet with you. I can also help direct you to community services if and where necessary.

Navigating the teenage years can be a daunting experience for parents. Count on me to provide objective advice and assistance. I can help counsel students with school related issues, facilitate family communication, advocate for students, and help parents guide their children towards a higher level of academic achievement.

My holistic approach allows me to believe that every child has individual talents that need to be discovered and fostered. We must provide hope to young people, to allow them to experience academic success, develop healthy relationships, and build self-confidence. Students must develop a skill-set that can allow them to celebrate their strengths and turn challenges into success stories.

With the right support, these things are all within reach. I look forward to discussing your academic needs. Contact me today to get started.

Attention Guidance Counsellors, Family Doctors and Employers: Where Do Parents Turn for Help?

Do you as school guidance counsellors, family doctors or employers have parents looking for help and advice because they are experiencing problems at home and work related to parenting their children? Issues such as their child’s academic success, socialization, experimentation with drugs or alcohol, lack of communication and normal teenage behaviours can create a lot of stress in an adult’s life.

School guidance counsellors may not be able to help as their daily workload inside the school is often overwhelming. Family doctors may want to suggest an alternate resource if the issues, while serious to the family, may not require medical intervention. Employers may see a struggling employee whom they wish they could help but are not sure where to find the necessary supports. Supporting parents and alleviating their stressors can produce a happy, healthy, more productive parent, patient or employee.

With thirty years experience as a teacher and administrator, recently retired from Gonzaga High School, I have developed a very unique skill set useful when advocating for students and parents. I offer a variety of services to help parents advocate for their children and to help children be more successful in all aspects of their school experience. Issues are often related to academic success, study skills, socialization, attendance, experimentation with drugs and alcohol or communication between parent and child; whatever the issue I am available to offer support, advice and advocate for students, parents or families as a whole.

My experiences and education has allowed me to successfully advise parents on issues related to their child’s academic success and social growth. I have had great success in coaching students through challenges at school, encouraging growth, confidence and overall independence with a focus on improving academic success. I know the public school system from the inside, allowing me to advocate for families or to offer strong advice on how parents can get the most support from the public school system. If necessary I can attend school meetings to support and advocate for families at that level.

While not medically trained, I have great insight in evaluating situations and pointing students to professional resources in our community when and where necessary. I have created a new educational consultant venture to help all parents deal with issues that are preventing their children from reaching their true potential at school or within the family structure. My goal is to help adolescents build confidence, resiliency and the independence necessary to become successful young adults. Once parents are supported, they should experience more positive and productive family, social and work place interactions.

I am also available to help families transition into our region. School registration, transfer of academic credits and helping children find extra curricular activities in the areas of sports, music, drama or Fine Arts are initial supports. I can also help adults with relocation services such as housing, banking, medical and other necessities linked to transferring to a new locale.

Please visit my website .com Academic Support an Educational Consultant venture.

I look forward to hearing from individuals and families who could benefit from my services.

Many teenagers experiment with alcohol and drugs. In my experience they may state that everyone is doing it, that their parents did the same thing at their age, or they just want to fit in with the social group that includes teens who experiment. Some teens suggest that the attraction is that it is prohibited and therefore part of the thrill is just that - doing something they are not permitted to because they are teens. Some have told me as an administrator that they know it is illegal but it makes them feel “normal” so they can get through the day! These are often referred to as self “medicators”, diagnosing their own medical issue and solving it on their own terms.

Parents often under react or over react to drug or alcohol use. Some look back to their own teenage years and analyze it in terms of their experiences but the drugs and alcohol available to teens today are not the same as those available to their parents generation. Emotional over reaction to discovering your child is experimenting is natural but may not produce the results a parent desires. So the question becomes how to react and what to say to a teen who is challenged by the possibility of experimenting with drugs and alcohol.

What can parents do?

Communication is foremost. Talk to your child from an early age about your expectations around their behaviour towards alcohol and drugs.

Involve children in meaningful activities such as sports, music, drama or other things that may limit their exposure to negative influences.

Expect them to follow house rules that are fair and practical.

Always listen as they discuss peer pressure and their attempts to resist. Do not downplay how difficult this is for them. Be an empathetic listener.

Set good examples as they will model your behaviour. Avoid stories of your glory days but if they ask about your experiences be honest. Continue to build a strong bond with your children.

Suggest that they search out their own information on the effect of drugs and alcohol on the teenage brain and health. Finding legitimate information on their own may be better than lectures that come across as what parents are supposed to say! Discuss what they find; ensure the legitimacy of the articles as the internet can be rife with misinformation.

Do not ignore that a teen may have medical issues, especially mental health issues, that may be negatively affected by use and abuse. Other teens may try to self medicate to deal with their health issues.

Talk about how experimenting may lead to “Risky Behaviours” including accidents, overdose and sexual assault. Talking about drinking and driving or being a passenger in a car driven by an impaired person is very important.

As parents do not blame each other for a teens behaviour but present a united front on your expectations so your teens are not receiving mixed messages. If necessary discuss family history of drug and alcohol abuse and why that history is important.

Keep an eye out for changes in behaviour that are linked to use and abuse and not just normal teenage angst. Prevention is important but early intervention is essential if drug and alcohol use is beyond experimentation and creating behavioural changes.

Most importantly, as parents, reach out to resources to help you deal with issues that are out of your comfort level. I can be of assistance with early intervention and provide you with community resources to help when and if necessary. Looking after yourselves as parents is vital as you need to be healthy in order to be the best possible parent!

I look forward to hearing from parents who may need a confidential session to discuss how to help a family deal with alcohol and drug issues.

The goal of most parents includes helping their children develop independence, resiliency and a sense of responsibility within a strong and respectful family unit. Sometimes things don’t go as you want or expect; parents get discouraged and start to question what they are doing wrong. At times like these parents need to reach out to someone they trust to discuss exactly what they are experiencing; finding the right someone to talk to can be difficult especially when the issues are so personal.

Having spent thirty years interacting with teenagers in my role as teacher and administrator in the public school system has allowed me to build a skill set and knowledge base that can be quite a resource for parents experiencing questions surrounding parenting their children. Sometimes parents feel isolated and issues seem insurmountable – they are, in most cases, not! Parents simply need a confidential resource to interact with to help restore their confidence and provide advice and direction.

Issues such as understanding teenage behavior, rebuilding a strained relationship, improving communication, or reviewing ideas around discipline to help best develop a responsible and independent teen are a few items many parents struggle with at times. Risky teenage behaviors can also upset parents and impact on the family dynamic. School success or lack thereof, is also an issue of contention between parent and child. Why are they not engaged and reaching their potential?

Please feel free to reach out to me for a confidential session to help answer your queries around these and other issues. You are not the only parents dealing with issues but the ‘solutions’ to your concerns are closer than you imagine. Making the first move and reaching out to find an advocate is the first step. While not a psychologist or social worker, my experience has given me much to share with parents. If the issues are outside my ability to help I have a list of community resources that you can access when and where necessary. For more information visit my webpage at dougledrew.com or review the document at the top of this page.

Visit my website - Dougledrew.com Academic Support to see more about my new venture as an educational consultant.