LA PRENSA Hispanic Newspaper
David Romero
Consejero Académico y Activista estudiantil
Ignoring the signs is a good way to end up in the wrong destination.
~Unknown
The Grade Point Average (GPA) is used by a majority of high schools to measure a student’s academic performance and progress towards academic goals. While it is the hope of parents and school administrators that all students will succeed at the highest academic level, sometimes students’ GPAs dip below what is considered acceptable progress and therefore they are placed on academic probation. Being placed on academic probation as a high school student is a big deal and should draw the attention of parents because if the problem persists for too long it can have a negative long-term impact in the life of a student. For instance, a student who is regularly placed on academic probation may find it very difficult to identify academic opportunities after high school and therefore they will be limited in the number of choices they have in their future. However, rather than letting academic probation become a reason to panic it can become a wake up call and a reason for students and parents to adopt necessary changes. As a parent you should know that if your son/daughter has been placed on academic probation, you have tremendous influence/power to help them deal with their academic setback. Together you can come up with a plan that will help them succeed and reach their goals.
Academic probation tells a story – What is your student trying to tell you?
It is important to mention that academic probation is sometimes a signal for other things happening in a student’s life. The grades are simply a way for us to catch some of the deeper issues happening in a student’s life. Many scholars cite the following as factors that can affect the academic performance of a student: peer culture, academic interest, environment, connection with teachers/counselors, personal motivation, study habits, perceived control, self-efficacy, etc. For instance, if your family recently arrived to the United States and your son/daughter are new to their school – they may be having problems transitioning into their new environment. Maybe your student is finding it difficult to deal with new surroundings, peers, and academic expectations. Therefore when speaking to your student about their academic situation listen closely and do not jump to conclusions. Remember that as young adults in progress they are still trying to figure themselves out. Sometimes the best place to start is simply by listening to them.
Creating a plan for overcoming academic probation:
Listen to your son/daughter about the reasons why they believe they are on academic probation
Ask to meet with your son’s/daughter’s academic counselors and express your concern for their academic performance. Let the counselors know you are willing to assist at home in supporting their academic progress.
Take a closer look at what habits may be causing your son/daughter to be on academic probation. For instance, are they working too many hours? Are they watching too much TV? Are video games getting in the way? Too much time talking on the phone?
Come up with a plan that puts the responsibility on your son/daughter. Encourage them to know they have control over this situation and that you will be there to support them throughout the process.
In order to help a student on probation, all of us need to be proactive and know the warning signs. The best way to help our students is to detect any problems in their early stages before they become crisis. Remember that academic counselors and teachers can work with you to develop a plan for success. These professionals are great assets to help your student succeed academically. Make sure to stay in close contact with them.
Resumen en Español:
La probatoria académica en una indicación muy urgente que un estudiante no está progresando satisfactoriamente en su desempeño académico. Esto usualmente es reflejado en el promedio académico (GPA) de un estudiante
Padres de familia tienen mucha influencia para ayudar a sus hijos/hijas a salir de la probatoria académica.
Recuerde que usualmente la probatoria académica puede ser una indicación que otras cosas más serias están ocurriendo en la vida de su hijo/hija. Escuche lo que tienen que decir antes de regañarlos.
Ayude a su hijo/hija a identificar malos hábitos que no estén ayudando a su desempeño académico. Por ejemplo, mucha televisión? Mucha distracción en el teléfono/video juegos? Trabaja muchas horas? Pasan mucho tiempo jugando deportes?
Recuerde que los maestros y consejeros en la escuela son recursos muy útiles de apoyo para alcanzar el éxito. Cuente con ellos para ayudar a su hijo/hija.
Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you. Join the discussion on Twitter and Facebook and VAMOS A ECHARLE GANAS…
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