CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – The move from middle school to high school can be a tough one, both emotionally and academically.

The move up to ninth grade from eighth grade can be more than just saying goodbye to friends for your teenage children — for some, it’s also the beginning of one of the most stressful academic periods of their lives.

High school is an important period in students’ academic careers. High school curriculum tends to be more demanding than pre-secondary education. In addition, at this point in their academic careers, high school students may begin to ponder their future endeavors, including higher education. High school curriculum aims to prepare students for their future, which is why coursework tends to be more specialized, challenging and complex.

It’s not uncommon for students to experience some difficulty as they adjust to the demands of high school curriculum. Whether your high school freshman-to-be is moving cross-town to Centennial from Franklin, taking the private route at St. Thomas More or Uni, or in a new town entirely, academic challenges are a universal hurdle.

Here are a few tips to help your child adjust to high school academics:

Schedule study time

    An analysis from the U.S. Census Bureau found that children are engaging in more extracurricular activities than they did decades ago. Though research has found that participation in extracurricular activities among adolescents are associated with a range of positive outcomes, including higher academic performance, it’s important that students make time for academics in their daily schedules.

    Whether it be competing for the school soccer team or practicing for band and orchestra, experts say that extracurricular activities can serve as distractions to academics if not balanced healthily.

    Much like sports practices or drama club rehearsals are scheduled, study time can be included in students’ daily schedules. Students can block off a set amount of time on their schedules each day for studying and commit to it just like they would for extracurricular practices or rehearsals.

    Designate a study space

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, administrators at the University of Michigan created a web-based space reservation system to help students secure study spaces in the face of social distancing limitations. Those efforts underscore the value of designated spaces, and high school students and their families can create such areas in their homes.

    A new desk in the bedroom, a corner of the living room, or regular trips to the library could server as designated study spaces for your child. The Champaign Public Library, Urbana Free Library, and the Mahomet Public Library all have study rooms available to reserve, while the Tolono Public Library and the St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library also have desks to offer a quiet, distraction-free space, which can facilitate learning and help students excel in the classroom.

    Take notes and summarize while studying

    Compared to middle school courses, high school courses are more complex. It’s easy to get lost in the depth when studying several subjects like English or history that feature a lot of reading. Students adjusting to this may find it hard to remember important details when they’re reading more in a typical study session than they’re accustomed to. Taking lots of notes and summarizing text while reading, such as at the end of chapters, can help students recall the key points of reading assignments.

    Organize study groups

    A weekly study group is a great way not just to make new friends in a new school, but can also help your student gain a greater understanding of their coursework, as well as expand their knowledge past their own perspectives. Different perspectives can help students see materials through a new lens. One student may hit a snag on a particular point, and another may illuminate the issue and make it easier to understand. Sharing perspectives with other students in a healthy, friendly environment can help students sharpen their own ideas as they seek to explain themselves during conversations with classmates.