General

In most parts of the country, graduation from 8th grade means on to high school! Savor the summer, but use this time to educate yourself about what you and your child can expect in the coming four years. An excellent step-by-step college preparation guide for the next four years is Valerie Pierce’s “Countdown to College: 21 To Do Lists for High School.”

Members of College Parents of America: Click here to submit your questions to Valerie Pierce. You’ll get a comprehensive, personal response within 72 hours.

A helpful book for improving communication between you and your teen during these transitional years is “7 Things Your Teenager Won’t Tell You: And How to Talk About Them Anyway,” by Jennifer Marshall Lippincott and Robin M. Deutsch

Academics

Remind your child to obtain the books assigned on his/her summer reading list (or for the next school year) early in the summer – either online, at a bookstore, at the local library or through a swap with classmates. Encourage him/her to develop a schedule for reading the books throughout the summer (i.e., a book a week) and to either highlight or take notes so he/she won’t forget important facts and concepts before school resumes in the fall.

Also encourage your child to keep a journal over the summer to keep his/her writing skills sharp. There will be a lot more writing assignments in 9th grade!

For those times when children with learning disabilities and/or their parents are feeling discouraged, here’s a list of highly successful leaders and celebrities with learning disabilities.

If your child needs some extra help to improve his/her academic performance, click here to learn about online tutoring services.

Members of College Parents of America: Save 10% on SMARTHINKING online tutoring services, the leading provider of 24-hour, live online academic assistance.

College Savings

Continue discussions with your child about the cost of college and assess your family’s savings to date and projections over the coming three years. To evaluate your progress with a calculator of recommended college saving, click here.

Members of College Parents of America: Send your questions about savings plans to financial advisor Chip Winston at Ask the Experts. You’ll get a comprehensive, personal response within 72 hours.

Help your child to open a savings account if he/she does not already have one. If your child starts contributing part of his/her earnings from babysitting, mowing yards, working at summer camps, etc., he/she will be pleased to see how these and birthday money add up over the next 4 years!

If babysitting is one of the ways your child is earning money, be sure to read this important article on ensuring your sitter’s safety.

Special Offer: As a Decade of Decisions subscriber, you are eligible to enroll as a College Parents of America member for as little as $19 per year. To learn more about membership benefits and options, click here.