Children entering adolescence undergo all manner of changes; physically, mentally, and emotionally speaking. And watching kids go through this transformation can be difficult for many parents, especially considering that teens begin to turn to their peers for advice and support during this time, breaking away from their parents in an effort to establish an independent identity. But aside from the changes inherent to adolescence, parents will also have to cope with the fact that their young teens are entering high school, an environment that is not only demanding academically, but that also embodies hazards associated with peer pressure and the desire to fit in. So what can you expect when your teens enter high school? Here are a few things to prepare for.

For one thing you can expect the demands of the curriculum to increase. Whereas kids in elementary and middle school are often subjected to rote learning, those at the high school level must begin honing comprehension and reasoning skills. In short, they’ll be required to think. So whereas essays in younger years may have consisted of book reports or a letter detailing their summer vacation, they’ll now have to learn the five-paragraph essay structure and deliver work that shows more than the ability to regurgitate information. They’ll have to exhibit intuition, innovation, and independent thought. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. [Read more…]