After Spring Break, time will accelerate to warp speed and, before we know it, school will be over. Monitoring students’ work becomes increasingly important as the weather gets nicer and the days get longer.

I hate to sound like a broken record, but, at NOVA, since teachers only see students for a short time each week, parents need to initiate discussions about schoolwork and review assignments. Here’s an example: an essay is due in English on Monday. The student does a poor job on the essay and turns it in. The teacher explains the problem with the essay and directs the student to include more quotes and other specific examples, strengthen transitions and to make sure the essay is in present tense. The student comes back the following week with an essay that is very similar to the last essay. What has the student learned? If, before the first essay is turned in, the parent reads it and makes suggestions, the student saves at least a week, maybe more. The parents’ involvement increases learning. Reading an essay doesn’t require an English degree. Every essay is an argument: read to see if your student proved his/her point. If it’s not clear, you will be able to tell. Students can also email teachers with questions during the week. But most students won’t do that unless someone is monitoring them. That someone has to be the parents if Independent Study is going to be successful.