August 31, 2026

help your teen become familiary with many research materials

Yes, a Google search is a fast and easy way to find information. But the answers it provides aren’t always accurate, and doing research the old-fashioned way still has value.

Your teen should know how to use a variety of written sources, in print as well as digital formats. They will help when it's time to write a paper. They are also useful for just finding out more about a topic.

Encourage your teen to consult sources such as:

Atlases. Studies show that American high school graduates have trouble with geography. Your teen can do better by studying an atlas, which is full of maps. Some atlases include historic maps, so your teen can see how the world has changed.
Magazines. When your teen needs information about sports, finance, fashion or another topic of interest, magazines can be a helpful source. Many magazines have shifted from print issues to digital. But it isn't always necessary to have a subscription; the public library may have access to the issue your teen needs.
Newspapers. Reading a newspaper is like reading a new history book every day. They provide in-depth information on current events. And scrolling through a historic newspaper helps students find articles of interest that they wouldn't have known to search for. The library is a great source for current and old newspapers, too.

Your teen should also know the difference between primary and secondary sources.

Primary sources are information from a person who was there when something happened. Example: a diary of a soldier who experienced a battle.
Secondary sources contain information compiled by a writer who did a lot of research. Example: a history of World War II.

promote digital literacy

The digital world can bring a vast amount of information right to your teen’s phone or computer screen. Unfortunately, some of that information is junk. That's why evaluating online sources is one of the most vital thinking skills students can learn.

Share these tips with your teen for figuring out whether an online source is credible:

Ask questions. When reading anything online, your teen should consider credibility. Is the purpose of the website to sell products or opinions? Where do its “facts” come from?
Check out other sources. Your teen should use a search engine to find other sources on the same topic. Comparing two or three sources side by side can help students see the limitations of each.
Be careful of AI created answers above search results. These are only as good as their sources, which may not be reliable.
Be aware of advertising strategies. Many search engines allow “pay for play.” In other words, sites can pay to have their site pop up first. Just because a website is first in a results list doesn't mean it is the best. Your teen should also look carefully on the site itself for sidebars or other sections labeled as sponsored material or advertising.
Be wary of health information. Many sites are in business to sell products. Your teen should check out any online medical information with your family doctor before trying any recommendations.
Teach your teen that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

family meals feed your teen's body and mind

You and your teen might live in the same house, but if you have different schedules, you may not see much of each other.

Do you want to strengthen your relationship with your teen, foster better grades and improve your family’s health at the same time? Here's one easy way to do it: Eat meals together.

Studies have shown that when students eat with their families regularly, they get better grades. In fact, one study found that teens who ate regular family dinners were 40 percent more likely to earn A’s and B’s in school. They were also less likely to have problems with drugs and alcohol. Family dinners have also been shown to help build language skills and foster a sense of responsibility.

So how can you build family mealtimes into your schedule? Here are some tips:

Involve everyone in the family. Work together to get a meal on the table quickly. That prep time is also a great time to catch up on how school is going and what your teen is learning.
Make mealtime enjoyable. If you have a problem, talk about it another time. Make it a point to discuss topics that interest your teen, and say that you want to hear your teen's viewpoints.
Be flexible. If your schedules differ wildly, find a compromise time for dinner. (Or, try having breakfast together!) Even if you’re only together at the table for 20 minutes, it still counts—and it still helps

help your teen improve focus

Paying attention can be tough for teens. Even students who never had attention problems in the past may see them crop up in middle and high school. These years involve more moving pieces and more details to remember. Managing them can challenge a teen’s ability to focus.

To help your student overcome concentration issues:

Suggest that your teen be honest with teachers about difficulties focusing in class. Your teen can ask for their support. Teachers can help more effectively if they know students are not ignoring them on purpose.
Encourage your teen to clarify the directions. It can be scary to ask a teacher to repeat or explain directions. But it’s far better than getting completely lost!
Help your teen find strategies, like abbreviations and codes, to use while taking notes. They can make it easier to keep up and stay focused on what the teacher is saying.
Encourage healthy habits. Eating breakfast and getting enough sleep and exercise can help your teen stay alert and on task.

show your teen respect to instill respect for others

You can talk to your teen all day about respecting others. You can lecture all night about following rules and being polite. But it isn't likely to sink in. What will? Show your teen the respect you want your teen to show others.

Teens who feel respected are more likely to:

Treat others as people of value—because they are treated that way themselves.
Follow rules—because they know rules are made to make their lives safer and more successful.
Listen to others—because their families listen to them.

Teens who feel disrespected are more likely to:

Argue a lot—because they feel people don’t listen to them.
Resist authority—because not getting their own way makes them uneasy.
Ignore others—because they feel ignored.

To show your teen respect:

Be polite. Speak to your teen the way you want your teen to speak to you and other people.
Ask your teen's opinion. The words “What do you think?” are powerful. While you cannot always follow your teen’s advice, you can keep it in mind.
Offer praise when you see your teen behaving respectfully. Say that your student is representing your family in class and in the community.

get your teen up and moving in the morning

All summer, your teen stayed up until the wee hours, then slept until noon. Now it's time for a new school year, and it’s harder than ever to get your student out of bed. Your teen is probably not lazy or defiant. More likely, your needs more sleep.

Doctors say that teens need between eight and 10 hours of sleep every 24 hours. Yet surveys show that many teens get far less.

What do students do when they should be in bed? They do schoolwork. They work at part-time jobs. They scroll through social media or interact with friends online, surf the web, play games and watch videos and TV.

To help your student get enough sleep:

Do a schedule review. If your teen is working late, or is so involved in other things that it's impossible to start studying until 10:00 p.m., it’s time for a change so your teen can hit the books earlier.
Limit caffeine use. It only makes it harder to fall asleep at night.
Schedule time for your teen to relax before bedtime. Encourage your student to use available time earlier in the day for studying so it won't be necessary to do any heavy reading or studying within that last hour before bed.
Make sure your teen can fall asleep. Impose a digital curfew an hour before your teen goes to sleep. Light emitted by screen devices can interfere with sleep. Have your teen charge them outside of the bedroom to avoid the temptation to use them.
Stick to a regular sleep schedule—even on weekends. Catching up on sleep during the weekend doesn’t work. It only makes Monday mornings harder. Don't let your teen sleep in for more than an extra hour or so.

be a consultant for your teen

When students reach middle and high school, teachers expect them to take on increasing responsibility for their own learning.

In school this year, your teen will likely be asked to work more independently. Your primary role is not to tutor your teen, or to help think of ideas for a long-term project. Instead, support and encourage your student's efforts to become a responsible learner.

What does this look like? You can and should remain familiar with the work your teen is doing. Experts recommend that you be a “consultant” for your teen.

Here’s how:

Ask your teen about each school day. Be specific. Try questions like, “What did you learn today that surprised you?” Ask about what your teen needs to accomplish, and the plans for doing it.
Create a home environment that supports learning. Help your teen establish a regular study schedule. Ask if your student needs a ride to the library, or school supplies you could pick up while you’re out shopping.
Show that reading is a high priority. Talk to your teen about books, articles, news stories—anything you have read lately. Clip and share articles you think your student would find interesting.
Set an example by discussing your own responsibilities, and how you plan your time and effort to fulfill them.

Brought to you by:

Gwinnett County Public Schools

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