Encourage your child to
take more advanced courses.

Middle School/Junior High

Admission counselors say parents can give their children head starts by guiding choices of classes as early as junior high. Students should take the most academically rigorous classes their abilities allow.

Course-selection mistakes as early as middle school can derail hopes of attending certain colleges. Many high-school classes are sequenced, meaning material learned in one is necessary to move to the next.

College experts say students should take advanced or honors classes when possible and that a foreign language is an excellent elective or exploratory class.

This is a critical time for math. Capable students should take pre-algebra and Algebra I before high school. They shouldn't be pushed into classes for which they are unqualified, but by this age many students have decided they're bad at math and try to avoid higher classes. Be vigilant in encouraging your children to stretch themselves.

Act quickly when a child is struggling with math or other core subjects. A tutor, perhaps a high school or college student, can help a younger student build skills and confidence while also serving as a role model. Talk with the teachers and the principal, and if you believe your child is not getting the support he or she should be receiving, make immediate changes.

Reading and writing also are crucial. Boys often lag behind girls in these skills. One way to "sneak" in writing practice at home is for children to keep a journal and to write letters to grandparents or others.