What grade will your student be entering?
Hi Parents and Guardians!✨
Ready to make this summer count? 😎We're thrilled to introduce "How to Summer Smarter," a new series featuring our expert Admissions Consultant, Sara Petty!
Discover actionable tips for both you and your child to maximize academic growth and prepare for a successful school year ahead.
To help us tailor our advice, please share the grade your student will be entering by voting in the poll.✅
Have questions for our team of experts?👀 Leave them in the comments below, and a member of our team will respond. 😊
What grade will your student be entering? 7 votes
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Comments
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Freshman (9th)
I have three, my oldest is going into 9th grade, my middle is going into 8th and my youngest is going into 7th.
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My child is not in high school yet
OMG- Back to back! That's exciting, though!😊😊 This community will definitely be your best friend during the next years, so I hope to see you in the community! If you have any questions about what to expect or how to set your new high schooler up for success, leave them in the comments, and our team of experts and advisors will be happy to jump in and share their insights. 😊 @Heather_Patrick_Cox
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Freshman (9th)
I have a rising 3rd grader and a rising 9th grader (😭I'm not ready)!
This summer is going to be very different for my neurodiverse 9th grader. They are transitioning from a year-round academic calendar to a traditional calendar, which means 10 weeks off for summer instead of 5 weeks. We enrolled him in camp but there aren't many options for that age so we were unable to fill up all 10 weeks. When he registered for classes, he chose AP World History for next year, and was given an assignment to complete over the summer. We were both surprised.
I'm not sure I have a specific question, but I would love to hear any advice or recommendations that the experts may have to get neurodiverse children and families ready for the next school year.
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Freshman (9th)
Same girl same, I am not ready for Elena to be a 9th grader either!!!!! And also being neurodiverse and switching districts. I am hoping to keep her busy too. AP classes are like that though, I took them all though out high school and my brother in law teaches them here in CA (History, Econ and Government) so if you guys need anything, let us know! That was also my credentialed area when I was still teaching like 100 years ago, so I am happy to help with the project from afar too if you need anything!
I have always tried to balance structure and fun to not overdo everything, especially since now Elena is older and also scaffolding to build up to something they like. Elena is a water bug, always has been. So she has taken all sorts of different swimming classes and paired them with a basic swim center pass. She has now taken all of the classes at the rec center, including the junior and the regular lifeguard and safety courses and CPR certification courses and she is turning 14 in 2 weeks. Because of this, she has been able to partner with her Alta Regional rep for other swimming and other learning activities she likes and has found more advanced things like introductions to teaching aquatics and mermaid swimming and pearl diving style courses she can take now she has the experience she has. Because it was already paired with something she loves, it did not seem like school, homework or an added chore - she really loves it and she gets to practice social skills, executive functioning and other life skills she is going to need beyond what the basic information the courses themselves provide.
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Senior (12th)
I was only able to vote for 1, so I chose the oldest - 12th grade. I have a daughter going into 10th.
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Hi Anne,
Thanks so much for your post! As the Director of 1:1 College Admissions Counseling at Kaplan, I wanted to chime in with some insights on helping your rising 9th grader prepare for a successful high school journey and a fulfilling summer.
Before joining Kaplan, I spent a decade in college admissions at various Boston-area universities. One thing we consistently observed in admissions was that the 9th grade year is often a significant transition for students. With new curricula, numerous distractions, and a steep learning curve for homework expectations (like the AP summer assignment you've already noticed!), many students see a dip in their first semester or first-year grades due to gaps in key success skills.
Therefore, I highly suggest using this summer to help your neurodiverse student focus on mastering skills they'll absolutely need in the fall. These include time management, organization, planning, prioritization, self-advocacy, and emotional regulation. Of course, you know your child best, so you can tailor your focus to their specific strengths and areas for growth.
There are many excellent summer programs and camps that could be a great fit. A few to consider include Beyond Akeela, Landmark College Summer Program, and Summer@CIP (this particular option is full for 2025, however it might be a great option for future years).
With all that said, enrolling in a formal program isn't essential. You can also provide guidance through targeted exercises at home. For example, you can challenge your teen to a summer reading competition where he practices active reading and engaging with the text instead of just skimming. Additionally, you could purchase a planner for him and help him get into the habit of practicing time management so he learns to juggle multiple tasks which is what he'll need to do in the future with his high school courses and future extracurriculars. Lastly, you could introduce your son to various note-taking strategies, such as the Cornell method, Mind Maps, or digital tools. These skills will help him hit the ground running the fall!
As Heather insightfully pointed out, summers are also about balance, so it's important that your son uses this time to explore his academic and non-academic passions. At their young age, most rising 9th graders aren't fully aware of their innate strengths or interests. I always suggest that students entering high school take Kaplan's Picasso quiz because it provides valuable insight into their unique strengths and potential career fields. From there, your son can start to explore ways to engage with those fields this summer, such as volunteer experiences or shadowing professionals. While age restrictions often mean internships aren't an option at this point, it's never too early to start connecting with professionals for conversations or a "day in the life" experience.
I hope the above information provides some guidance for you. High school is such an exciting time, yet I know it can also feel really overwhelming for both students and parents so take it one step at a time! I'm sure whatever you and your son plan out for this summer will be great!
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