Students and teachers across Illinois will have an opportunity to participate in the eleventh annual statewide Illinois 5 Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of out school. As a parent/guardian, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughs on the importance elements of school effectiveness in a survey about our school.

Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at PJHS and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.

To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/.

This month we will be taking a look at COURAGE. Courage is the ability and strength to face something that may be difficult or challenging. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather perseverance in the presence of fear and the willingness to stand up for what is right or to try something new even though it may be uncomfortable or uncertain.

Why focus on Courage?

• Courage encourages engagement. Courage helps students raise their hand, participate, try new things, and voice their opinions.
• Courage builds self-confidence. Courage is the choice to act. By doing something, students increase their belief in themselves and their ability to do difficult or challenging things.
• Courage can help reframe a negative. When something does not go as planned or a student gets upset about a mistake or failure, courage can help reframe the event in a positive light.

Courage in Action:

• Provide leadership opportunities. Students can learn and demonstrate leadership by teaching and mentoring others, taking on roles and responsibilities at home, or community outreach.
• Encourage discussion and debate. Foster curiosity and empower students to formulate ideas and engage in respectful discourse and conversations.
• Celebrate failures. Create opportunities to reduce fear of failure and celebrate when students try something new, even if they are not successful the first time.

Here are a few ways to encourage your tween or teen to take control of their own time. These suggestions can help you tap your child's goals and inner motivations. Do they want fewer homework hassles and more free time? Less fear when they stand up to speak in class or apply for their first job? Helping them use time wisely can deliver the confidence and stress relief they're seeking.

Help them view time as an essential resource.

• By now, your child has learned something about saving and spending. If they want that new skateboard or prom outfit, they'll need to say "no" to other expenditures. Tap into this knowledge base by explaining that time management works the same way. They need to prioritize the tasks that lead directly to the outcomes they want.

Focus on systems, not reminders.

• Your goal is to help your child manage time on their own, rather than playing timekeeper for them. Constant reminders that time's running out will not help them think and plan ahead. Instead, challenge your child to devise creative ways of reminding themselves of specific tasks and timelines. It can be hard to bite your tongue when they miss the bus (again!), but modest failures will strengthen their awareness of time and determination to follow through.

Let them choose the tools.

• Instead of requiring your child to use a specific planning or time tracking system, ask which tools they've heard about or would like to try. There are many excellent programs, workbooks and apps out there. Giving your child the chance to choose one they prefer will build buy-in for actually using the system they select.

Use time-sensitive chores as teaching experiences.

• Reinforce the habits that lead to good time management by assigning time-driven tasks at home. For example, you might put your teen in charge of getting the recycling bins to the curb every Tuesday by 8 a.m. Ask them: "What's your strategy for remembering this chore every week?" Let them know you're trusting them to follow through and show your appreciation when they hit the mark.

Help them break big goals into manageable parts.

• Many kids (and adults!) feel overwhelmed when facing major objectives, especially when the stakes are high. (Think college application deadlines or big tests that determine a whole semester's grade.) Rather than letting looming deadlines stress you both out, help your teen map smaller steps and set a flexible schedule to comple them. Ask about any sticking points this particular goal holds for them and listen with an open mind. Showing compassion for their concerns doesn't mean you'll do the work for them; it confirms that big tasks can be a struggle for anyone, and you're there to support them along the way.

Offer meaningful praise.

• Describe what you see when your teen manages time effectively. "I noticed this week that you got your homework done early enough to relax a little before bed, and you seem less stressed. Nice work!" Ask how they feel when tasks are done in a timely way. Helping them witness the difference between struggle and success will strengthen healthy habits.

Hold space for setbacks.

• When your teen procrastinates, wastes time or gets so absorbed in one task that nothing else gets done, invite them to learn from the experience. Guilt and shame are less effective than reminding them that tomorrow is a new day (and a fresh chance to try again).

Help them limit online time.

• Your teen may waste hours on social media or video games unless you introduce healthy media habits. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a family media plan that helps you set standards for everyone in the household. This reinforces the idea that both adults and kids need to manage their digital media use.

Share your own experiences.

• Modeling wise time management gives your child the chance to see firsthand how these habits ease stress and promote emotional balance. Start with simple examples: "If I want to make that early flight tomorrow, I'd better pack right after dinner." You can also describe times you didn't think ahead and how much harder it was when you felt rushed and anxious. Don't hesitate to laugh at your own missteps. You're helping your child discover the value of good planning and the importance of self-forgiveness. In a hectic world, that's a healthy perspective we can all embrace.
• Don't forget you can ask other adults for support, too. Find out if your child's teachers and coaches use a particular method for organizing schoolwork, sports practices and other activities. These might serve as models your child can tap into. Words of encouragement from mentors, family members and other trusted adults will go a long way in helping your child feel pride in the progress they're making.

Build in a couple of planning times with your kids each week.

• Use this time to go over schedules, assignments and due dates. Having these regularly built into the schedule can help teens avoid feeling that parents are hovering, pressuring or micromanaging them. Keep the family meetings short and sweet. The goal is a balance between giving teens space and autonomy while still having some regular touchpoints with you for oversight.

“Teaching Time Management to Teens: Less Stress, More Balance.” HealthyChildren.org, 26 September 2023