The high school offers students the opportunity to learn and grow academically, socially and emotionally. Our children face challenges, though.
In addition to competition from peers, challenging curricula, technological advances and uncertainty about the future, the current COVID-19 pandemic has moved the world away from traditional methods and toward new ways of doing things.
A solid education and the following tips help our high school children manage common challenges and grow.
Why is Student Growth Important?
It is important for students to grow because:
1. It makes them more productive and they learn how to be a better and more responsible person.
2. It will help them in their ability to think and reason. They will always be learning new things, which will help them to think critically about everything they encounter.
3. It allows students to develop new skills, gain knowledge, and improve their ability to solve problems.
Growth matters because it gives the opportunity to learn and improve each day.
Tips that Help High School Students Grow
As parents, we want only the best for our children. That’s why we choose a high school like Global Indian International School Singapore (GIIS). The GIIS skill-based education system is based on 4Cs – Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Communication and Creativity.
Our school environment also provides proper academic education and reinforces essential skill development that gives children a solid foundation.
We deliver these aspects to our students through various methods and in different and unique ways.
Also Read: Tips for Nurture Morals and Values in High School Students
Navigate Competition
Students can participate in a variety of high school competitions, including sports, academics, dance and creative events.
Competition does motivate children to showcase their skills, push themselves and perform at the top of their capabilities, but competition can also be stressful.
Let’s encourage our children to compete and achieve their full potential as we help them navigate the competitive high school culture.
1. Cultivate an Adequacy Mindset
Winning is fulfilling and fun, and it can lead to exciting opportunities. But sometimes, being ‘good enough’ is enough.
When we encourage our children to embrace adequacy, we give them the ability to accept their best efforts.
With this outlook, our children are able to work to their potential, enjoy their achievements and feel accomplished, even if they don’t win a first-place trophy or graduate at the top of their class.
2. Verify Accomplishments
Being first is one way to measure a child’s learning. There are other accomplishments we can use, too, as we ensure our children are ready for adulthood.
Verify that our children know how to listen, make conversation, manage their time, collaborate, solve problems, think critically and work to their full potential.
These accomplishments demonstrate a child’s ability to function in their personal lives and today’s global economy.
3. Embrace Failure
Striving for perfection can help students make goals, push boundaries and test their abilities and resolve. Children must also know how to fail, though. Through failure, children develop resilience and problem-solving skills.
While we should give our children every opportunity to succeed, we must also show them how to embrace failure and accept it as a learning tool that equips them for life success.
Go Beyond Academics
Academic success paves the way for our children to learn as much as possible in each class and to prepare for college and career success.
Our children embrace new ways of doing things and learn how to innovate, create, imagine and lead by doing activities outside of the classroom, too. We can encourage high school children to go beyond academics and grow into more well-rounded individuals.
1. Learn New Skills
A holistic education includes academic subjects and extracurricular opportunities. Exposure to technology, languages, musical instruments, dance and other activities gives children a well-rounded education.
Children also learn essential 21st Century skills, including initiative, critical thinking, productivity and flexibility, as they learn new skills.
2. Participate in Sports
Individual and organised sports at school and in the community promote teamwork, collaboration, communication and confidence.
Children also gain resilience, determination and a greater understanding of the mind-body-emotion connection as they push themselves to succeed. Let’s encourage our children to play sports at school, with friends and as a family.
3. Make Time for Hobbies
By high school, some children forgo their hobbies in order to focus solely on academic success, but hobbies help our children develop invaluable skills, including innovation, creativity, mindfulness and confidence.
We should give our children time to pursue their specific hobbies and interests as we encourage them to grow.
Manage AI and Technological Advancements
Technology tools are part of daily life in the classroom and beyond. To achieve success, our children must be able to manage technological advancements, including AI.
The 21st-century facility at GIIS provides children with access to a variety of technological tools. We can also help children manage technology and grow with these tips.
1. Access, Practice and Master New Technology
Computers, cellphones, video equipment and virtual reality are four technology tools our children may use at school and at home. These tools will only evolve in the future.
Ensure your child’s school utilises the latest tech tools and that your child is able and willing to learn new tech as we prepare high schoolers for the future.
2. Understand the Value, Benefits and Drawbacks of Technology
Technology is essential for daily life, but evolving technology, hackers and equipment failure can create headaches.
Our children should understand the challenges that come with technology and be able to navigate these concerns. We should teach our children how to protect their personal information and devices, maintain their technology tools and master all the latest hardware and software.
The ability to know the value and challenges that come with technology equips our children to navigate today’s digital world.
3. Commit to Lifelong Learning
Technology, including AI, is here to stay and will become smaller, more complicated and indispensable in the future. We can teach our children to be curious, eager and committed to learning.
With these attitudes, our children develop the mindset they need to embrace and master new technology as it becomes available.
Think Out of the Box
To cope in our ever-changing world, students must be able to innovate and think out of the box.
By thinking out of the box, children successfully navigate changes, hurdles and challenges that may occur as they study and work. In three ways, we teach our children to think out of the box.
1. Master 21st Century Skills
Our children must be able to demonstrate that they are flexible, innovative and creative. These 21st Century skills enable children to learn, practise and master new skills and techniques.
At GIIS, our children learn these skills as they study and play. We can also reinforce essential 21st Century skills as we talk, play and interact with each other at home.
2. Reinforce Social and Emotional Skills
For success, children need academic and technical skills. Social and emotional skills are invaluable, too. GIIS schools integrate SEL into every class and activity.
Our students learn self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. With these tools, children can manage current and future challenges.
3. Prepare for Career Waves
In the past, employees would often remain in one career for their entire lives, but the future job market looks more like waves. Children need to be flexible lifelong learners who are willing and able to meet fluctuating industry demands.
Through education and play, we can help our children develop essential flexibility, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that prepare them to navigate career waves in our ever-changing world.
High School Students Grow at GIIS
When considering Indian schools in Singapore, turn to GIIS. Our multicultural global school gives high school students a holistic education.
We prioritise Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Creativity as we expose children to a variety of cultures, thoughts, ideas and opinions. With a GIIS education, your child is prepared to manage common challenges and grow.
