For the parents in my Transitioning to Middle School workshop, I always run through the four-year expectations for high school students. The parents are usually a bit overwhelmed by the idea of high school, but with plenty of information and early training, by the time their student attends high school the parents are prepared and know what to expect.

When a student becomes a freshman, everything starts to count toward graduation and college. Freshman courses, grades, and credits all become part of a student's transcript, and freshman grades are used in determining a student's grade point average (GPA). Freshman activities, honors, and awards can also be listed on college and scholarship applications. High school is the big time! All that preparation you've been doing, developing good habits and encouraging academic excellence, will really start to show in high school.

This doesn't mean you can slack off with any of the involvement you've already practiced. Your teen might not act like it, but your involvement in their school is still important to them. Now is the time to become familiar with high school graduation requirements. Sit down and figure out with your student which classes she should be taking. Investigate test requirements. If your high school has an exit exam--a test your student must pass in order to graduate--you should know about it now. Continue to attend any parent-teacher conferences, and start going to college financial aid nights and/or college fairs. No, it's not too early. While you're at it, look into any career orientation programs or resources, and visit the college resource center. Familiarize yourself with these things now--you're going to be using them a lot in the next few years.

Sophomore year is an important one for personal growth and the development of the interests that will carry your student into an adult future. No longer a freshman but not yet an upperclassman, the sophomore has a certain amount of freedom to explore. Use it! Get your student involved in any activities that interest her--you're working on identifying strengths, abilities, aptitudes, and interests here, so encourage a wide range of possibilities.

• Keep track of academic progress to make sure goals are being met.
• Testing starts in tenth grade, so you need to prepare for practice SATs and ACTs.
• Join career development clubs on campus.
• Volunteer!
• Keep college in the conversation.