Sophomore year is a turning point in high school. Students begin laying the groundwork for college and career success. As a parent, you can help your 10th grader make this year count by guiding them toward intentional habits and meaningful exploration.

1. Strengthen Academic and Life Skills
Help your teen refine their study habits and improve time management. Encourage consistent routines, review strategies, regular homework time, and sleep. No matter the school’s academic policy, do not allow your student to turn in homework late. Teach them the vital lifeskill of timeliness. Developing strong habits today can help reduce stress in junior year. We set high expectations for our students, knowing with confidence they can meet those expectations.

2. Build Test-Taking and Reading Confidence

Now’s the time to take the SCT, PSAT, or ACTs. These early experiences improve test-taking endurance and highlight areas to strengthen. Oklahoma schools offer these exams for free—check with your school counselor to find out your school’s testing date. Also, introduce your student to speed reading techniques. With heavier reading loads in high school and college, this skill can dramatically improve comprehension, retention, and pacing—especially helpful during timed tests. Our students start our speed reading program on the first day they begin working with us. Within a few months, most of our students have doubled their reading speed. 

3. Discover Career & College Paths
Encourage your student to take career and personality assessments. Your high school may offer these for your students to use. There are also several in the market that you can purchase. However, it does not need to be expensive. As part of our college planning package, each of our students takes a career and major assessment to help them discover options for their future.  

4. Commit to Something Bigger
Support your teen’s involvement in community service. Volunteering builds leadership skills, empathy, and experiences that stand out on college applications. We never coach our students to construct outstanding resumes. We coach our students to be outstanding students, who just happen to have outstanding resumes. 

5. Start Visiting College Campuses
10th grade is a great time to start low-pressure college visits. Explore local campuses like the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma State University, the University of Central Oklahoma, or nearby regional schools. These early tours spark excitement, clarify preferences, and help students begin visualizing their future. When you are travelling, take the time to drive through a local campus. To help your student avoid the sophomore slump, give them a clear vision for their future. 

Download our college planning checklist here!