11th Grade Ready: Expert Advice to Help Parents Navigate the Year Ahead

“Juniors face many challenges as they balance academic and life demands, while also planning for their futures. 11th Grade Ready provides exceptional and practical advice to help parents support this important milestone in their child’s life. This handbook brilliantly dissects the complexities of what 11th graders face, from relationships, academics, and interests, to preparing for the future of adulthood. The closing comments and conversation prompts at the end of each chapter illuminate strategies for supportive interactions with your student.”—Kimberly Yarlott, Assistant Superintendent and 2017 New Hampshire Elementary Principal of the Year

“The deep belief in the power of empathy and connection forms the backbone of 11th Grade Ready. The book’s main themes—academic and personal development, social and emotional well-being, and future readiness—provide families with invaluable, straightforward advice in a comprehensive guide that demystifies junior year. It’s short and sweet and gives readers the tools to navigate the transition from thinking like a high school student to the kind of skills needed to be successful in college. I wish we had this when our own girls were going through high school.”—Robert Estice, Secondary Teacher, Ohio

This is a transitional year for your teen, as the end of high school is on the horizon. This realization adds another level to anxiety and excitement for the near future. If you’re wondering what comes next, you’ll find loads of information in 11th Grade Ready useful to you and your student. Each contributor to 11th Grade Ready is a current or former high school teacher who has worked extensively with parents and families of students. Contributors have all been Teachers of the Year, finalists in their state, or otherwise recognized on the state level for their abilities in the classroom and high school environment.

11th Grade Ready includes:

• How 11th grade differs from 10th and moving through preparing for 12th grade.
• How to start thinking about post–high school options.
• Expert advice on a wide range of topics, from academic expectations to emotional and social development.
• Practical suggestions and relatable anecdotes.
• Conversation starters for you and your junior to open new lines of communication that can continue throughout the school year.
• Effective strategies to balance guidance and support with encouraging self-reliance, helping parents strike the right balance.

11th Grade Ready is edited by Timothy M. Dove, who was the 2011 and 2012 Ohio State Teacher of the Year, where he was a 7th and 8th grade teacher. He has also been an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University.

Contributors include:
Dr. Alysha Collins, School Psychologist
David Bosso, 2012 Connecticut State Teacher of the Year
Andrea Sachs, History Teacher, Minnesota
Efren Villalobos, Special Education Teacher, New Mexico
John Skretta, 2017 Nebraska Superintendent of the Year
Marcy Dovholuk, Assistant Principal, New Jersey
Jillian Huber, ELA High School Teacher, Illinois
Heidi Edwards, Physical Science and AP Biology Teacher, Ohio
Al Rabanera, Algebra Teacher, California
Stacy McAdoo, 2019 Arkansas State Teacher of the Year
Mandy Manning, 2018 National and Washington State Teacher of the Year
Lisa Hirkaler, NBCT, NJ County Teacher of the Year 2016
Lori Knisley, 2015 Ohio State Teacher of the Year

11th Grade Ready is one of a series of guides published by Parent Ready. Parent Ready’s guides help parents navigate the milestones, challenges, and passions of their adolescent and young adult kids. More at https://parentready.com.

Timothy M. Dove, 2011 and 2012 Ohio State Teacher of the Year, was a 7th- and 8th-grade teacher for 32 years. He also was an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University for 20 years, working with MEd students in secondary social studies. During the last seven years of his K-12 career, he was part of a leadership team that designed a new public middle school with an emphasis on student voice, student choice, mastery, and a connection to community and service. Since retiring in 2013, he has been a consultant with Battelle for Kids in Hong Kong, Learning Forward, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and the Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) Center, working with educators to better serve each and every student.