9th Grade Ready: Expert Advice to Help Parents Navigate the Year Ahead

“Real, relevant, and more importantly—the right advice for incoming 9th graders and their parents from some of the best and experienced educators in the country. This book does a great job detailing the thoughts, emotions, setbacks, and successes that students will most likely encounter in high school. And the book gives guidance on how to make the most of these years to prepare students for their future. As a high school principal, I want our students and parents to have this book.”—Jeff Charbonneau, 2013 National Teacher of the Year, and Principal of Zillah High School

“Ninth graders can be thoughtful, hilarious, infuriating, and inspiring... sometimes all in the span of one conversation. If supporting your new high schooler feels daunting, this book has you covered. As a parent and a 9th grade teacher, I can say that my favorite part of this book is the compassion that runs through every page. These authors know your student well, even if they have never met them, and they are dedicated to helping them succeed.”—Sydney Chaffee, 2017 National and Massachusetts State Teacher of the Year

Your child has gotten to their first year of high school, congratulations! If you’re wondering what to expect during this milestone year, you’ll find loads of information in 9th Grade Ready useful to you and your student. Each contributor to 9th Grade Ready is a current or former 9th grade teacher who has worked extensively with parents and families of students.

9th Grade Ready includes:

• How 9th grade differs from 8th and moving through preparing for 10th grade.
• Expert advice on a wide range of topics, from academic expectations to emotional and social development.
• Practical suggestions and relatable anecdotes.
• Conversation starters 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.

9th 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. Tim 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 Education, Development, Accountability and Reform (CEEDAR) Center.

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. Contributors include:

John Skretta, 2017 Nebraska Superintendent of the Year
Lorynn Guerrero, 2022 New Mexico State Teacher of the Year
Joan Hurley, 2008 Connecticut State Teacher of the Year
Tiffany Richard, 2012 Kansas State Teacher of the Year
Heidi Crumrine, 2018 New Hampshire State Teacher of the Year
Mandy Manning, 2018 National and Washington State Teacher of the Year
Al Rabanera, Algebra Teacher, California
Bethany Bernasconi, 2012 New Hampshire State Teacher of the Year
Barbara Hopkins, PhD, 1988 Nebraska State Teacher of the Year
Jada Reeves, 2019 West Virginia State Teacher of the Year
Jennifer Skomial, 2019 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year
Jim Shaner, STEM/Science Teacher, Ohio
Heidi Edwards, Physical Science and AP Biology Teacher, Ohio
Stacey McAdoo, 2019 Arkansas State Teacher of the Year
Carolyn Kielma, 2023 Connecticut State Teacher of the Year

9th 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, an educator for 42 years, is the Ohio State Teacher of the Year in 2011 and 2012. Tim was a middle school teacher for 32 years and helped develop the Global Scholars Diploma program. He taught high schoolers for three years, was an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University for 20 years, and for the past decade has worked with state and national education agencies supporting educators and students in a variety of ways. 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.