As part of our popular summer blog series we will be identifying the Top 10 College Readiness Skills to practice with your son/daughter over the summer. Again, don't worry if your son/daughter hasn't mastered these skills before move-in day...the idea is to become familiar with college expectations and begin practicing these skills at home. Thames Academy will reinforce these skills throughout the year both inside and outside of the classroom.
COLLEGE READINESS SKILL #3:
Knowing Your Social Security Number
Especially in the beginning of the academic year, college students will be asked for their social security number numerous times.....filling out forms, electronically signing their name online, and Mitchell College uses this number (in a special combination) for students' email address password. Adults sometimes have trouble remembering this 9 digit number too! Thames Academy suggests that students store their social security number in a safe place while at college.
Knowing Your Social Security Number
Especially in the beginning of the academic year, college students will be asked for their social security number numerous times.....filling out forms, electronically signing their name online, and Mitchell College uses this number (in a special combination) for students' email address password. Adults sometimes have trouble remembering this 9 digit number too! Thames Academy suggests that students store their social security number in a safe place while at college.
Here are some suggestions:
-Parents can send a text to the student with the SS#
-Parents can send an email to the student with the SS#
-Students can create a document on their computer desktop with important phone numbers and their SS#
PARENTS: It may be tempting to want to hold onto your son/daughter's SS# and simply have them call or text you when they need it. This is not recommended.
I know what you're thinking....But my son/daughter has executive functioning deficits and they will lose the email or the SS# if I give it to them....or I will help my child fill out any forms when he/she is at home, after class, or in the evening. However, often, students will practice logging in to their email accounts or complete academic enrollment forms during classtime (especially during sociology class which meets 3x week). It is difficult for your son/daughter to text you during classtime and wait for your response when the rest of the class has moved ahead. This causes students much anxiety when they need to rely on you for this number and the teacher won't let them call you in the middle of class. Please help your son/daughter start memorizing this number now or help them remember the safe place where you and they have stored the SS#.
We want your child to become independent during their year at Thames Academy and we know you want this too. We encourage you to give them small challenges that allow them to test their independence and capabilities. They can do it!!
