Middle School Today
What’s in store for students…
Academic Environment
Challenges:
- Class changes
- Different teachers
- Not so much “hand holding”
- More work
- Higher expectations
- Testing pressures
Strengths:
- Expanded learning opportunities
- Begin exploration of educational/career goals
- Chance to expand horizons
- Intellectual challenge
Organization Skills
Challenges:
- Disorganized
- Scattered
- Late Assignments
- Unknown Assignments
- Incomplete Work
- Late/Lack of Parental Notices
Strengths:
- Learning to Prioritize
- Identity Learning Styles
- Avoids Procrastination
- Better Grades
- On top of Projects
- Parental Involvement
Social Relationships
Challenges:
- Friends/Cliques
- Fitting in
- Peer Pressure
- Peer Conflicts/Bullying
- Stress
· Emotional ups and downs
- o Confusion
- o Depression
- o Irritability
- o Anxiety
Strengths:
- Developing and growing
- Discovering who they are
- Expanding social network
- Expanding and honing interest
- Learning how to make decisions
- Learning to take more responsibility for self
- Figuring out how to deal with emotional ups and downs
- Moving beyond family yet anchored to family support
How Parents Can Help Students
Transition to Middle School
Academically
-Assist in organization skills
-Independence with decision making
-Help in setting goals
-Learning resources
-Parents as partners
Socially
-Accepting and being accepted
-Mutual respect
-New and old friends
-Cooperation and communication
-Agree to disagree
-Learning attitude
-Motivate and inspire/Role Model
Emotionally
-Talk and listen
-Promote self-discipline
-Learn from mistakes
-Celebrate hard work
-Be consistent and predictable
-Give independence
-Stay involved
-Be a great motivator
Physically
-Encourage physical activity
-Limit computer, television, video games
-Reassure physical changes are normal
-Communicate with school
Tips for Parents
- Have daily communication with your child
- Ask open-ended questions about their school day
- Provide and maintain a familiar home structure
- Listen to their ideas for establishing home rules and incorporate them when possible
- Offer and expect your child to accept and perform responsible acts, e.g., household chores or volunteer service
- Introduce yourself and meet with the middle school’s administrators and teachers regularly to monitor your child’s progress and educational needs
- Help familiarize your child with their school schedule, calendar, locker rules, school rules
- Review your child’s academic progress with your child every quarter
- Maintain regular family events, e.g., family nights, family dinners, weekend outings, etc.
Helpful Websites
Middle School: Movin' On Up
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/school/middleschool/
Making the Move to Middle School: Parent Guide
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=84
Making the Middle School Transition
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=2157
Preparing for Middle School
http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=228