Tips for Parents
TIPS FOR PARENTS TO CREATE LIFETIME READERS
THE THREE BS
B IS FOR BOOKS : ownership of a book with the childs name inscribed inside a book that doesnt have to be returned to the library or shared with siblings.
B IS FOR BOOK BASKET: there is probably more reading done in the bathrooms of America than in all the libraries or classrooms combined put a book basket in there, stocked with magazines, books, and newspapers, put another one near the kitchen table, and another one beside the bed or on the nightstand next to the bed.
P.S. no TV in the kitchen, books instead !!!
B IS FOR BEDLAMP: most children will do anything to stay up later let them read by a dim light their eyes will grow heavy after about 10 minutes.
Finally:
1. Read to your children on a regular basis.
2. Have a wide variety of reading material available.
3. Paper and pencil should be readily available.
4. Praise your childs efforts at reading and writing, take them to the library, buy books, display their written stories.
From Akron Central Schools
What does “academic rigor” looks like?
It's not a ton of homework, although homework is sometimes necessary to reinforce concepts and allow for work completion that was not finished in class.
It's not work that make students suffer, while still understanding that frequently students will struggle to make sense of new information by applying prior knowledge and asking questions. Learning is sometimes confusing and inherently messy.
My definition of academic rigor is work that challenges students to think by asking them to read, synthesize information, conduct research while applying any number of concepts to create a more precise understanding — instead of merely requiring them to think or write something the same way repeatedly.
Jeff McCann
[Why rigor is important!]
65 PERCENT OF TOMORROW’S WORKERS WILL HAVE JOBS THAT DON’T EXIST TODAY
by Gina Bell
From https://www.payscale.com/career-news/2017/08/65-percent-tomorrows-workers-jobs-dont-exist-today
The job market is constantly changing. In fact, 65 percent of the children entering primary school now will ultimately work in a job that doesn’t exist today, according to one popular estimate reported by the World Economic Forum. The question becomes, how do we prepare for a future labor market that’s beyond the boundaries of our current reality?
AUGUST 31, 2017
KNOW THAT THIS ISN’T ENTIRELY NEW
The labor market has undergone dramatic changes in the U.S. since the Industrial Revolution. Many new jobs were created during this time due to advances in automation. But, many jobs were lost, too. The trend has continued in much the same way ever since. It’s changed the way we work and the kinds of jobs that are available.
Here’s an example: Historically, farming was a common profession. In 1790, 90 percent of the U.S. labor force worked in agriculture. If you’d told these folks that by 2008 less than 2 percent of the U.S. workforce would be employed in agriculture, they probably would have been very concerned. How could they have predicted that jobs like Search Engine Optimization Analyst and Software Engineer would arrive on the scene?
For generations, Americans have had to adjust to a changing labor market — and they’ve done just that. This is because, in the end, technology has advanced the economy and that has kept the labor market moving in the right direction. One-hundred and forty years of data show that, overall, technology has created more jobs than it has destroyed.
IT’S STILL IMPORTANT TO PREPARE
A large percentage of tomorrow’s jobs don’t exist today. So, how can we prepare for them? Well, there is still a lot that we can do to help us be ready for whatever the labor market holds for us in the future.
Expect the unexpected – You won’t do yourself any favors ignoring the facts. The labor market is going to shift and change in the years ahead. Expecting these changes, even without knowing exactly how they’ll shake out, should help you feel a little more prepared.
Pay attention to how technology impacts specific industries – Although we don’t know exactly what will happen down the road, we can anticipate which industries might be the most impacted. This is important information to have when making career decisions.
Get an education – One of the best ways anyone can prepare for their professional future is to focus on getting an education. College grads earn more money and have lower rates of unemployment.
Develop human skills – There are many ways in which the robots will never be able to compete with us. Focus on cultivating uniquely human soft skills like communication, creativity and compassion to stay competitive.
Pursue your passions – We might not know exactly how the labor market will shift in the years ahead, but that doesn’t mean we can’t point ourselves in the right direction. Follow your interests and pursue your passions. You don’t have to know exactly how you’ll utilize your tech degree, for example, for it to be a benefit to you in the future. You’ll set yourself up for success by letting your interests and abilities guide your education and career choices. This preparation, and your passion, should help you be ready for whatever the future might hold.
While predicting the future with a high degree of accuracy is difficult, it's a pretty good bet that the above article is not far off the mark.
What's the best way to prepare students for that future?
Teach them to analyze, evaluate and synthesize information. That's why we have students work towards level 4 activities (see the below Depth of Knowledge progression chart).
JM
What does all this mean?
Learning is a process, and it's middle school - so students are still in the beginning, intermediate struggling stages of making sense of what is taught and how to use it. I never look for perfection, simply sustained growth toward DOK level four stuff.
JM
or put
in
another
way
The road to success is paved with failure!
Do not get stuck. keep going! My responsibility is to guide students through this inexact process.
The Importance of Your Child's Middle School GPA
By Jennifer O'Donnell Updated on September 17, 2020
Fact checked by Andrea Rice
Middle school is a time of transition for many students. As kids prepare themselves for high school and beyond, they have to give up the often nurturing environment of the elementary school for the realities of middle school.
Good Study Habits Are Key in Middle School
If you're the parent of a middle schooler, you may be concerned about your child's grade point average (GPA). There are a few things to consider when you review your child's grades and their middle school GPA.
The most important goal during the middle school years is for your child to develop strong study habits, to continue to embrace learning, and to value education in general. Grades, of course, are important.
But your child's attitude about school and learning is potentially even more important. And, if your child develops strong study habits now (as opposed to coasting through middle school with little or no effort), that could play an important factor in how they perform in high school, college, and beyond.
Since middle school grades only count toward your high school GPA if you take high school classes, you can think of this as a transitional period for your child to get used to how high school will be and to learn how to do their best.
Middle School Is Challenging
Keep in mind that some students struggle in middle school, but excel in high school. Why? Well, consider the fact that for many students, the middle school years can be a time of adjustment and even difficulty.
Bullying peaks in middle school, and as students go through the changes of puberty, they're often confronted with a multitude of issues including their own self-awareness, the constant need to be accepted by their peers, and trying to figure out where they fit in.1
What to Do If Your Middle Schooler's Grades Are Suffering
If your child is struggling with their grades in middle school, here's what you can do to help:
Concentrate on the potential problems and resolve to fix them together. Worrying about your child's GPA will only cause additional stress on the whole family. Instead, focus on how to help your child be the student they hope to be, and if necessary, work with the school guidance counselor or your child's teachers to problem-solve academic challenges.2
Offer to help your child if they encounter homework problems, or consider hiring them a tutor to tackle specific academic challenges.
Refrain from placing additional stress on your tween by demanding a certain grade by the end of the semester. Instead, review their challenges, come up with solutions, and then work together to set a goal for them to achieve.
Consider offering a reward for hard work. As adults, we often reward ourselves for a job well done. Knowing there's a reward at the end can be motivational for kids as well.
How to Improve Your Child's Grades
Taking High School Courses
Some middle school students may take high school courses during the middle school years. That's great for students who are ready to cover the high school material but may be a bit of a stretch for others.
If your child isn't ready to take algebra or geometry, it might be better to spend the middle school years building their math skills so that they are well prepared for when they do tackle those high school courses.
If your child does take a high school course and doesn't do well, most high schools will allow them to take the course over and remove the original grade from high school transcripts.
When to Ease up on the Pressure
If your child is doing well in middle school, is happy, and has friends, count yourself lucky and refrain from placing too much pressure on them to get straight A's or be at the very head of their class.
Students who truly want to shine will do so anyway and probably don't need a whole lot of parental pressure. Other students who are pressured by their parents to constantly receive high grades, especially when they're not capable of them, may be at risk for developing low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, or stress.3
In other words, know your child and support them in working to their highest potential, whether that's A's, B's, or C's. For now, that's the best way to prepare them for college and for life in the adult world.
3 Sources
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychological Association. Middle school malaise.
KidsHealth from Nemours. 10 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Middle School.
Ciciolla L, Curlee AS, Karageorge J, Luthar SS. When Mothers and Fathers Are Seen as Disproportionately Valuing Achievements: Implications for Adjustment Among Upper Middle Class Youth. J Youth Adolesc. 2017;46(5):1057-1075. doi:10.1007/s10964-016-0596-x
How Middle School Changes for Students
By Jennifer O'Donnell Updated on June 24, 2020
Fact checked by Elaine Hinzey, RD
"What is middle school like?"
Has your child asked that question to you? The middle school years are exciting ones, as your child grows and develops into a teenager. But middle school is also a time of significant change, and kids don't always know what to expect.
How Middle School Is Different
Here's how to help your future middle schooler understand what the experience might be like, and how middle school will be different from elementary school.
Middle Schools Are Bigger: Middle schools are often larger than elementary schools. This can be a little daunting to a child. Hallways are usually wider, to make room for lockers, and gymnasiums often have locker rooms, another change from elementary school. Even the cafeteria may be more substantial or appear larger than the one your child was used to in elementary school.
Middle Schools Have Lockers: Your tween probably didn't have a locker in elementary school, but he will in middle school. Lockers are necessary as the children will most likely change classes throughout the day, and they need a central location to store their belongings and books.
Your Child Will Have More Than One Teacher: In middle school, children often change classes throughout the day. That means your child could end up with several teachers, as well as a gym instructor. This can be quite a change to a child who only had one teacher a year in elementary school.
Gym Class Will Be Different: In middle school, the PE experience may be slightly different than in elementary school. Some schools separate the genders for the gym, and at many schools, the students are required to wear a school gym uniform. Dressing for gym can cause anxiety in a tween, especially when one is shy about his or her body. Your child may be assigned a separate gym locker to store gym clothes, soap, and deodorant.
There Will Be More to Do: One of the upsides of middle school is the clubs, sports teams, and other offered organizations. Encourage your tween to join something that interests him.
Friendships Can Change in Middle School: Friendships often change in middle school, as children develop new interests and meet new people. It can be difficult when a friendship your child has had for years suddenly disintegrates. Encourage your tween to meet new people in middle school and try to keep old friends, too. But resist the urge to force a friendship on your child. Instead, let things take their natural course.
Bullies Are Common in Middle School: Unfortunately, bullying tends to peak during the middle school years, and your child may encounter a bully from time to time.1 Girls can have an especially difficult time in middle school as cliques exclude them or have trouble with frenemies and mean girls. Relational aggression is common among middle school girls, and teachers and school administrators may not even know it's happening.2
There Are More Responsibilities in Middle School: Children entering middle school should know that they will have more responsibilities than they did in elementary school. Teachers will expect your child to complete homework assignments, study independently at home, and stay on top of the materials. Also, middle school students are responsible for getting to class on time, bringing their lunch or lunch money to the school, and getting to the school bus on time. Excuses in middle school don't go very far, in other words.
Expectations Are Greater in Middle School: Even children in middle school begin feeling pressure from teachers and parents to excel for college, or placement in honors courses in middle school. Sometimes the pressure can be overwhelming. In addition, students in middle school may be placed in classes according to their academic performance.
Dating Is Common in Middle School: At this age, there's no getting around it. Children will begin to pair off, and peer pressure to date will be the norm. Hand-holding, kissing, and making out may be something your child sees for the first time in middle school.
High School Courses May Be Offered: Some middle school children may be able to take high school courses, such as geometry or a foreign language.
2 Sources
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Wang X, Zhang Y, Hui Z, et al. The Mediating Effect of Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy on the Association between Self-Esteem and School Bullying in Middle School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(5):991. doi:10.3390/ijerph15050991
Aizpitarte A, Atherton OE, Zheng LR, Alonso-Arbiol I, Robins RW. Developmental Precursors of Relational Aggression From Late Childhood Through Adolescence. Child Dev. 2019;90(1):117-126. doi:10.1111/cdev.13166
Middle School Students and Their Developmental Needs
Students May Need Something Beyond What Most Schools Offer
By Rebecca Fraser-Thill Updated on January 31, 2021
Medically reviewed by Vanessa Nzeh, MD
Many studies show that tweens become less engaged in school after entering middle school. Some psychologists suggest this occurs because middle school teaching does not fit well with tweens' developmental needs.1
Middle School Students vs. Middle School Teaching
According to psychologists, as they enter the middle school years, tweens begin to have two new needs. One is a need for increased independence. The other is an increasing need for meaningful interactions with adults who are not their parents. In other words, tweens crave freedom yet also want adult support.2 Unfortunately, though, middle schools have been found to fall short on both fronts.
Middle school teachers tend to offer less social support to students than do elementary school teachers.
In addition, the early middle school grades typically provide less independence to students than do the upper levels of elementary schools.3
Are Middle School Teachers Less Supportive Than Elementary Teachers?
When surveyed, middle school students say that their teachers are less supportive of their psychological needs than do elementary school students.4 This is unfortunate since, due to the demands of puberty and the childhood-to-teenage transition, middle schoolers tend to have greater psychological needs than younger students. In other words, just when tweens need the most support from teachers they believe they are getting the least. Unfortunately, researchers have found that the more in need of support a student is, the less supportive they find their teacher to be.
Middle School Teaching Goals May Encourage Disengagement
In addition, the goals of middle school classrooms have been found to be different than the goals of elementary school classrooms. This is unfortunate since the elementary school approach tends to foster better learning and more appreciation for learning compared to the middle school approach.
Middle schools have been found to emphasize grades and correct answers while elementary schools place greater emphasis on enjoyment of learning.
According to surveys, students notice and respond to the difference in classroom goals.4 Unfortunately, this change in goals occurs at precisely the moment when students are becoming naturally distracted by non-academic topics, such as friends and romantic interests. In other words, just when students need classes to be at their most interesting and engaging, they may be less so than ever.
What Can Parents Do?
The goals of a school and supportiveness of a teacher are certainly well beyond a parent's control. Still, it can be helpful to understand the potential mismatch between tweens' developmental needs and what many middle schools offer. For one, you can watch for signs that your school is not meeting your child's needs, such as your tween having less interest in classwork or poorer grades.5
If you think your child's school isn't meeting their needs, you could start a conversation with your tween about what they are expecting from school and the ways it isn't meeting up.
Simply opening this dialogue will help your tween feel heard and respected and may meet some of her burgeoning needs.
You might also discuss ways that your tween might make small changes to help make school feel better. For instance, could she join an extracurricular activity in which she would get to know her teacher or another teacher better and meet her need for non-parental adult support? Or could she talk with her teacher about doing a self-designed end-of-semester project instead of the dictated project, in order to better meet her need for autonomy?
A conversation with the teacher — ideally with your tween present — may also be welcome. Remember that teachers can only meet those student needs that they are made aware of.
5 Sources
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Borman GD, Rozek CS, Pyne J, Hanselman P. Reappraising academic and social adversity improves middle school students' academic achievement, behavior, and well-being. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019;116(33):16286–16291. doi:10.1073/pnas.1820317116
McElhaney KB, Allen JP. Autonomy and adolescent social functioning: the moderating effect of risk. Child Dev. 2001;72(1):220–235. doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00275
Anderman EM, Midgley C. Changes in Achievement Goal Orientations, Perceived Academic Competence, and Grades across the Transition to Middle-Level Schools. Contemp Educ Psychol. 1997;22(3):269-98. doi:10.1006/ceps.1996.0926
Madjar N, Cohen-malayev M. Perceived school climate across the transition from elementary to middle school. Sch Psychol Q. 2016;31(2):270-288. doi:10.1037/spq0000129
Katz, Idit, Kaplan, Avi, and Gueta, Gila. Students' Needs, Teachers' Support, and Motivation for Doing Homework: A Cross-Sectional Study. The Journal of Experimental Education. 2010: 78, 246-267. doi:10.1080/00220970903292868
Additional Reading
Holas I, Huston AC. Are middle schools harmful? The role of transition timing, classroom quality and school characteristics. J Youth Adolesc. 2012;41(3):333-45. doi:10.1007/s10964-011-9732-9