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Q: What is the our philosophy of 6th grade at the middle school level?
Q: What is the our philosophy of 6th grade at the middle school level?
A: We approach 6th grade as a transition year for your children. We view the growth of your child as a team effort – teachers, students and parents. Your child will not maximize their potential if it is just left up to us - just as they would not maximize their academic growth if it was just left up to you. It is a team effort, and together, we can take your child to a whole new level. Our philosophy is to provide a safety net for students as they become accustomed to middle school life, and to continuously “up” the expectations so they develop their own sense of personal academic independence. Middle school offers a lot more freedom, but with that freedom comes a lot more responsibility. All of the Morgan teachers set high expectations for each child, and we always have your child’s best interest at heart.
Our Suggestion: think back to when your child was in 1st grade...how you actively checked in with them daily and communicated with their teachers immediately if something was amiss. Approach the 1st quarter of 6th grade in the same manner - have them physically show you each teacher's website daily (all homework is posted there). Just as you wanted to set them up for success then, do so now. Middle school is a whole different "beast" and many students need that extra support to develop good middle school habits and start the year off on the right foot. Once they've built those new habits, gradually release that responsibility to them.
Q: How can I help my child improve as a middle school student?
Q: How can I help my child improve as a middle school student?
A: Middle school is a very different “animal” than elementary school. Just because your child was successful at the elementary level does not guarantee success at the middle school level. Our suggestion is to take a VERY active approach (at least until you have determined your child can manage the change).
Please discuss the following topics with your child – we have found that these are some of the biggest challenges student face.
Teacher Websites and Google Classroom - Teacher websites and Google Classroom are used EXTENSIVELY! We suggest setting up bookmarks to each of our sites and classrooms and for both students AND parents to become familiar the information there.
Building Good Work Habits - On a daily basis for the first couple of weeks, have your child physically get online to SHOW YOU each teacher's website and google classroom daily (all homework is posted there).
Time management – Students have a lot more on their plate in middle school. If students save everything to the last minute, they will be overwhelmed and struggle to get all assignments completed. Spend time daily reviewing recently taught materials, working on longer assignments and organizing information.
Get comfortable contacting teachers - Students need to get comfortable letting us know what they need. Please encourage them to talk with us, email us, etc. We can help if we know what's going on.
Be involved – Class discussions & active participation is a huge part of your student’s work habits grade. Participating in class discussions consistently is one of the easiest ways to work toward an “A” in work habits.
Review material – Have your child spend 10-15 minutes a night reviewing the material he/she learned that day (even if no one told him/her to!). Make sure they understand it – if they don’t, have them let us know ASAP!
Responsible behavior – Middle school students who demonstrate responsible behavior are afforded a lot more freedom and personal choice.
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