WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILD SUCCEED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Attend Back-to-School Night and Parent-Teacher Conferences

Preteens and teens do better in school when parents are involved in their academic lives. Attending events at the start of the school year is a great way to get to know your child's teachers and their expectations. School administrators may discuss school-wide programs and policies, too.

Visit the School

Knowing the physical layout of the school building and grounds can help you connect with your child when you talk about his or her school day. It's good to know the location of the main office, school nurse, cafeteria, gym, athletic fields, auditorium, and special classes.

Support Homework Expectations

During the middle school years, the time spent on homework will probably be longer than during the elementary years. An important way to help is to make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit, distraction-free place to study that's stocked with school supplies. Distraction-free means no phone, TV, or websites other than homework-related resources. And be sure to check in from time to time to make sure that your child hasn't gotten distracted.

Send Your Child to School Ready to Learn

A nutritious breakfast fuels up middle schoolers and gets them ready for the day. In general, preteens and teens who eat breakfast have more energy and do better in school. Students also need the right amount of sleep to be alert and ready to learn all day (in general, 9-12 hours per night).

Instill Organization Skills

No one is born with great organizational skills — they have to be learned and practiced. Being organized is a key to success in middle school, where most students first encounter multiple teachers and classrooms on a daily basis, and where some students are participating in extracurricular or after-school activities for the first time.

Get Involved

Volunteering at your child's school is a great way to show you're interested in his or her education. Keep in mind, though, that while some middle school students like to see their parents at school or school events, others may feel embarrassed by their parents' presence. Follow your child's cues to determine how much interaction works for both of you, and whether your volunteering should stay behind the scenes. Make it clear that you aren't there to spy — you're just trying to help out the school community.

Take Attendance Seriously

Middle schoolers should take a sick day only when absolutely necessary (ex. fever). Otherwise, it's important that they arrive at school on time every day, because having to catch up with class work, projects, tests, and homework can be stressful and interfere with learning.

Middle schoolers may have many reasons for not wanting to go to school — academic challenges, social problems, emotional struggles issues, etc. Talk with your child — and then perhaps with an administrator or school counselor — to determine ways to reduce barriers to success.

Make Time to Talk About School

Staying connected with your child as they grow more independent can be a challenge for parents, but it's more important than ever. Make efforts to talk with your child every day, so he or she knows that what goes on at school is important to you. When preteens and teens know their parents are interested in their academic lives, they'll take school seriously as well.