10 Tips for Middle School Parents
-from www.schoolfamily.com
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Middle school can be a confusing time, for parents as well as for their kids. Your child is becoming more independent yet still needs your support as much as ever. While you may decide to allow your child more autonomy in some areas, be sure to stay actively involved in your child’s school. Research shows that children whose parents are engaged in their education are more likely to achieve academic success. Here are some tips for getting involved in your child’s middle school learning experience. |
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Get to know the teachers. It’s a good idea to get to know your child’s teachers. Visit their school sponsored personal websites and learn about their expectations, rules and responsibilities. Find out how much time your child should spend on homework each night. Find out whether there will be regularly scheduled tests and if so, when. Send an email introducing yourself and asking about the best way to get in touch if you have questions. All teachers use email to communicate so this is a great way to be sure the teachers get your best email addresses. |
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Find a niche for yourself at your child’s school. Unlike in the lower grades, middle school classrooms don’t need extra adults on hand. But you can volunteer in other ways. Serve as a PTA Volunteer. Work in the school store, help organize one of the many PTA Fund Raisers, or volunteer in the library. |
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Do behind-the-scenes work. If you can’t be in school during the day, ask teachers and other school personnel to pass along some work that you can do on your own. Appropriate prep work for upcoming lessons; collecting items for an academic or related arts project; serve on a parent-school advisory council (SIC); join your middle school PTA. |
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Volunteer to chaperone school dances and drive kids to school sports competitions. You’ll meet other parents, school staff, and your child’s classmates. This will also give you the opportunity to demonstrate the importance of educating the whole child. |
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Go to school meetings and events. Attending concerts, plays, assemblies, meetings, and other activities is a good way to become familiar with your child’s school community. |
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Find out about homework assignments and school tests. If your school has a website where teachers list homework assignments, get in the habit of checking it regularly. If not, contact your child’s teachers and ask them to alert you when there’s an important project or test coming up. Homework, depending on the class, can be essential and we need your help to reinforce this with your students. |
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Talk to your child about school. Ask specific questions to draw out your child. Ask “How do you think you did on the math test?” “Did Mr. Phipps say anything funny today?” “What games did you play in PE?” The more conversations you have with student about school the more important it becomes. |
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Give your child a quiet place to study and do homework. Find an area in your home that is free of distraction where your middle schooler can concentrate on homework. Or a place like the kitchen where you can help them stay focused on their school work while you work on dinner. Also be available to help if your child has a question but do not do homework for them. Offer to check math problems, proofread paper, and help with spelling. If you find a mistake, point it out and you’re your student figure out how to correct it. Homework is a great way for teachers to evaluate student work to determine what areas of re-teaching are needed. |
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Attendance is Crucial. Nothing can replace the daily instruction that takes place in the classroom. Research has shown for years that student achievement is effected by attendance. We will, though, make every effort to help students get caught up in case of an absence but it is the student’s responsibility make sure they know what they need to do and to get it to their teacher. |
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Post a family calendar in a central place. Write down important school dates, including parent meetings, due dates for projects, and tests. Encourage your middle schooler to add to the calendar and to check it daily. See an example of a family calendar. |
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"10 Tips for Middle School Parents." School Family. August 2, 2012 |
