Middle School Mission Possible

Helpful hints for parents of middle school students.

Time Management and Organization

Agendas can be a great communication tool in middle school. The agenda is a useful tool because it:

• helps your children organize their day and school work.
• provides space for teachers and parents to communicate with each other.
• allows parents to keep track of daily assignments.
• provides important phone numbers and information.
• explains the dress code and other policies.
• provides handy academic tools, guides and references.

Organization and time management skills are important in middle school, and affect students’ grades. Students now have multiple teachers, assignments, timelines and deadlines. Moving from class-to-class and teacher-to-teacher can make it difficult for students to keep track of their “stuff.” You can help by following a few guidelines.

• Read and sign your child’s agenda daily or as requested.
• Make sure your child gets to school on time every day.
• Have your child keep each subject in a separate folder, and check regularly to see if any papers are filed with the wrong subject.
• Have your child organize folders to reduce the clutter (i.e., graded papers, scribbles, notes from friends, etc.)
• Teach your child to prepare for school before going to bed (i.e., set out clothes, put all books and school work in the backpack, etc.).

Homework Tips and School Information

Too much homework may mean that your child is not using his time wisely in class. Too little homework may mean that your child is “forgetting” to bring everything home. Talk to
the teacher.

• Set a regular daily “study time.”
• Even if your child doesn’t have homework, this will provide time to review notes, organize folders, or read ahead. This will also help establish a consistent routine.
• Have your child study in the same place at the same time each day. Give your child a say in deciding “study” time and place.
• Keep all homework supplies in one place.
• Cut out all distractions. TV should be off, conversations should be in another room, and phone calls can be returned later.
• Encourage your child to do the hard stuff first.
• Break down larger homework projects into smaller manageable chunks over a period
  of time.

Class schedules—Make an extra copy of your child’s schedule, so that you will know where your child is during the day.

Lockers in Middle school open with a combination number. Make an extra copy of your child’s locker number or combination. Your child may lose the original.

Meals cards will be issued to each student. Breakfast and lunch are available each day.

Report Cards are issued every nine weeks. Ask to find out if Progress Reports are also
sent home.

Transportation—Know your child’s bus route number and the number of the bus service, Durham Bus Service—838-1555.

Parent Involvement

The more parents participate in schooling; the better for student achievement. Decades of research show that when parents are involved, students have:

• higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates.
• better school attendance.
• increased motivation, better self-esteem.
• lower rates of suspension.
• Families whose children are doing well in school exhibit the following characteristics.
• Establish a daily family routine.
• Monitor out-of-school activities.
• Model the value of learning, self-discipline, and hard work.
• Express high but realistic expectations for achievement.
• Encourage children’s development/progress in school.
• Encourage reading, writing, and discussions among family members.

Involvement Opportunities are available for parents. The more intensely parents are involved, the more beneficial the achievement effects. Parents are always welcome and encouraged to volunteer and be involved. Following are a few suggestions:

• Education Leadership Academy for Parents
• African American Parent Support Group
• Hispanic Parent Support Group
• Parent organization meetings
• Red Chair visit
• Tutor and mentor
• School volunteers
• Parent Workshops
• Site Council meetings

The Middle School Concept

• Teams work together and share the same group of students.
• Teams are able to look at the “whole child,” and see their strengths and needs.
• Teams are aware of the student’s progress or needs in other classes.

Questions to Ask . . .

• What specific goals have you set for my child?
• How can I be more involved in order to help my child achieve these goals?
• Is my child in any special classes, groups, or programs? Why?
• How can I contact the teachers?
• Does my signature in the agenda count toward grades?
• If my child is absent, how do I get books and assignments?
• How are report cards sent home?
• What are the behavior expectations and consequences?
• What type of in-school suspension policy is used at the school?
• Will I be notified if my child needs to be or has been disciplined?

Parent Rights

Parents may request that teachers correspond about: homework and assignments, academic status, behavior, and other areas through their child’s agenda as needed.

Resources

Do you want to know more about your middle school child? Books and videos are available for checkout. Contact the school office, Parent Involvement Worker, or Parent Teacher Resources for more information.

Books

• Queen Bees and Wannabes, by Rosalind Wiseman
• Not Much Just Chillin’: The Hidden Lives of Middle Schoolers, by Linda Perlstein
  Videos
• Living up to Responsibility: Parents and Teens
• Communicating With Your Teen
• Characteristics of Teens: What to Expect
• Communicating With Teenagers

Web Sites

• Homework / Study Tips - http://homeworktips.about.com/
• Adventures in Education - http://www.adventuresineducation.org/MiddleSchool/Planning/index.cfm