Tierra Linda Middle School

Middle school is a time of many transitions and challenges both academically and developmentally.  How can we help middle school students with the increased demands of school?  We want to focus on a child’s strengths and help them meet these new challenges.  They still need support from their parents, but they also need to start becoming independent.  It’s a delicate balance.

According to a scientific analysis of 25 studies, when parents are simply more involved than average, their children are an astonishing 30% more successful in school (The Parent Institute).

Ms. Nida (7th and 8th grade English) and Ms. Silvestrini (7th grade Math), collaborated to share a few simple ways Tierra Linda parents can help support their child.

STUDY SKILLS

Homework:

• Check School Loop for the homework and assignments.
• Help child look at all assignments they need to do and plan their time.  Make a list if they haven’t already made the list in the student planner.  When there are many assignments, set goals of completion.  For example, get a particular assignment completed take a break.  Come back and complete next assignment, break, etc.  Plan the breaks and the amount of time they will take.  Set a timer if needed.
• Provide a space for them to complete work.  Have the house quiet or play soothing music.  Minimize distractions.
• Check to see that all assignments have been completed.
• Help with the assignments if the child needs clarification or to gain understanding.  If they still don’t get it, remind them to see their teachers.

Organization:

• Remind your child to load backpack with completed assignments and needed books the night before school.
• Go through binder weekly.  Put papers in correct sections.  Remove unneeded old work/flyers.  Check pencil pouch for needed supplies.
• Have a phone number of a study buddy to call if they need help.

Materials:

• Does your child have everything he or she need to complete the assignments at home?  (Colored pencils, or crayons, glue sticks, paper, erasers, printer ink, etc.)

Projects/Essays:

• Help plan time for completion and to get supplies
• Check the requirement paper or assignment rubric to see that all parts of the project or essay have been completed.  Usually there are many steps and parts to a project or essay.

Tests/Quizzes:

• Read the textbook for yourself.
• Get study guide from teacher or School Loop
• Review the information with your child

READING

• Take turns reading aloud with your child (this counts for book bingo)
• Have family reading time, enjoy a book together
• Help your child find interesting books at their reading level (see attached book list)  Things to look for: small number of difficult words, short passages that deliver clear messages, helpful illustrations
• Read things besides books: recipes, newspaper articles, signs of instructions
• Have your child read aloud picture books to younger children
• Use audio books (books on tape or CD).  Following along in the book while listening lets your child hear the excitement of the story, without the stress of decoding the words.
• When reading together, ask questions like: why the characters do what they do, how is the book like or not like your child’s life, wonder about the “what-ifs,” what do you think will happen next?
• Limit the amount of TV and video game time, read instead
• Find things to read that match your child’s interests or sense of humor

Studies have shown that with 20 minutes a day of reading a child will increase their reading speed, stamina and comprehension. Reading 20 minutes a day, the average reader can finish more than 25 books a year!  Offer some kind of reward for this kind of reading goal!  Reading is one key to good writing.

WRITING

• Practice writing in the Writer’s Notebook, a place to write with out the worry of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Keyboarding is very important… consider some type of reward for practice?
• Help your child to be sure that the printer is working and has ink, if not email assignment to the teacher
• Help to make sure that they complete the drafts and bring them to class the day they are due (these are usually longer term assignments and they have many days to get it done, but don’t wait until the last minute)
• Parents, it’s ok for you to type for your child, just leave the wording as his or her own.
• If a section isn’t clear, ask questions for the child to talk through their thinking, then have them write it into the essay.

MATH

Math skills are improved by including your child when completing daily tasks, such as grocery shopping (have your child find the best deal on a product), filling up the car with gasoline (have your child figure out the number of miles you will be able to go with the amount of gas you just purchased), cooking dinner (have your child help out with measuring ingredients).

Some other things you can do to help improve math skills:

• Attend Guided Study each afternoon, where the student can start his/her HW with the teacher present, to make sure he/she is completing the work correctly
• “Studying” for math tests is simply just practicing several different problems.  Additional problems can be found in the textbook, at the end of each chapter on a page titled “Study Guide.”
• Use the online textbook for HW help, video tutorials, and interactive practice.
• Most odd numbered problem answers can be found in the back of the textbook.  This is a good tool to use to work backward and figure out the even numbered problems.
• Practice multiplication times tables.  Students who struggle with math, usually do not know their math facts by memory.  Multiplication facts are truly the backbone to many more advanced mathematical concepts.