Making the Move to Middle School

1
Making the Move to Middle School

• Sixth Grade Coffee Hour
• Presented By
• Wall Intermediate School Guidance Department

2
Elementary Versus Intermediate School

• Elementary School
• Small building
• Familiar and personal
• 1-2 different teachers
• Change classes for gym and specials
• Child mixed with neighborhood friends

• Intermediate School
• Large building
• Less personal
• 7 different teachers
• Change classes 8 times a day
• Child mixed with different children from town

3
How do I stay connected?????

• Use Your Resources
• School web page www.wall.k12.nj.us
• Homework Hotline
• Parent handbook (mark on calendar important
  dates)
• Email teachers
• Call teachers
• Speak with parents of other children

4
How we can help you stay connected!!!!!

• One guidance counselor assigned to each class for
  three years
• Will be an anchor for your child
• Common planning time with teachers
• Can schedule parent conferences have all
  teachers available for questions
• Guidance Web page
• Offers resources for parents children

5
The Three Teams
6
How can I help my child academically?????

• Be Involved
• Monitor homework pad homework hotline
• Help child get organized
• Help child pack book bags the night before
• Suggest that child select a specific time for
  homework each day
• Set up a quiet, well lighted study center in
  house
• Be available for explaining directions and
  questions, but allow child to be responsible for
  his/her own work
• Set timelines for child (Record specific dates
  when projects are due and select a half way mark
  when the project should be half completed)

7
How we can help your child academically!!!!!!

• Guidance Appointments
• Help child organize locker other supplies
• Help set up timelines record due dates
• Academic Support
• See teacher for extra help or to answer questions
  on previous nights homework
• Make-up missed assignments or tests
• Attend study groups
• Receive peer tutoring (see guidance)
• After School Help
• 300 400 Tuesday Friday
• Review concepts covered in class

8
What should I expect of my child academically
socially??????

• The work load is more demanding.
• In order to help your child deal with school
  stress, help with organizational and study skills
  (See Keys to Succeed on guidance web page).
• Teachers grade more on performance than effort.
• Since a drop in grades is not unusual, continue
  to praise encourage your child to work hard.
• Academics sometimes takes a back seat to
  socialization.
• Encourage your child to participate in school
  activities, but help your child adjust his/her
  schedule to meet all demands.
• Kids making the transition to middle school often
  feel anonymous and vulnerable.
• Validate your childs feeling and realize they
  usually change with time, but if they persist,
  contact the guidance office for assistance.

9
What we hope to develop in your child
academically socially!!!

• Independence
• Your child will be responsible for homework
  assignments, test dates, project deadlines.
• Problem solving skills
• Your child will learn to identify alternatives
  consequences when making decisions.
• Self advocacy skills
• Your child will learn to effectively communicate
  their feelings and needs.
• Tolerance
• Your child will learn skills and procedures for
  resolving conflicts dissolving bullying
  situations.

10
The Do Nots of Success

• Do not do childs homework.
• Parents who complete HW for their children teach
  them to be helpless.
• Do not try to solve your childs problems,
• Parents who solve their childs problems do not
  teach self-advocacy skills. Encourage your child
  to speak directly with teachers as problems arise
  or seek assistance from guidance.
• Do not be afraid to contact a counselor or
  teacher when your child is unable to solve
  his/her own problems.
• Parents who encourage their child to problem
  solve and become involved when their child needs
  help teach their child how to problem solve as a
  team!

11
Guaranteeing a Good Year

• Stay involved in you childs
• school progress by monitoring HW tracker, teacher
  contacts, and counselor contacts.
• school life by attending high school football,
  soccer, baseball, etc. games, school plays, and
  PTO meetings.
• social life by knowing his/her friends, allowing
  him/her to be involved in supervised activities,
  and talking to his/her friends parents.