Making middle school a little easier
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November 2, 2012 |
By Dick Behrens
Principal
Bonners Ferry Middle School
The following are a couple of thoughtful and
some what humorous ideas presented by Cindi
Rigsbee, the 2009 North Carolina Teacher of the
Year and a parent of adolescents, on how to help
children be successful in middle school.
First, communicate.
Always remember that it is most difficult if you
actually expect an answer. How many times did I
as a parent ask, “What did you learn today?”
only to hear, “Nothing.”
Apparently there was NO learning for 180 days in
school!
Now I know the way to handle vague mumblings
from our middle school kids; make sure your
questions are specific. Instead of “What did you
learn today?” try “What did Mrs. Watson cover in
social studies?" Once they are able to share,
“We identified continents,” the door is open to
delve into the actual learning experience.
Another idea is to make a game out of it. For
example, 3-2-1 works well at times like this;
“OK, tell me three things your teacher covered
today, tell me two things you already knew about
the lesson when you got there, and tell me one
thing you still have a question about.” (Parents
who have access to Power School for checking
grades can keep up to date on what is going on
in their child’s classes and be prepared with
questions when their children come home.)
Secondly, provide an atmosphere conducive to
organization.
Children who move from one elementary classroom
to multiple teachers and classrooms in middle
school sometimes struggle with organization. You
can assist by ensuring there is a system in
place that allows kids to get homework done,
papers signed, and information shared.
First of all, a schedule is so important!
Even in these days with a multitude of
after-school activities and commitments, it is
easy enough to provide a quiet place for
homework to be completed as soon as everyone
arrives home.
In addition, making sure the backpack is zipped
and ready by the door, clothes are laid out, and
lunches are packed can make those chaotic
mornings a little less hectic.
Resist the urge, though, to clean out the “Black
Hole” of wadded-up papers that live in the
backpack. I never mastered this strategy myself
and was blamed for invasion of privacy on more
than one occasion, but assisting a child through
a backpack, and even a locker clean out, can
produce a mountain of assignments that have not
been submitted.
In short, be involved in your pre-teen or
teenager’s life as much as you can without them
feeling the need to push you away. Finding that
balance will make transition from elementary to
middle school easier for parents, students, and
teachers. |
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