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SIMPLE TIPS TO HELP YOUR CHILD TRANSITION TO MIDDLE SCHOOL


SIMPLE TIPS TO HELP YOUR CHILD TRANSITION TO MIDDLE SCHOOL

Wed May 31 2023 · 3 mins read
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It may be tempting to give your child more space while they are perfecting the
fine art of eye rolling and refusing to be seen with you in public. We often see
parents become less involved in their kids’ day-to-day lives during middle
school.

But in reality, your middle school student needs you as a parent. Middle school
is one of the most unsettling transition periods for kids. You are in the best
position to provide the direction, love and sacrifice needed to guide your child
into the teenage years and adulthood.

Here’s how you can help your child transition to middle school academics with
greater ease, focusing on 3 critical success areas:

 1. Developing organizational skills
 2. Reading and writing fluently
 3. Becoming proficient in math skills


HOW TO HELP YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLER WITH ORGANIZATION:

Organization and time-management skills become really important in middle school
... and most tweens struggle with them. Adjusting to the rigors of middle school
will take students some time to get used to. In addition, they will likely go
from period to period with different teachers who have their own way of doing
things.“Built-in structures go away in middle school,” explains Emily Levitt,
Vice President of Education at Sylvan.

“Each teacher has different rules for organization of and handing in work.
Trying to adapt from one system to several can be overwhelming for many
students.”

Not to mention, your child may be juggling choir, basketball and other
activities. Soon, you may find yourself permanently attached to the driver’s
seat of your car, shuttling your child to more activities than ever before. Most
kids are not born with organization and time-management skills. They need to
learn these skills from an adult. And there’s an art to it.

“You can’t just say, ‘You need to be organized,'” Levitt says. “You have
to show kids what you mean.”

Keep in mind, your child’s brain—specifically, the frontal lobe—is still forming
during adolescence. This under-developed part of the brain is what’s in charge
of planning, working memory and making decisions. With that in mind, Levitt
recommends putting things in perspective.

“Don’t get too frustrated with your disorganized middle schooler. Your child is
normal.”

Here are some concrete tips to follow:

 * Sit down with your child to set expectations and prep them for what’s coming:
   “School is going to get more challenging this year. Let’s talk about what to
   expect and how you’re going to handle it.”
 * Tour the campus before school begins—if your school district is open this
   fall and the middle school offers an open house—to make the transition less
   overwhelming.
 * Make a map of the school with your child and mark your child’s schedule on
   the map.
 * Take a “show and tell” approach to getting your child organized, meaning you
   first show your kids how to do a task. Then, you gradually take the training
   wheels off and have them do tasks themselves. For example, lay everything out
   on the table that needs to go in your child’s backpack: notebooks, lunch,
   field trip money, water, etc. Have your child put everything in their
   backpack. Do this for several weeks. Then, have your child take on these
   tasks independently. (Yes, this approach takes longer, but the long-term
   results are worth it!)
 * Use the same approach to ensure homework assignments are done if your child
   is struggling with this responsibility. Check that assignments are done every
   few nights. Then, after a few months, give your child more independence and
   stop checking on homework completion.
 * Know what’s going on in school and due dates for homework, projects and other
   learning tasks. That way, when you ask your child, “What big projects do you
   have coming up next week?” you’ll be able to check whether your child is on
   top of their workload.
 * Show your child how to organize binders, set up assignment calendars and use
   an academic planner. (Need a little help? Scroll down for our free guide:
   “Eliminate the Sunday Night Homework Panic.”)
 * Let your child advocate for themselves, such as if they disagree with a grade
   or they need to chat with a school advisor about any social issues.
 * Model the behaviors you want from your child and make sure you aren’t sending
   mixed messages. Are you setting a good example? For example, do you arrive on
   time? Keep appointments? Strive for excellence in your work? Try to improve?
   Show respect to those in positions of importance?
 * Eliminate the Sunday Night Homework Panic




HOW TO HELP YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLER WITH READING AND WRITING:

In middle school, the expectations for reading and writing become much more
sophisticated. Ronda Arking, Director of Language Arts at Sylvan, shares, “Kids
are expected to read novels and keep up. They have to be able to express
themselves in writing and think critically about what they read. They’re going
to be writing longer pieces than they’re used to writing.”

“This means your child has to be 100% fluent in reading and writing.”

If kids are distracted, lack confidence, or are struggling with reading or
writing, they’re going to fall behind faster and faster. By the end of middle
school in the United States:

 * Two-thirds of 8th graders read below grade level.
 * Three-quarters of 8th graders are not proficient in writing. (Source: NAEP)

Imagine how much more challenging high school/secondary school,
college/university and careers will be for them!

Often times, kids are embarrassed and will try to hide their skill deficiencies.
This means you need to be a detective and look for clues. To find these clues,
it’s important to read with your child—whether for homework or just for
pleasure—and take advantage of the following tips.

 * Ask your child to summarize chapters in their own words.
 * Talk about key vocabulary words used in the reading material.
 * Show your child how to use a dictionary.
 * Encourage your child to read every day.
 * Support your child in keeping a journal. Daily writing fosters more
   confidence.
 * Set a good example and model the behaviors you want from your child. For
   example, turn off your electronic devices during dinner or family time, or
   whenever you’re trying to connect. Read a book or write a note or journal
   entry.
 * Ensure there’s a dedicated place for studying. Have your child find a quiet,
   uncluttered space in your home where it’s more comfortable to do homework and
   it’s a good environment for focusing.
 * Let the teacher know if your child is crying or struggling every night over
   reading or writing assignments. Write a note and let the teacher know, “My
   child didn’t understand x, y, z. What are our options?” (Don’t do the
   homework for your child. The teacher will never know there’s an issue, and
   you’ll unintentionally create even bigger struggles later in the year.)
 * Attend parent/teacher conferences. Ask: “Do you see any red flags or areas
   where my child is struggling?” Gather as much info as you can, and discuss
   your options.


HOW TO HELP YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLER WITH MATH:

New math concepts will be introduced throughout the middle school years,
including algebraic concepts. Kids need to have a strong foundation and
understanding of multiplication, division, fractions and decimals.

Math is hierarchical. One concept builds on the next.

In the United States, there’s a big drop-off in math achievement late in middle
school. This is when many students are really digging into algebra. It’s
critical that you’re monitoring whether your child is mastering core math skills
during the middle school years and becoming “fluent” with skills.

This means your child has developed automatic recall of math facts and has
essential skills down, like being able to multiply and divide both fractions and
decimals with confidence. For some kids, this takes extra practice.

Middle school is also the time when your child will get on a math “track” that
affects whether they can take calculus in high school. Get familiar with the
math tracks in your school system:

How are students placed in math classes? Is there an advanced track? If so, what
are the requirements to get into it? Ask your child’s math teacher, guidance
counselor or even other parents.

Many schools offer pre-algebra to students in grade 7. A few schools may even
begin teaching pre-algebra in grade 6. Kids who have started Algebra 1 by 8th
grade will have more opportunities for trigonometry and calculus in high
school/secondary school—courses that can count for college/university credits.

“Make sure you are in tune with what is best for your child,” cautions Cortnee
Berrill, Manager of Mathematics at Sylvan. “There’s a lot more to consider than
just math skills. Does your child have the commitment and organization skills to
handle these advanced classes?”

It’s important that students aren’t put into more difficult math classes
prematurely, Berrill explains. Some students may struggle and give up on math.
“Students who take algebra in high school can still have a successful math
career.”

 * Show an interest in math homework if your child is struggling. Ask your child
   to show you their math homework and explain their thinking. Encourage your
   child to check their work and answer the question, “Does this answer seem
   reasonable?”
 * Avoid saying, “Here’s how you should be doing it,” and jumping in to try to
   teach math. This is a fast track to tears, frustration and “That’s not how my
   teacher is teaching it!” Instead, position it as, “I want to learn how you’re
   learning math. This looks interesting. Can you show this to me?” When your
   child gets stuck on a problem, don’t solve it for them. Instead, ask: “What
   is the problem asking? Have you seen similar problems before? Are there some
   things you could try?” The best role you can play is to listen and learn from
   your child.
 * Never criticize the way a teacher is teaching the math content. Instead, ask
   the math teacher why they are approaching it that way. Most likely, the
   approach your child is learning will make algebra easier down the line.
   Middle school math teachers are setting the groundwork for higher-level math,
   even if it feels different than the memorization techniques you may have
   learned as a kid.
 * Focus on whether your child is mastering fundamentals when your child comes
   to you with questions. Check your child’s work. There are usually multiple
   methods to get to an answer, so it doesn’t matter if your method is different
   from your child’s method. But you should both get the same answer. If your
   answers are different, ask your child to explain what they did, and look for
   possible calculation errors or an incorrect process. (For example, your child
   may have been trying to add fractions without finding a common denominator.)
 * Identify skills that your child may be struggling with. When your child
   brings home a graded math assignment, review any questions that your child
   missed. Remember, math concepts build on each other, so it’s important to
   make sure your child fully understands each concept before moving onto the
   next one. Use all errors as opportunities to review and learn. Reward your
   child’s willingness to learn from mistakes.
 * Ask your child’s teacher to share their calculator policy (when a calculator
   should and shouldn’t be used), so you understand expectations. Calculators
   are an important part of math when they’re used appropriately. But it’s
   important to make sure your child isn’t using a calculator as a crutch to
   “short cut” the basic skills needed for higher-level math.
 * Let the teacher know if your child is crying or struggling every night over
   math assignments. Write a note and let the teacher know, “My child didn’t
   understand x, y, z. What are our options?” (Don’t do the homework for your
   child. The teacher will never know there’s an issue, and you’ll
   unintentionally create even bigger struggles later in the year.)
 * Attend parent/teacher conferences. Ask: “Do you see any red flags or areas
   where my child is struggling?” Gather as much info as you can, and discuss
   your options.
 * Ask for help early if you see signs of frustration or struggle. It’s much
   easier to keep up with class than to have to chase after the class.


BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WARNING SIGNS OF LEARNING DIFFICULTIES

This is especially important during the middle school years when the pace of
school picks up, and subjects become more challenging. Even kids who seemed to
sail through elementary school can struggle in new and tougher classes.

What should you be looking for? Your son or daughter may:

 * Find math problems challenging to the point of frustration
 * Avoid reading or writing like it’s green kryptonite
 * Have difficulty remembering or understanding what they just read
 * Have difficulty understanding and/or generalizing concepts
 * Misread directions and information
 * Be slow to learn reading strategies, such as summarizing text or going back
   to reread a section that was difficult
 * Spell the same word differently in a single piece of writing

Here’s how to support your child through learning difficulties

 * Think of your child’s learning difficulties as learning differences. Your
   child is smart. They just learn differently from other students. It's normal!
   Explain this to your child.
 * Talk to your child about their learning differences. Ask your child to think
   of a time when they easily understood a new topic, or really connected to a
   teacher’s teaching style. “What was it about that topic or teaching style
   that worked well for you?” You may discover that your child learns better by
   taking notes, or watching a video. Find ways to incorporate those strategies
   into other subjects as well.
 * Foster your child’s strengths, talents and interests. Give lots of praise and
   support your child’s efforts.
 * Monitor your child’s progress. Most schools grant parents access to their
   child’s account in the district’s learning management system. If you’re
   concerned about your child’s progress, it’s time to log in and see a record
   of their work. Are assignments being turned in? And on time? What do
   classwork grades look like? If you spot missing or late assignments,
   organization skills may need a boost.

If you see low classwork scores, then it’s time for a conversation with the
teacher to determine the nature of the problem. Is your child distracted or
unfocused during the lessons, or are they truly struggling with the content?
Once you have more details, you can decide what to do next—whether it’s a
request to change a seating assignment to a place with fewer distractions, or to
find a tutor.

ABOUT SYLVAN LEARNING

With more than 40 years of experience and more than 710 points of presence,
Sylvan Learning has been the leading provider of personal learning for students
in grades K-12. Sylvan is transforming how students learn, inspiring them to
succeed in school and in life. Sylvan’s proven tutoring approach blends amazing
teachers with SylvanSync™ technology for a truly personal and engaging learning
experience. Sylvan also leads the way with Sylvan STEM —  fun, accelerated
after-school programs and Sylvan PREP — college and ACT®/SAT® test prep courses.

 


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