Interesting Articles and Websites for Parents
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Even though your student is no longer in elementary school, it is still VERY important for you to stay involved in your child's education. Many students have a hard time transitioning from elementary to middle school. Typically the first quarter will go well, and when the second quarter hits and parents are ready to relax, but students start to do poorly in school.
How can you avoid this difficult scenario? There are many things that parents can do to keep students on the track for academic and social success in the middle grades.
1. Be involved. Sixth grade is not the year to think that students are mature enough to do their homework and study on their own. It is the exact opposite. Because of all of the differences between elementary and middle school, students might need more involvement or motivation to do their work.
2. Not only ask about homework, CHECK to see that your student did his or her homework compared to what in the planner or on the teacher's website. Even though this has never happened in elementary school, many students in middle school would rather do anything else than homework and not tell the entire truth about what assignments are due and if they are done.
3. Keep in touch with your student's teachers. If you are unsure about an assignment or your student's interpretation of an assignment, get in touch with the teacher. A quick email is the best way to answer a question.
4. Regularly check the teachers' webpages. Often teachers put up worksheets, study guides, links to educational games, etc. on their webpages. Some webpages are updated weekly.
5. Plan a set time for homework and studying. Students should review notes and handouts and study every night. This keeps them from cram studying the night before a test.
6. Reading over a sheet of paper is NOT studying.
Have your student:
A. Create a practice test
B. Create flashcards
C. Make a PowerPoint to review content
D. Have another person ask them questions
E. Have a study group meet & review
6. Set up a place for your student to do homework.
7. Be aware of what your student is doing online. Many students will say that they are studying online but are really chatting or playing games.
8. One of the most important tips ---
Know your student's friends and those friends' parents. I cannot stress this enough. At this age, students want the approval of other kids. Hopefully, the kids your student will want to impress make good choices.
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There are many studies that say getting enough sleep is one of the most important ingredients to a student achieving in school. In this study, students who slept less did more poorly in school than others.
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Less Sleep = Poor Achievement |
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According to the Sleep Foundation, students 12 and older need 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep a night.
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Sleep Foundation Report |
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Although your student is no longer in elementary school, it does not mean that he or she should stop good reading practices. This needs to be used at school, but it should also be reinforsed at home. The MSN Reading site gives parents many tips and strategies to produce a child that is an excellent reader.
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MSN - Reading |
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This website is meant for college students, but contains WONDERFUL tips on how to study and set up a study routine.
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How to Study - #1 |
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This website gives a very comprehensive list of ideas on how to study. It also includes some cartoons. :)
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How to Study - #2 |
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