Middle School - Things to Know
Middle school can be a challenging time for kids. They are still kids but are at the age where they want to experience more independence. They still need parental and adult guidance, but at the same time, they want to learn how to figure things out for themselves. During this stage of life, they may seem like they don't want your help, but deep down, pre-teens/teens want to know that you are there and willing to help them when they experience the challenges that come with learning how to be responsible. Below you will find a readiness checklist to help your child be successful in their current grade level and things to do to prepare for their next grade level. The ultimate goal for any parent is for their child to be successful and prepared for life. This is the purpose of the "Things to Know" section. You will find essential things to prepare for grades 6 - 8.
Please note that speaking to your child about setting goals and finding a system to stay on track is important. Also, set aside time to meet periodically with your child’s teachers and counselor, and stay involved as much as possible with events that the school/district offers to keep you informed and actively participating.
Middle School
Overview: Grades 6 - 8
• Visit with their counselor and seek ways to help them grow and take advantage of the school's opportunities and programs.
• Look into Programs of Choice that can help them narrow down Career and Technical courses to focus on in high school. They can also look into high school credit courses, Pre-AP classes, and Honors Programs.
• Consider looking into AVID as an option. This program teaches organizational skills and good strategies to prepare them for college and beyond.
• Meet with your child’s teachers to assess where they are and find strategies that can be useful at home to help them grow.
• Help them identify academic areas where they need help and create action steps for improvement. Review their progress reports and report cards with them to help set goals for improvement or encourage them to stay on track. Praise them for good reports. You can set rewards together.
• Find out about tutoring (days & times) offered through your school. Create a consistent/weekly tutoring schedule for classes your child is struggling in.
• Set aside time daily for learning after school. Make sure they are working on homework or learning in general. Check their backpack or binders for work with no grades, missing work, and failed assignments that need to be revised.
• Find out about the district's online access to view grades and attendance. I highly recommend viewing grades online throughout the week. Set a viewing schedule (ex. Mon., Wed., Fri., or Tue. & Thur.) to stay on top of grades and missing work.
Set reminders (calendars - phone, app, journal, etc.) to have all work turned in by the deadline, or at least by the end of the week, would be a smart goal. Always follow up with them and the teacher to ensure they have accomplished their weekly goal.
• Talk about the importance of eating healthy and physical activity. Set goals to practice healthy habits as a family.
• Ask them about people at school or in their community that they can go to for help (academically or if they have personal issues).
• Continue working with them on developing good listening and communication skills.
• Continue working with them on goal setting and brainstorming strategies to assist in accomplishing their goals.
• Teach GRIT – don’t give up when things seem difficult; keep trying.
• Teach good personal hygiene (including dress/appearance).
• Participate in extra-curricular activities.
• Teach financial literacy – help them understand credits and debits, checking and saving accounts, checks and balances, and the actual cost of things.
• Help them refer to online learning websites to help them understand difficult concepts or build their knowledge in challenging classes. You will find helpful websites in Learning Websites and Free Tutoring.
• Begin understanding scholarships and search for scholarships that they may qualify for. You will find helpful websites in the College & Scholarships section.
• Help them understand how their actions (what they say and the way they treat people) can affect others.
• Teach them to show kindness, respect, and how to be responsible/accountable.
• Teach them about social media respect & responsibility and monitor their usage. Ensure they use technology responsibly and take safety measures by setting parental controls.
6th Grade
• Make sure your child has met Grade 6 state standards for Writing, Reading, Math, Social Studies, Science, and all other required subjects. If they are struggling, seek help from their teacher and the school.
• Begin building a resume by writing down any notable achievements. In addition, you may want to keep up with special projects, assignments, awards, and certificates in a folder.
• Teach them organization skills by using a calendar or journal to keep up with all classes. They have more responsibility at this level.
• Continue encouraging them to read novels, magazines, and articles.
• Continue helping them develop math skills through daily life activities such as sales tax, tipping, etc.
• Their social life will grow, and they'll face more challenging issues. Help them evaluate their actions, decisions, and the people they choose to hang around.
• Teach them about gossiping and rumors. This can be hurtful. They should fact-check information and report anything that can be threatening.
• Keep a time log and evaluate how time is spent. Adjust as needed.
• Continue to teach them about finances and help them map out their saving plan. Help them understand credit cards vs. cash; and how interest accumulates.
• Help them to start thinking a little more about colleges and careers. Go to college fairs that the school offers. In addition, you will find helpful websites in the College and Scholarship section.
7th Grade
• Make sure your child has met Grade 7 state standards for Writing, Reading, Math, Social Studies, Science, and all other required subjects. If they are struggling, seek help from their teacher and the school.
• Continue building a resume by writing down any notable achievements. You want to keep up with special projects, assignments, awards, and certificates in a folder.
• Continue keeping a time log and evaluate how time is spent. Adjust as needed.
• Remind them to take good notes and review them. Ask a teacher for help if needed.
• Encourage them to take more challenging courses.
• List the benefits of community service and find a place to volunteer.
• Continue teaching them organization skills by using a calendar or journal to keep up with all classes. They have more responsibility at this level.
• Continue encouraging them to read novels, magazines, and articles.
• Continue helping them develop math skills through daily life activities such as sales tax, tipping, etc.
• Continue teaching them about gossip and rumors. This can be hurtful. They should fact-check information and report anything that can be threatening.
• Continue helping them evaluate their actions and decisions.
• Have them read helpful books and articles on making appropriate choices, such as the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey.
• When you watch TV together, speak about issues you see and how the characters could have solved these issues.
• Watch the news with them and speak about things happening worldwide. Help them process this information and find ways to solve world issues.
• Continue to teach them about finances and help them map out their saving plan. Help them understand credit cards vs. cash; interest accumulates.
• Help them focus more on colleges and careers. Go to college fairs that the school offers. In addition, you will find helpful websites below in College and Career Exploration.
8th Grade
• Make sure your child has met Grade 8 state standards for Writing, Reading, Math, Social Studies, Science, and all other required subjects. If they are struggling, seek help from their teacher and the school.
• Meet with your school guidance counselor to discuss participation in Early College Programs, Dual Enrollment, Honors courses, Career & Technical courses, certifications these courses offer, and things they should be doing to prepare for high school. In 8th grade, your child will build their high school graduation plan and focus on CTE courses that can help them gain knowledge and experience for their future career options.
• Continue building a resume by writing down any notable achievements. You want to keep up with special projects, assignments, awards, and certificates in a folder.
• Have your child take career assessments. You will find helpful websites in the Career Exploration & Assessments section.
• Begin preparing for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and TSI. Studying 30 minutes per day can make a big difference later on. You will find helpful websites in the Career Exploration & Assessments section.
• Reinforce the importance of good communication skills. Teach them to speak up and advocate for themselves. This will be important in high school and beyond. But, even when they speak up for what they believe is right, teach them to always do so in a respectful way that doesn’t diminish others.
• Continue working on financial literacy. You can find creative ways to help them earn money and help them create a personal budget and save. They can also play around with a future budget based on an expected income. You will find helpful websites in the Life Skills section.
• Find opportunities to volunteer within their school, church, or community.
• Continue guiding them to think about colleges and narrow down career choices. Go to college fairs that the school offers.