Drastic changes take place after elementary school, and the truth is that there is no “gradual” transition into midde school. My daughter was not the only one to experience this when she entered middle school; it seems to be a nationwide occurrence. I have spoken to many friends and family members in other states (with kids in both public and private schools, gifted and regular classes) who agree there is a big adjustment. So it is wise to get your child ready. The most notable change is the sheer volume of homework and projects. Honestly, it can be overwhelming. It is not necessarily that the work is too hard; it is simply that it can be too much.

In elementary school you generally have one teacher and stay in one classroom. Homework is at a minimum and most often includes worksheets. The majority of the work is completed in the classroom, and the teacher has 25 students.

In middle school, students change class 6 or 7 times, and have a different teacher for each course. A large stack of full-sized textbooks are needed both at school and at home. Teachers have between 125 and 175 students during the course of the school day. There is a lot more homework, and there are many more tests. On top of that someone somewhere decided that middle schools students should be given numerous comprehensive projects each year. These include science fair, world history, art, literary projects and more. There are both solo and group projects, and they may include research, making posters, displays, 3D boxes and experiments. During 7th grade, my daughter had 5 huge projects, and spent her entire spring break doing 3 of them. She was and still is an excellent student and is not a procrastinator.

pencil-homework

pencil-projects

http://www.teacherfiles.com

Here are some tips:

  1. If you have a child who did not demonstrate self-motivation during elementary school, or has behavior problems, do not put that child in honors or gifted classes in middle school.
  2. Talk to your child about how middle school is different from elementary school.
  3. Visit the school during Open House before it starts. Walk around and find your child’s classrooms, so the first day of school is not stressful.
  4. Meet your child’s teachers during Open House and get their phone numbers and email addresses.
  5. Know that most teachers do not mind hearing from you and want to be there for their students.
  6. Ask the right questions. How much homework is reasonable for a 6th grader? What type of tutoring is available at the school?
  7. Check your child’s calendar each day to see what homework has been assigned, until you are sure she is self-sufficient.
  8. If you feel your child is struggling in a class, even if it just one worksheet, chapter or test, immediately get him to talk to the teacher for a one-on-one lesson.
  9. During homework time at home, turn off your child’s cell phone. In 7th grade my daughter was called excessively by classmates for homework help and mostly for verification for exactly what the homework assignment was. I felt the teacher communication with the students was not clear enough. I complained to the teachers but unfortunately did not get much support.
  10. When projects are assigned, have your child read the directions several times, and ask the teacher questions about anything that is unclear. Have a stack of display boards and craft supplies on hand.
  11. Do your best to help your child gain independence and be responsible for his own work. But do step in when you feel the situation is not getting resolved.
  12. Do not overdo extracurricular activities, but do make sure your child gets enough exercise and has some fun with friends!
  13. Know that middle school is a big adjustment, and you will get through it like the millions before you.

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!