Help Your Child Succeed in Middle School

What I Hope to CoverA few facts about the adolescent brain

Why that makes Middle School challenging The developing brain meets middle school

realities!

How Parents can help so that children can succeed!!!

THE BRAIN!

Prefrontal CortexThe decision-making part of the brain:

Planning

Thinking about the consequences of actions

Solving problems, and

Controlling impulses This part of the brain is responsible for what is

commonly called “Executive Functioning.”

AmygdalaAssociated with:

emotions

impulses

aggression, and

instinctive behavior.

Brain Changes During Adolescence

Big Changes !

Unused connections get pruned away and others become strengthened to prepare for life ahead

The amygdala undergoes these changes before the prefrontal cortex

The MismatchThe pre frontal cortex has yet to get

overhauled, but the demands skyrocket!

Children may react with strong emotions.

They need our help if they are to succeed.

What is So Different (academically)

about Middle School?

•Seven Separate Classes Every Day

•Short Term, Long-Term and Recurring Assignments

•Mountains of Paper

Strengths Needed to Tackle Middle School Challenges

Planning

Problem solving

Thinking about the consequences of actions, and

Controlling impulses

All of these come from the pre-frontal cortex!

A Word About Homework

• Yes, there will be homework every single night!

• Set up a Routine!

• Hold them accountable–See the assignment–Track the grades

The Four Basic Success Strategies

Write Things Down

Stay Organized

Plan Ahead

Ask for Help

1. Write Things DownThe agenda

Short and Long Term Assignments

On-line backup (ParentView)Don’t let them rely on it!

Make sure they develop this habit !!!!

2. Stay Organized

•The 3 Piece Organizational System• Agenda• Two Pocket Folder• Returned Work Envelope

•Check agenda, backpack and locker

3. Plan AheadStudents need a system to keep track of long-

term obligationsAgenda (if used correctly) is one option

Help your child “chunk out” long term assignments into short term pieces with scheduled completion dates

Share your procrastination horror stories!

4. Ask for HelpMake sure they know it is a strength, not a

weakness!

Lots of help availableTeachers hold office hoursLunchesStudy buddies/groups

Other StuffBrains and Bodies are growing fast

9+ hours of sleep Limit screens before bed

Don’t let them go to 1st period on an empty stomach

Don’t have them study on an empty stomach

Conclusion• Middle School requires students to get good

at a number of new skills they may struggle with

• Struggles may be met with strong emotional responses

• 6th grade is when students need to develop success habits

• We do all we can but your children absolutely need your help in order to succeed.

Thank You for Coming!

References Raising Children Network, with the Centre

for Adolescent Health. Your teenager’s developing brain. (2014, March 12). Retrieved August 10, 2014.

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Facts for Families #95. The Teen Brain: Behavior, Problem Solving, and Decision Making. December, 2011.