Copyright © 2014, The Parent Institute®, www.parent-institute.com

Easy ways to support your child’s learning at homeReinforce your child’s learning at home and you’ll help her be successful at school. You can:

• Encouragehertodoher best. Don’t let her fall into the habit of just doing the bare minimum.

• Let her know you believe she can be successful.

Your child’s education spans 13 or more years. Poor attendance in one grade can have a negative impact on his cumulative academic success, just as missing an episode or two of a TV series can make it difficult to catch up. To truly do well, your child needs to catch each “episode” of learning.

To improve attendance, keep in mind that:

• Winterbreakis often a time to sleep in. But it’s over now. Your child should get to bed in time to allow about nine hours of sleep, and set an alarm clock to wake up on time.

• Cold weather is not an excuse to miss school when schools are open. Your child should wear several warm layers and get out the door to school.

Read with questions in mindBy middle school, your child needs to know how to “read between the lines.” This skill is called making an inference. Inferences are based on clues in the text and clues from the reader’s background knowledge. When she’s reading a passage, encourage your child to ask herself:

• Whatdoestheauthor mean to convey?

• Whatcluescanhelpme understand the meaning?

Help your middle schooler control angerYour middle schooler is growing in many ways. He is questioning things he used to take for granted. And he is dealing with an array of new feelings. All this can add up to occasional explosions.

In most cases, this is part of growing up. Here’s how you can help:

• Beunderstandingyetfirm.Accept your child’s emotion, but not inappropriate behavior, such as screaming.

• Talktoyourchildaboutstress.Remind him to take time out for things he enjoys if he feels overwhelmed.

• Practicecalmingtechniques.Taking deep breaths or counting to 10 often works.

Source: J. Mandel and D. Anshel, “Anger: Helping Children with this Complex Emotion,” Education.com, www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Anger_Helping/.

January 2014

Remember that you and your child’s school are a teamHow is your child doing so far in school? Now is a good time to think about it, while there is still time to make course corrections. See if you are pretty sure you know how each of your child’s teachers would answer the following questions:

• Howismychildhandlingthe curriculum so far?

• Whatareherstrengths?• Are there areas in which she

needs improvement?

• Whatpartoftheclassdoes she seem to enjoy most?

• Doesanypartoftheclasspresent her with difficulty?

• Arethereanybehaviorconcerns?If so, what?

• Doesshefocusand pay attention in class?

• Does she turn in homework consistently?

• Is she missing any assignments?

• Are there any social problems that you’ve noticed?

• WhatcanIdo to help my child?

Remember, your involvement in your child’s education is still critical in middle school. If you have no idea how a teacher might answer some of the questions, talk with your child. Ask what she thinks the teacher would say. If you have serious concerns, especially if your child’s grades are slipping, it’s time to contact the teacher(s) involved and make plans for improvement.Source: P.L. Benson and others, What Teens Need to Succeed: Practical Proven Ways to Shape Your Own Future, Free Spirit Publishing.

Successfullearningbuildsdaybyday

Title I OfficePrince George's County Public Schools

Copyright © 2014, The Parent Institute®, www.parent-institute.com

Help your child develop a study systemDoes your child struggle with end-of-chapter tests? Help her develop a study system by reminding her to:

• Startbyreadingthe first section of the chapter.

• Imagine what questions the teacher might ask.

• Writedownandanswerthose questions.

• Proceed section by section.

• Writenewvocabularywordson cards.

• Use them to study for the test. Better yet, offer to quiz her!

Source: J.S. Schumm, Ph.D., How to Help Your Child with Homework, Spirit Publishing.

Helping Students Learn®

Published in English and Spanish, September through May.

Publisher: John H. Wherry, Ed.D. Editor: Stacey Marin.

Staff Editors: Rebecca Miyares & Erika Beasley. Writer: Erika Beasley. Production Manager: Pat Carter.

Translations Editor: Victoria Gaviola. Layout & Illustrations: Maher & Mignella, Cherry Hill, NJ.

Copyright © 2014, The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. P.O. Box 7474, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-7474

1-800-756-5525 • www.parent-institute.com • ISSN 1526-9272

Spending time together builds closenessYou’re busy. Your child is busy. But kids—especially middle schoolers—need time with their parents. It’s how they stay connected to family as they begin finding their own way in the world.

Spend more time with your child by:

• Beingavailable.• Embracinghisinterests.• Includinghiminyouractivities.

___1.Do you urge your child to take the most rigorous math class she is capable of each year?

___2.Doyoustressthe impor-tance of reading? Urge your child to read every day.

___3.Doyouencourageyour child to learn about current affairs? This can boost her interest in civics and history.

___4.Doyouencourageyour child to use the Internet appropriately for research?

___5.Doyoutalk with your child about her interests and how

they might translate to her life after school?

Howdidyoudo?Mostly yes answers mean you are helping your child focus on the future. Mostly no? Check the quiz for some suggestions on getting ready for the next step.

Workwithyourchildtodevelop thinking skillsCritical thinking skills are very important in middle school. Discuss issues with your child that require him to analyze and interpret the information. Then have him use that information to solve a problem or form a valid opinion about the issue.

January 2014

Is my child old enough to joinasocialmediasite?

Q: My eighth grader received a tablet during the holidays and nowwantstojoinasocialmediasite.Isn’thetooyoung?A: Technically, probably not. Popular social media sites require users to be at least 13 years old. Still, if you’ve spent any time on these sites, you already know that plenty of preteens have their own accounts. And it seems evident that these sites aren’t going away. So it doesn’t make sense to ban them outright. Instead, ask yourself:

• Ismychildresponsible?Does he keep up with schoolwork? If he says he’s going to do something, does he do it?

• Ismychildmature?Is he savvy about Internet safety? Does he understand what is—and is not—appropriate to post online?

If you answered yes to both questions, then it may be fine for your child to join a social media site. But if you’re nervous, you can monitor things by:

• Openinganaccountforhim.Make sure he can’t log on without your knowledge. This will give you a chance to see how he conducts himself online.

• Makinghim“friend”you.That way, you can still keep tabs on him. (Just don’t mortify him by posting anything on his page!)

Are you preparing for the future?Your child can take steps now, in middle school, to influence her future success. Take this quiz to see if you are encouraging her to do this. Answer yes for something you do often or no for something you do rarely or never.

}It’s no exaggeration to

say that the challenges

of growing up are more

daunting than ever.~

—Dr. Neil I. Bernstein

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