Transition to Middle School

Transition to Middle School

Hart Middle School 2013-2014

Terry Conde, PrincipalTom Domer, Vice Principal

Jessica Brooks, Vice Principal

Counselors: Tammy Schoonover A-K

Sharon Stewart L-Z

Hart Middle School 2013-2014

Terry Conde, PrincipalTom Domer, Vice Principal

Jessica Brooks, Vice Principal

Counselors: Tammy Schoonover A-K

Sharon Stewart L-Z

Mission StatementMission StatementIn following the ideals and standards

of our namesake, Thomas S. Hart, the staff is committed to creating an environment for our students

that fosters integrity, responsibility and respect for others. In

partnership with the parents of Thomas Hart students, we will

strive to prepare our students for continued academic success, to

become respectful and accepting of our increasingly diverse society..

In following the ideals and standards of our namesake, Thomas S. Hart, the staff is committed to creating an environment for our students

that fosters integrity, responsibility and respect for others. In

partnership with the parents of Thomas Hart students, we will

strive to prepare our students for continued academic success, to

become respectful and accepting of our increasingly diverse society..

Middle School Transition for Parents

Middle School Transition for Parents

Become a school partner by Maintaining regular contact with teachers Joining PTSA Volunteering (yes, we need you!) Attend school events Attend monthly principal coffee

Demonstrate a spirit of cooperation TALK TO YOUR CHILD

Become a school partner by Maintaining regular contact with teachers Joining PTSA Volunteering (yes, we need you!) Attend school events Attend monthly principal coffee

Demonstrate a spirit of cooperation TALK TO YOUR CHILD

Communication ToolsCommunication Tools

Q connection Pleasanton E connection Telephone/E-mail School website: www.Hartmiddleschool.org

Principal’s newsletter PTSA info School Site Council Hart Weekly Woof (student on-line

newspaper) Parent resources School Calendar

Q connection Pleasanton E connection Telephone/E-mail School website: www.Hartmiddleschool.org

Principal’s newsletter PTSA info School Site Council Hart Weekly Woof (student on-line

newspaper) Parent resources School Calendar

Middle School Student Transition

Middle School Student Transition

Responsibility begins to shift to student

Accountability increases Bodies change Friendships change Experiments with new

behaviors/personas

Responsibility begins to shift to student

Accountability increases Bodies change Friendships change Experiments with new

behaviors/personas

How to help your child with the transition

How to help your child with the transition

Help child to divide new tasks into smaller, more manageable parts

Avoid rescuing Get the whole story, not just your

child’s side

Help child to divide new tasks into smaller, more manageable parts

Avoid rescuing Get the whole story, not just your

child’s side

Communication GoalsCommunication Goals

Listen Gather information

ask questions check assumptions

Resolve issue at lowest level Remain calm Model communication skills

Listen Gather information

ask questions check assumptions

Resolve issue at lowest level Remain calm Model communication skills

Communication: The Steps

Communication: The Steps

Planner, Q connection, Study Buddy

E-mail teacher If no response (allow 24 hrs.),

leave message for teacher Make appointment with teacher If issue is still unresolved after

meeting with teacher, call principal or vice-principal

Planner, Q connection, Study Buddy

E-mail teacher If no response (allow 24 hrs.),

leave message for teacher Make appointment with teacher If issue is still unresolved after

meeting with teacher, call principal or vice-principal

What changes can you see in your What changes can you see in your middle school child?middle school child?

Many changes in Physical, Cognitive (thinking Many changes in Physical, Cognitive (thinking processes) and Social/Emotionalprocesses) and Social/Emotional

PHYSICALPHYSICAL

Body Changes! (muscle mass, strength, Body Changes! (muscle mass, strength, weight) … need more food and sleep! weight) … need more food and sleep!

Concern about appearanceConcern about appearance Personal hygiene (may be needing things such Personal hygiene (may be needing things such

as deodorant)as deodorant) nutrition nutrition

WHAT CHANGES?WHAT CHANGES?

COGNITIVECOGNITIVE

Preteen concrete thinkers Preteen concrete thinkers Maturity = understanding complex issues, even Maturity = understanding complex issues, even

when they donwhen they don’’t agreet agree

YOU MAY SEE MORE ARGUING – RATIONALIZING YOU MAY SEE MORE ARGUING – RATIONALIZING THEIR NEEDS (new phone, curfew etc.)THEIR NEEDS (new phone, curfew etc.)

Arguing becomes more sophisticated – wears you Arguing becomes more sophisticated – wears you down!down!

Abstract thinking (starting to see their future …)Abstract thinking (starting to see their future …)

WHAT CHANGES??WHAT CHANGES??

SOCIAL/EMOTIONALSOCIAL/EMOTIONAL

Some hormones bring on emotional Some hormones bring on emotional changes (mood swings …)changes (mood swings …)

Acceptance – peer relationships (fitting Acceptance – peer relationships (fitting in)in)

FRIENDS! (May choose friends over FRIENDS! (May choose friends over parents for confiding in, solving parents for confiding in, solving problems etc.)problems etc.)

Moving towards independenceMoving towards independence

THIS IS A GREAT TRANSITION!THIS IS A GREAT TRANSITION!

Be gentle with yourself.Be gentle with yourself. Be gentle with your child.Be gentle with your child.

Choose your battles wisely.Choose your battles wisely. Maintain your sense of humor!Maintain your sense of humor!

WHAT TO EXPECT IN WHAT TO EXPECT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL - PARENTSMIDDLE SCHOOL - PARENTS

Your Your ““puppiespuppies”” turn into turn into ““catscats”” … … Toddlers and Teens – one and the Toddlers and Teens – one and the

same??same??

How to help your child make the most of middle

school

How to help your child make the most of middle

school Keep grades in

perspective Maintain balance between

work & play Monitor electronic

communications Develop an organizational

system that works for the student

Keep grades in perspective

Maintain balance between work & play

Monitor electronic communications

Develop an organizational system that works for the student

Middle School ExpectationsMiddle School students are expected to:

Remember to write down assignments consistentlyKeep track of assignments and other materials (notebooks, folders,

etc.)Know which materials need to be brought home or taken to school

dailyPlan and monitor long-term assignments, including breaking them

down into subtasks and creating timelinesPlan how work will be organized and time will be spent, including

estimating how much time is required to complete daily assignments as well as long-term assignments

Keep track of other responsibilities or belongings – gym clothes, lunch money, permission slips, etc.

Manage the complexity of changing classes, including the problems associated with having to take different materials to different classes and having teachers with different organizational styles and expectations

Why are good study habits important?

Able to develop long-term goals, such as going to college, becoming an engineer, winning the league championship in basketball, etc.

Able to develop short-term goals, such as completing math homework before dinner, achieving a high score on the social studies test, winning the soccer game, etc.

Help your child to identify goals that matter to him/her and that are within his/her power to achieve

Why are good study habits important?

Able to develop long-term goals, such as going to college, becoming an engineer, winning the league championship in basketball, etc.

Able to develop short-term goals, such as completing math homework before dinner, achieving a high score on the social studies test, winning the soccer game, etc.

Help your child to identify goals that matter to him/her and that are within his/her power to achieve

Goal SettingGoal Setting

Organizational SkillsBackpack: What system does your child use? a binder, a notebook, a folder? Where is homework placed?Possibly have a different colored pocket folder for each class

In each folder a student can keep a record of their test, quiz, and homework grades for that class

Never put loose papers in the backpack. Clean out backpack once a week, minimum

Store returned assignments in a file at home

Organizational Skills (cont’d.)Planner: use every day in every class. Check off all completed assignments.

If needed have teacher sign, have parent sign.

Use it as a planning calendar for long-term assignments.

Time ManagementExcuses:I give up on a homework assignment as soon as it gets too

hardI have trouble getting started on my homeworkI wonder why I should be doing my homework assignmentsI try to do so many assignments at once that I cannot finish

any of themI put off starting the homework that seems too difficultI put off doing the homework I’m not interested inI try to come up with reasons to do something other than my

homeworkI ignore a homework assignment when I am not sure how to

start or finish itI start a homework assignment but stop before finishing itI hope that if I ignore an assignment, it might go awayI find myself daydreaming instead of focusing on my

homework

Strategies to overcome procrastination

Prioritize time and assignmentsMake a list and check off each assignment when completed

Do homework during the times when child works best

Break large tasks into small manageable partsGet help!Make a schedule for completing homeworkSchedule breaksStart homework at the same time every dayExpect homework to be completed before any use of electronics

Keep track of assignments on Q connectionIf needed build in a system of rewards for doing homework

Study SkillsActive listening, active readingHelp your child to formulate questions about everything he/she

is learningReview material that was learned as soon as possibleWhat did I just read? Why is that so?What are the general concepts and important ideas?How can I summarize this in as few words as possible?What questions about this are likely to be on the test?Why is this important?

SQ3R: Survey, Question, Read, Recite, ReviewDon’t study later than the usual bedtimeNote taking, review before, be attentive during class, rewrite

after classHighlightersUse study buddies, get phone number of at least one person in

each class

The Study AreaHome: Where does your child study? When? What works? What doesn’t work? Make study place available whenever your child needs it

Free from interruptions? Distractions?Enough light? Enough room?iPod maybe, TV probably notDoes the study area have all the materials needed?

Make the kitchen table an option?

Test PreparationSetting aside time for studying: when should your child begin

preparing?Identifying what to study: textbook, class notes, teacher

handoutsWays to study for a test: flashcards, read notes aloud, use

graphic organizers, review homework assignments, answer study guide questions, quiz your child

How to memorize information: repetition, write things down, say material aloud, appropriate use of electronics to access information

Use (DETER) 1. Directions , read carefully 2. Examine, see how much there is to do 3. Time, decide how much time will be spent on each part of test 4. Easiest, answer easiest questions first 5. Review

Space out studying, don’t try to do all studying the night before a test

Don’t just read through the study material

Self test or have another person test the info. studied

Good Listening In ClassGood Listening In Class Be Cognitively ready to listen as soon as class starts Be emotionally ready to listen, attitude is important Listen with purpose, what does the student expect to

learn and hopes to learn? Listen with an open mind Be attentive Be an active listener Meet the challenge, don’t give up when you find the

information being presented is difficult to understand Triumph over the environment, don’t give into the

inconveniences of noise, temperature, light. TRY TO STAY FOCUSED

Be Cognitively ready to listen as soon as class starts Be emotionally ready to listen, attitude is important Listen with purpose, what does the student expect to

learn and hopes to learn? Listen with an open mind Be attentive Be an active listener Meet the challenge, don’t give up when you find the

information being presented is difficult to understand Triumph over the environment, don’t give into the

inconveniences of noise, temperature, light. TRY TO STAY FOCUSED

Morning and Evening Routines

Use effective, noisy, annoying alarm clocks

Use lists to remind child of what to take to school

Prepare the backpack the night beforePut all work to be brought back to school into the backpack

Prepare clothes the night beforeMake and use lists dailyMake a daily schedule

Sixth Grade ScheduleSixth Grade Schedule

Includes:~Block: Language arts, History~Science

~Physical education~Mathematics: math course 1 seq. 1, math course 2 seq. 2

~Wheel: art, computers, home economics, music, quest, world language

Includes:~Block: Language arts, History~Science

~Physical education~Mathematics: math course 1 seq. 1, math course 2 seq. 2

~Wheel: art, computers, home economics, music, quest, world language

New Bell ScheduleNew Bell ScheduleNew Bell ScheduleNew Bell Schedule

Activities Offered at Middle School

Activities Offered at Middle School

Dances Math Counts County Spelling Bee Activities at lunch Extracurricular athletics Clubs Leadership activities

Dances Math Counts County Spelling Bee Activities at lunch Extracurricular athletics Clubs Leadership activities

Don’t forget, We are a support system for your child

Your child’s success depends on systems of organization, time management, study skills and you!

“Be the child’s safety net. Monitor the child’s progress while standing close by in the background. Most of the time, you won’t be needed, but there’s no harm in standing by.”

Resources:Organizing the Disorganized Child by Kutscher and MoranAVID Learning Style InventorySmart but Scattered by Dawson and Guare