Parental support plays an important role in helping students succeed in middle school. According to KidsHealth.org, here are some ways parents can help keep kids on track for academic success in middle school.
1. Go to school meetings and events
Attending conferences, meetings, concerts, plays, sporting events, assemblies, and other activities is a good way to support your child and the school community.
2. Visit the School/Classroom Websites
School and classroom websites have a lot of helpful information such as the school calendars, contacting school staff, special events, sign-up information and schedules for sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities, grades, homework assignments, test and quiz dates, and much more.
3. Support Homework Expectations
During the middle school years, homework gets more intense and takes students longer to do than during the elementary years. An important way to help is to make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit, distraction-free place to study that's stocked with school supplies. Distraction-free means no phone, TV, or websites other than homework-related resources. Talking with your child regularly about their classes and helping your child set a homework schedule/ consistent homework routine sends a message that academics are a priority.
4. Send Your Child to School Ready to Learn
A nutritious breakfast fuels up middle schoolers and gets them ready for the day. In general, teens who eat breakfast have more energy and do better in school. Teens also need enough sleep to be alert and ready to learn all day. Bedtime problems can come up at this age for a variety of reasons. Homework, sports, after-school activities, texting, TVs, computers, and video games, as well as hectic family schedules, can lead to students not getting enough sleep. It's important to have a consistent bedtime routine, especially on school nights.
5. Teach Organization Skills
No one is born with great organizational skills — they have to be learned and practiced. Being organized is a key to success in middle school and students can benefit from parents helping with organizing assignments and time management. Help teach your child how to organize their backpacks, use a calendar/planner to stay organized and schedule study times, how to make a daily to-do list to prioritize tasks and manage time, etc.
6. Teach Study Skills
Learning how to plan enough study time before assessments is a big part of helping your middle schooler prepare now that they're juggling work from multiple teachers. When there's a lot to study, students could benefit from making a study calendar to avoid having to study for multiple tests all in one night. Remind your child to take notes in class, organize them by subject, and review them at home each day. Help your child by showing/practicing easy techniques like simple questioning, asking to provide the missing word, and creating practice tests. The more processes the brain uses to handle information — such as writing, reading, speaking, and listening — the more likely students will remember the information. Also remind them that getting a good night's sleep is smarter than cramming.
7. Take Attendance Seriously
It's important that students arrive at school on time every day, because having to catch up can be stressful and interfere with learning. Also keeping your teen on a consistent daily sleep schedule can help avoid problems like tiredness and tardiness.
8. Talk About School
Staying connected with teens as they grow more independent can be a challenge for parents, but it's more important than ever. While activities at school, new interests, and expanding social circles can play bigger roles in the lives of many middle school students, parents and guardians are still their anchors for providing love, guidance, and support. Talk with your child every day, so they know that what goes on at school is important to you. When preteens and teens know their parents are interested in their academic lives, they'll take school seriously too. When preteens and teens know they can talk openly with their parents, the challenges of middle school can be a little easier to face.
