middle school-ready young people · web-enabled microphone. you can also text your questions in the...

A P A R E N T ’ S G U I D E

Middle School-Ready Young People

Live Session Being Recorded

This is a reminder that our live session is being recorded for future playback for those parents who could not attend today’s session.

Coordinator :Introduction

John Basilice, Family Education andCommunity Involvement Coordinator

I will be the person receiving your texts and working the controls of today’s session.

Later today you will be able to ask questions if you have a microphone or a web-enabled microphone. You can also text your questions in the text box of the control panel.

More to come on that item later.

Today’s Presenter

Dr. Cheryl Milam is a veteran middle and high school educator who has been both a middle school teacher and a middle school principal. In 2008 she was named Louisiana's Middle School Principal of the Year.

Today’s Presenter

She and her husband moved to North Carolina in 2009 to be near their grandchildren, and she became the Director of Middle Schools for Cabarrus County.

Today’s Presenter

Dr. Milam’s approach is based on the belief that middle school students are successful when their schools are focused on the developmental readiness, needs, and interests of young adolescents.This is the heart of middle school education.

Today’s Presenter

Dr. Milam loves exploring the many wonderful cultural and historical attractions in North Carolina and enjoys all the fantastic people she encounters in Cabarrus County.

Overview

Today’s session will be delivered in three parts

What kind of changes can I expect to see in my child as a middle schooler

What differences should I expect between my child’s elementary and middle school

How Differences Can I help make the transition smooth and successful

What Differences Can I Expect?

Your child may have to walk a little further to the bus stop.


In middle school, the teachers operate in small teams which share the same group of students who rotate from classroom to classroom within the same hallway.

The students will have to change classes, but we can assure you that they won’t get lost and within a day or two will easily find their way around.

The teachers and administrators are always in the hallways during the change of classes and are particularly offering assistance during those first few days of school.


Their teachers will take them by class to the lunchroom where they will sit together and eat.

Students are allowed to talk in the lunchroom.


Teachers will expect your child to be more responsible for himself or herself than in elementary school.

Teachers will not be calling or sending notes home all the time, back and forth, but, by all means, contact your child’s teachers if you have any questions or concerns.

You will be able to see his or her grades online in the Parent Portal.


In middle school, more attention will be paid to the dress code…

…so be sure that you review the school’s dress code with your child and follow it.


Attendance becomes much more important in middle school, so be sure to plan doctor and dentist appointments, as much as possible, on non-school days or outside of school hours.

Family vacations are best planned on non-school days as well.


Physical Education will be a big change, with students required to dress out for PE.

Some students are very self-conscious about changing clothes in front of others, so one way this can be addressed is by having them wear their PE clothes under their regular clothes.

That seems to alleviate that concern.

Changes in My Child

You can probably expect changes in your child’s personality and emotions, as well as their physical development.

As they reach middle school, their social life becomes much more important than grades or anything else.

They will be forming new friendships and becoming more independent. Give them time to establish that for themselves.

Changes in My Child

Their physical development will be widely varied, as will their emotional expressions.

They experience high highs and low lows. They may be ecstatic or in the depths of depression—all in the same day.

Do not be alarmed—just listen and don’t try to fix everything for them. It’s important for their development and self-confidence to work things out for themselves and solve their own problems.

Instead of offering solutions, ask what could you do to solve it, and what else could you do? Which solution seems to be the best? Why? Then encourage your child to try that solution.

Changes in My Child

During this time their grades may go down or discipline issues may arise as they are trying to find their place in this new social and academic environment.

Don’t be too alarmed—this is usually temporary.

Changes in My Child

Children this age have a heightened sense of the dramatic. Their perception is their reality and believe what they hear or see in writing—even the most outrageous stories.

Don’t listen to all the stories or gossip. If you have a question, go to the school and ask.

Changes in My Child

That brings us to another issue—social media. Be sure to have a conversation with your child about Facebook, Tweeting, etc.

Children can often be cruel or bullying toward others, and middle schoolers are particularly guilty of and sensitive to this.

Carefully monitor their use of the internet and make sure they are not posting personal information that could be used by predators.

Changes in My Child

The old argument, “But everybody else is doing it!” is nothing new, and you may have used that line on your own parents when you were that age.

Ask who is doing it, talk to other parents, and don’t cave into their unreasonable requests.

Changes in My Child

Your child may ask for more electronics at this age.

Be sure to find out what the school’s policy is regarding the use of electronics at school.

How Do I Support Success?

Encourage your child to get involved in school activities.

A sense of belonging is extremely important to children this age, and extracurricular activities such as clubs, sports, or band can provide that “family” for your child.


What if my child wakes up and says “I don’t feel well.” Go ahead and send him or her to school anyway, but contact the school and let them know.


The school nurse will check on your child and determine if he or she needs to go home. About 7th grade some kids develop mysterious illnesses.

The newness of middle school has worn off, and they may not want to be in school. If this starts to develop into a pattern, talk with your child’s counselor and the school nurse about issues that may be causing this.


Encourage your child to advocate for himself or herself.

If a problem or concern arises, ask your child to first talk with the teacher or a counselor to try to resolve it.

Then if your child needs your assistance, go first to the teacher and/or counselor, then to an administrator.


Don’t assume that what your child tells you is completely factual. He or she may not have all the facts or may have been told something that is not factual.

There are two sides to every story, and the truth is usually somewhere in between.

Be open and listen to the whole story before drawing any conclusions.


Trust your child’s teachers and school—they really are trying their best to help your child learn and grow. If they see any red flags, they will notify you.

If they see any red flags, they will notify you.

Final Word of Advice

Growing up is tough, and for this age group it is particularly difficult.

Children this age need to develop independence and self-sufficiency, but at the same time need structure and limits.

Let them know you have high expectations for them and confidence in them and …

LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN!

Resources

LINKS Website: http://www.education.com/grade/middle-school/

Book: Parents' Guide to the Middle School Years by Joe Bruzzese, 2009

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4qNtKjEhlk

Article: http://www.pbs.org/parents/raisinggirls/friends/mid1.html

Article: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/middle-school-survival-guide.htm

Article: http://kidoinfo.com/ri/preparing-kids-and-parents-for-middle-school/

Cabarrus County Schools Parent/Guardian Information Handbook:http://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/Page/5253

Cabarrus County Schools Student Code of Conduct: http://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/Page/5251

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middle school-ready young people · web-enabled microphone. you can also text your questions in the...

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