prepare my sixth grader for college

8/14/2019 Prepare My Sixth Grader for College

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Prepare My Sixth

Grader for College

Compiled by:


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Table of Contents

Prepare My Sixth Grader for College, Month by Month

Create a College-going Culture in My Home

Know How Much to Save for College

Create a Study Plan with My Sixth Grader

Help My Sixth Grader with Smart Goal Setting

Get to Know My Sixth Grader's Guidance Counselor

Help My Sixth Grader Create a College Portfolio

Talk with My Child about the Middle School Transition

Help My Sixth Grader Choose Extracurricular Activities Wisely

Help My Sixth Grader Master Computer Skills

Getting into College Takes Smart Goal Setting in Middle School

Do We Have a College-going Culture in Our Home?

www.EduGuide2 ONLINE EDUGUIDE


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Prepare My Sixth Grader for CollegeYes, if you want to plan for college now while your kids are still in middle school. This Guide contains information on paying for

college, choosing the right classes in middle school, improving middle school study skills, teenagers activities, and much more.

How does it work?

l Quizzes help you know where you stand.

l Articles give you the background information you need to make a decision.

l ShortCuts help you take immediate action. Choose one or go through them all.

What will I learn?

l How to help my sixth grader set goals and study better

l How to help my middle schooler choose classes that will be beneficial

l How to save money for college

l How to promote the idea of college in our home

Quick Solutions

l What can I do in 15 Minutes? Take the Do We Have a College-going Culture at Home?" quiz. Color a banner in your favorite

college teams school colorshang it in your house.

l What can I do in an hour? Find out about different careers (with your preteen) on mappingyourfuture.org. Attend middle school

orientation with your child.

l

What can I do in a day? Visit a college campus or attend a college event with your family. Bring your middle schooler to workwith you and let him or her see what you do at your job.

http://mappingyourfuture.org/http://www.eduguide.org/Parents/TakeQuiz/tabid/114/view/StepTakeQuiz/quizId/62/Default.aspx


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Prepare My Sixth Grader for College, Month by MonthMonthly Checklist Provides Simple Tips for Parents

Follow these tips for parents and preteens, and be sure your sixth grader is on the road to middle school success andprepared for

college:

The Summer Before Sixth Grade

l Create a college portfolioHave your child include items such as middle school report cards, nominations and academic

awards received, sports awards, volunteer hours, and extracurricular activities. Check out EduGuides Help My Sixth Grader

Create a College Portfolio ShortCut for step-by-step instructions on how to make an extensive portfolio.

l Surf the webSpend a few hours with your sixth grader exploring different careers and colleges by checking out websitessuch as mappingyourfuture.org. Click on Careership to find a description of many possible careers plus a tool that helps

match your kids interest to different jobs.

l Encourage summer jobsYour kid doesnt have to work 40 hours a week, but encourage even eight to ten hours of

babysitting, yard work, or volunteering each week. Colleges like to see that kids show initiative and responsibility at a young

age.

l Get to know your childs guidance counselorMeet in August and make sure the counselor knows your child is planning to

attend college. Ask questions about your states middle and high school requirements, plus what classes your child can take

to earn high school credit during middle school. Refer to EduGuides, Get to Know My Sixth Graders Guidance Counselor

ShortCut for more details about how to make the most of your meeting.

l Master computer skillsTeachers expect students to use computers for research, presentations, and general schoolwork,

and they will use computers even more as they get older. Many colleges even offer applications for free if you complete them

online. Since most colleges charge about $60 per application, this that can really add up to big savings if students submit

online applications! For more information on how to achieve this goal, see EduGuides Help My Sixth Grader Master Computer

Skills ShortCut.

August

l Attend middle school orientationIts important to have at least one parent attend orientation with your middle schooler. This

is a great time to sign up to help in the classroom, with PTA, or with at-home projects. It also gives you a chance to meet your

childs teachers, the principal, and the support staff at the school.

l Encourage extracurricular activitiesMiddle school sports provide opportunities for sixth grade students to participate with

other kids their same size and age. This can be helpful for kids who may not be completely developed and may have a tough

time going up against bigger seventh and eighth grade students. Plus, most sixth-grade programs dont make cuts, so all kids

get a chance to play. Besides sports, middle schoolers can also join clubs, theater (drama), academic organizations, or

volunteer in the community. For more help with activities, look at EduGuides ShortCut entitled, Help My Sixth Grader Choose

Extracurricular Activities Wisely.

October

l Attend parent-teacher conferences This is a great opportunity to talk with teachers and find out how your child is doing in

school and where he or she can make improvements. For a complete guide to preparing for conferences, check out our

Conferences Are Great Time for Parent-teacher Communication article

l Discuss internet rulesMake sure your preteen is aware that what he or she posts on facebook, MySpace, or other sites can

affect college admissions later on. You never know which friend of a friend may see something your child has posted on oneof these sites. It could be used against your child when applying to colleges if a college admissions officer has access to your

http://www.eduguide.org/Parents-Library/Conferences-Parent-Teacher-Communication-155.aspxhttp://www.eduguide.org/Parents/Library/Detail/tabid/304/id/2474/Choose-Sixth-Grader-Extracurricular-Activities.aspxhttp://www.eduguide.org/Parents/Library/Detail/tabid/304/id/2473/Sixth-Grader-Master-Computer-Skills.aspxhttp://www.eduguide.org/Parents/Library/Detail/tabid/304/id/2477/Know-Sixth-Graders-Guidance-Counselor.aspxhttp://mappingyourfuture.org/http://www.eduguide.org/Parents/Library/Detail/tabid/304/id/2476/Sixth-Graders-Create-College-Portfolio.aspx


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childs internet accounts.

November

l Talk about gradesEven though colleges dont look at middle school grades, its a good idea to talk to your kids early about

grades. Many scholarships are based on academics, so the better your kids do during middle school to prepare themselves

for high school, the better chance they have to receive academic-based scholarships.

December

l Continue to saveIf you are already saving toward your childs education, keep on saving. Even if you havent saved much (or

even if youve saved nothing at all), its not too late. Even putting $50 a month into a savings account for your childs college can

be helpful. Our Guide, Help My Child Pay for College offers several suggestions for saving for college.

January

l Take your kid to work with youLet your child see what you do at your job and what other jobs are available at your place of

employment. If your child is interested in learning more about your friends job, ask if he or she might tag along for a few hours.

February

l Check out Career Day at the middle schoolVolunteer and get a close look at what types of careers are being presented toyour middle schooler. Take the opportunity to discuss what your child learned and what he or she might be interested in as a

possible career.

April

l Check out collegesAttend a sports or other event at a nearby college with your entire family. This is a fun way to see a

college campus and talk about the different activities available at college.

May

l Update your childs college portfolioPut any of the following in your childs portfolio: awards, high-quality writing samples,

report cards, sports honors, and volunteer opportunities.l Start preparing for seventh gradeMeet with the counselor again and review your childs schedule for the upcoming year.

Sources:

www.questbridge.org

www.ed.gov

www.publicschoolreview.com

http://www.publicschoolreview.com/http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtmlhttp://www.questbridge.org/http://www.eduguide.org/Parents/Library/EduGuideView/tabid/403/id/2245/College-Savings-Guide.aspx


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Create a College-going Culture in My HomeIf you want your kids to attend college after high school, you have to start by creating a college-going culture in your home. A college-

going culture includes the practices, attitudes, and actions of parents and siblings that support and encourage kids to attend college.

Here are some ways you can be sure that your family is creating a college-going culture in your home:

l Attend local (or close by) college sporting events. Many kids look up to college athletes and get excited watching them on thefield or court. By taking your kids to a college event, youre opening up an exciting new world.

l Visit college campuses . Pick a few colleges to visit. Not only will it get your kid excited about college, but also it will save you

time during junior and senior years when you and your kid will want to visit several campuses.

l Talk about where, not if. Discuss where your kid wants to attend college. Make it a part of normal conversation, not just

something thats talked about once in a while. When you talk about your childs graduating class, instead of using their high

school graduation date (class of 2010), use the date of college graduation (class of 2014).l Talk about goals. Encourage your kids to talk about their goals after high school. Emphasize the importance of smart goal

setting and achieving your dreams. Inform them about your own goals in your life and how you plan to reach them.

l Discuss your experiences. If you attended college, tell your child about your experiences and how much college changed your

life. If your child is the first one in the family to attend college, create excitement by talking about all the positives of college life.

l Support a specific college. If your family has a favorite college, hang that schools banner or flag somewhere in (or outside of)your home, or wear a college t-shirt. Your child doesnt necessarily have to attend that school, just show your kids your

excitement and support.

l Use outside experiences. Use a trip to your pets veterinarian as a chance to talk about what a veterinarian does in her or her

job daily. Expand the conversation to include what other types of doctors do in their jobs.

l Create a college month. And pick a different university each month to highlight. Involve the whole family to find out the college

sports team name, school colors, academic specialties, size, location, and any other interesting facts. Be creative: make

cupcakes in the school colors and watch the schools sporting events on TV.

sources:

www.collegetools.berkeley.edu

www.colorincolorado.org

http://www.colorincolorado.org/http://collegetools.berkeley.edu/


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Know How Much to Save for CollegeUse a College Savings Calculator

If youre not sure what kind of financial goals to set to fund your childs college education, a college saving calculator, such as this one

on the TIAA-CREF Web site, can help as you think about saving money for college.

Information Youll Need before You Start

l Cost of tuition for one year of college today : If youre not sure where your child might go to school, simply pick a public four-

year college in your state and check its Web site for its annual tuition.

l Tuition inflation rate: This calculator sets a default rate of six percent. Depending on the school, the area of the country, and

the current economy, this figure could be between two and eight percent.l Years to save before college: Assume your child will start college at eighteen, and subtract his or her current age to arrive at

this number.

l Initial savings: the amount of money you already have set aside for college

l Contribution amount: If you have a dollar amount youd like to contribute monthly, put it in here. You can change the amount to

see how the totals change on the calculator.

l Assumed rate of return: This calculator sets a default rate of six percent.

What the Calculator Will Tell You

l What four years of college will cost by the time your child attends

l How much money your savings plan will have earned by that time

l Your savings shortfall

l What you would need to do to make up the difference, either as a lump sum, additional monthly contributions, or additionalyearly contributions

Keep in mind that most students do not pay full price for college (see The Real Cost of College). Note: This exercise focuses on

tuition only. College costs usually include room and board, books, and other costs.

Putting It All Together: Three Examples

1. Aaron and Julie have a new daughter, Alicia. They want to open a 529 college savings plan for her with the hope that she will attend

Big State University in eighteen years. They already have five hundred dollars to open up an account. They are not sure how much to

invest monthly, but think that fifty dollars a month sounds reasonable. Lets see:

l Todays tuition at Big State U: $9,000l Tuition inflation rate: 6 percent

l Years to save before college: 18

l Initial savings: $500

l Monthly contributions: $50

l Rate of return: 6 percent

According to the calculator, in eighteen years, four years at Big State University will cost $112,380, or about $25,689 per year. Aaron

and Julies 529 Plan will have $20,567, not quite enough to cover one years tuition. If they set their monthly contributions at $100 per

month, they will have $40,550, enough to cover all of Alicias first year of school and $14,800 of her second year. To fully fund Alicias

http://www.tiaa-cref.org/calcs/tuition/calculator.html


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college tuition, they would need to set aside $265 per month.

2. Phil and LaDonna have a ten-year-old son, Ty. They haven't really thought much about college, but now that Ty is approaching

middle school, they think they should invest something toward his college education. They plan to start with the thousand dollars they

received as a federal tax refund, and then deposit one hundred fifty dollars a month in a 529 plan. Will that work? Heres how the

numbers work out:

l Todays tuition at Big State U: $9,000

l Tuition inflation rate: 6 percent


l Initial savings: $1,000

l Monthly contributions: $150l Rate of return: 6 percent

According to the calculator, in eight years, four years at Big State University will cost $62,752, or $14,345 per year. By investing one

hundred fifty dollars a month, Phil and LaDonna will have saved $20,321, enough to pay for one full year and part of a second. If they

were to invest $265 a month (what Aaron and Julie need to invest to fully fund their childs education), they would have $35,609,

enough to pay for about 2 1/2 years of college. To fully fund Tys college education, Phil and LaDonna will have to invest $455 per

month.

3. James and Elise have a fifteen-year-old daughter, Mandy, who just informed them that she wants to go to Big State University in

three years. James and Elise have never really thought much about paying for college. Mandy is a smart girl, but theyre not sure how

much she might get in scholarships. They decide to start putting something away but arent sure how much good it will do. Here are

the numbers:

l Todays tuition at Big State U: $9,000

l Tuition inflation rate: 6 percent


l Initial savings: $500

l Monthly contributions: $200

l Rate of return: 6 percent

According to the calculator, in three years, four years at Big State University will $46,892, or $12,044 per year. By investing $200 per

month, James and Elise will be able to pay $8,482 towards Mandys first year of college. If they invest $455 per month (what Phil and

LaDonna need to invest to fully fund their childs education), they will have $19,007, enough to pay for all of Mandys first year and

about two-thirds of her second year. To fully fund her education, they will need to invest a whopping $1,073 per month.

These examples illustrate the benefits of investing early for your childs college education. But if you havent started saving yet, does

that mean you shouldnt? Should James and Elise even bother if all they can put aside is two hundred dollars a month? Absolutely.

The $8,482 they save is $8,482 they wont have to borrow and pay back later. Saving is always worthwhile.

You may wonder if saving now will cut your childs financial aid later. A little for some families, but youre still better off having moneythan not, just as youre better off earning wages than not despite income taxes. Using todays aid formula, a low- or middle-income

family could lose up to five dollars in aid for every one hundred dollars extra they saved in any of the current college savings tools.



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10/19

Help My Sixth Grader with Smart Goal SettingTake a few minutes with your preteen to read and discuss the following steps, designed to help kids find the best goals to set and

help them keep those goals realistic and achievable.

Brainstorm

l Free write. Jot down ideas for goals as they come to you without evaluating or editing them until all possible smart goal setting

has been captured.

l Make an idea web. Ideas go in the center circle, details in the smaller circles.

l Experiment with mind-mapping software such as FreeMind, MindNode, or MyMind, all of which you can download from theInternet for free.

Goals to Set

Pick a goal. Thats right, just one. Once you accomplish your first goal, you can celebrate and move on to the next goal.

Goal Setting and Success

Select a goal that you can accomplish in weeks or months, not years. For example, if your long-term goal is to become a ballet dancer,

set a goal of practicing for an hour a day for a month. Assess your progress after a month and then set the next goal.

Be Specific

The goal I will be nicer to my sister is too vague. Ask yourself the question, How? Answer: I will invite my sister to go shopping or to

a movie at least once a week. For help focusing on your goals, take the "' Get These Goals in Line' Challenge."

Measure It

A realistic goal is one that can be measured, either by time or amount.

Keep It Simple

A goal that is too hard can be discouraging. Breaking a challenging goal down into steps (see ShortCut: "Achieve Your Goals") can

help keep your spirits up and give you the mini-successes you need to stay focused.

Stay Positive

Positive goals are motivating (see ShortCut: "Use Affirmations and Visualization"). Word your goal in a positive way: I will get a B in

English instead of Ill stop flunking English.

Write It Down

Make your goal real by writing it down, perhaps in your goal journal if you are keeping one (see ShortCut: " Make a Goal Journal").

http://www.eduguide.org/Students-Articles/Goal-Setting-Students-Goal-Journal-2148.aspxhttp://www.eduguide.org/Students-Articles/Achieving-Your-Dreams-Affirmations-Visualization-2147.aspxhttp://www.eduguide.org/Students-Articles/Really-Achieving-Your-Dreams-2144.aspxhttp://www.eduguide.org/Parents-Library/Get-These-Goals-in-Line-2285.aspx


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Need practice writing realistic goal statements? Try the 'Get These Goals in Line!' Challenge."

http://www.eduguide.org/Parents-Library/Get-These-Goals-in-Line-2285.aspx


12/19

Get to Know My Sixth Grader's Guidance CounselorTips for Parents

Do you know who your childs counselor is? Does your child know? Now is the time to get acquainted with a person who can help your

child achieve middle school success. You want to make sure that he or she remembers your childfor the right reasons.

Schedule an Appointment

Call the school to find out the name of your childs counselor and schedule an appointment. You dont have to have a specific problem

to solve, but in order to get the most out of your meeting, try to keep focused on a single topic. Here are some ideas:

l Getting to know you. Share your hopes and dreams for your child. Tell the counselor about his or her interests, activities, andjobs so the counselor can begin to create a picture of your child. Let the counselor know your childs academic strengths and

weaknesses, and ask advice about the best courses for your child.

l Volunteer your time . The counselor can give you a schedule of dances, career days, and other volunteer opportunities that are

available throughout the year.

l Show me the money. If youre unsure how to pay for college, the school counselor can provide information about future high

school scholarships, grants, awards, and financial aid for school that you can start thinking about while your child is in middle

school.

l On the right track. If your child is excelling in school, inquire about advanced classes, programs, and extracurricular

opportunities to keep him or her challenged. If your child is struggling, ask about tutors, peer assistance programs, and

outside help.

l Red flags. If your child or your family is going through a difficult timedivorce, illness or death in the family, unemploymentbe

sure to let the counselor know, especially if these circumstances are affecting your childs grades.

Keep in Touch

Even if you only have one formal face-to-face meeting with the counselor, be sure that he or she knows you are out there, active and

concerned about your childs school progress. How?

l Say hello when you see the counselor at school functions like open houses, parent-teacher conferences, school plays and

concerts, athletic events, and award ceremonies. Dont discuss your childs academic situation, just be friendly and visible.

l Attend school-sponsored workshops and parent meetings related to course selection, graduation requirements, and college

planning. You might be surprised how few parents attend these events. Your presence there will show how committed you areto your childs educational success.

l Call or email with questions. Most counselors will reply to phone and email messages from parents. This respects their time

and yours.



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Help My Sixth Grader Create a College PortfolioOne of the most important pieces of information colleges will ask for is a list of your childs accomplishments. The best way to keep

track of those accomplishments is to create a portfolio as soon as your child begins school. To avoid a last-minute scramble to find

the necessary information during your childs senior year, follow these tips for parents and kids.

What Should My Preteen Include in the College Portfolio?

l Academic information. This includes classes taken during middle school (especially if high school credit was earned) and

report cards.

l Sports awards. If addition to the actual award, keep any sports banquet programs that include a special recognition (MVP,academic honors, etc.) your child might have received.

l Community service (volunteer) hours. Even if your preteen volunteered for just an hour or two raking leaves with a church

group, write it down. Youll be amazed how the hours add up!

l Extracurricular activities. Include any school clubs, dance classes, piano lessons, jobs (including babysitting), and any other

activity your child has been involved in during school years.

l Academic nominations and awards. Even if your child was nominated but didnt actually receive the award, keep track of the

nominations. Also, be sure to keep a copy of the honor roll from your local newspaper when your child is listed.

l Letters of recommendations. Have your teen ask one or two favorite teachers from each grade to write a letter of

recommendation highlighting his or her strengths in the classroom.

How Should My Child Create a College Portfolio?

l Buy a portfolio. Keep it simplea three-ring binder (with dividers) or an accordion file is all you need.

l Label the dividers. You can either divide the information by years (sixth through eighth grades) or by categories as listed

above.l Design a cover. Your child is going to have this portfolio for the next several years, so encourage him or her to make it unique

and add some personal flair.

l Keep your portfolio updated. Add to it as often as you can. If theres some information youre not sure if you should keep, save

it anyway. If you dont use it, you can always throw it away later.



14/19

Talk with My Child about the Middle School TransitionA Positive Transition Is Key to Success

Often, the middle school years cause pre-teenagers stress and anxiety. So, how can we make the experience better for our kids?

Cheryl Mathews, a junior high counselor, gave the following tips for parents on how to ease stress in children as they enter middle

school.

1. Be upbeat about what lies ahead. Dont reminisce about your bad middle school transition. Instead, focus on the positive

aspects of the experience: a chance to learn about many different subjects, meet new people, and grow into a young adult.

2. Recognize their fears and take teenagers' issues seriously . Most incoming middle schoolers worry about being the new

kids on the block. They fear they will not be able to open their lockers or that they will forget which class they are supposed to

go to. Give your child strategies that will ease her fears: she can practice with combination locks at home or tape her schedule

to the inside of her binder.3. Offer support. Talk to your child about the school day. Ask how things are going, but dont grill them. Let your kid face some

natural consequences, but help them avoid pitfalls when you can.4. Hold your child accountable. You can bet the teachers will. In middle school, kids are responsible for getting to classes on

time. They are responsible for grades and for completing homework assignments.

5. Give your child the opportunity to make some decisions on his or her own . What is a good bedtime? How much sleep is

needed? Let your child experiment, within reason Provide resources to assist in the decision-making process (eight to ten

hours is considered normal). Give your child some articles on exercise and good nutrition to help guide in making good

decisions.

6. Pick your battles. Decide what is important to you and what you can let slide. If you hate the outfit your kid wants to wear but it

meets school guidelines, let it go.

7. Give them the tools they need to succeed. Make sure they have a well-stocked area for homework that is free from

distractions. Consider supplying your child with an academic planner and demonstrating how its used. See our"Help My Kid

Choose the Right Organization Tools" ShortCut.8. Allow them the freedom to make mistakes. Expect mistakes. According to Matthews, Kids this age are on an emotional roller

coaster. They are children one day and adults the next. They want to be different, but they want to fit in. This is a great time in

their life to make mistakes. Know that youve done a good job. Know that this time will pass.

http://www.eduguide.org/Parents-Library/Kid-Choose-Right-Organization-Tools-2418.aspx


15/19

Help My Sixth Grader Choose Extracurricular Activities WiselyExtracurricular activities are an important part of your preteens daily routine. But, knowing which activities and how many to choose

can be a bit challenging. Here are some helpful tips for parents and preteens that may help when trying to decide which

extracurriculars to choose.

How Many Activities Should My Child Choose?

Some kids might do best with just one extracurricular while others can successfully juggle three or four activities. Encourage your child

to pick one or two and stick with only those activities for a few months. If he or she is staying on top of school work and balancing the

extra activities successfully, consider adding one more. Keep in mind the time commitment when making final choices.

How Do We Know Which Activities to Choose?

When narrowing down choices with your child, consider the following list (although there may be additional activities at your localmiddle school and in your community, this list will give you and your preteen some ideas about what to contemplate when looking at

all the choices):

l Career activities. Thinking about becoming a teacher? Volunteering in an elementary school classroom would be a good way

to see what teaching is all about. If your preteen is interested in theater, trying out for the school play, joining the drama club, or

helping with set design could prove beneficial to his or her career choice. Time commitment: Once a week.

l Sports. Sixth grade sports provide opportunities for sixth grade students to participate with kids their same size and age. This

can be helpful for kids who may not be completely developed and will have a tough time going up against much bigger seventh

and eighth grade kids on teams where cuts are made. Time commitment: Every day.

l Special interest groups. Art Club, Photography, Chess Club, Science Olympiad, just to name a few! Check with your middle

schools student services department for a complete list of groups. Time commitment: Once a week to once a month. l Yearbook/school newspaper. If your child has any interest in writing, layout and design, or photography, these groups can be

great for gaining valuable experience. Time commitment: Usually once a week to once a month, but may require extra time

during deadlines.

l Band or choir. Most middle schools offer some type of band or choir program. If your child has any interest in music, this could

be a fun activity to consider. Time commitment: Usually two or three times a week, but often requires extra practice time.

The choices may be overwhelming, but the benefits of extracurricular activities are numerous. Students learn time management skills,

make more friends, try new challenges, enhance college applications, and possibly even travel.

Sources:

kidshealth.org

http://kidshealth.org/


16/19

Help My Sixth Grader Master Computer SkillsCheck out these simple but useful tips for parents andkids.

What Computer Skills Should Kids Have?

l Touch Typing. The hunt-and-peck method wont work for your kids during high school and beyond. Learning the proper way to

type as a preteen will be beneficial as they get older.

l Word processing. Most high schools (and some middle schools) require students to type reports and English papers in a

word-processing format. Ask the teacher what format he or she prefers. In addition, college students will need to prepare

nearly all of their work on a computer.

l Spreadsheets, graphs, and presentations. Programs like Excel (for spreadsheets) and PowerPoint (for graphs and

presentations) are becoming more popular as teachers expectations increase. Hand-drawn charts and graphs cant compare

to the fancy designs available on these advanced programs.

l Web literacy . Knowing how to surf the web wisely is important to middle school students as their homework load increases.

Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo! can become a students best friend!

l Email and social networking accounts. Most middle school kids should be mature enough to handle their own email address

and instant messaging accounts. Schools (especially colleges) often use exclusively electronic communication.

l General computer maintenance. Computers are great as long as they are working properly. Knowing how to maintain

software and hardware is the key to a healthy relationship between operator and machine. Work with your preteen and show

him or her the basics on the computer.

What Should My Child Do to Master Computer Skills?

l Get creative. Ask your preteen to develop a simple household chores list in a chart format, manage their savings account on-

line, create a fancy letterhead, or anything that helps him or her improve computer skills.l Be internet safe. Before your kids set up their accounts, talk to them about what should and shouldnt be posted for all to see.

Discuss the dangers of cyber bullying, predators, and general computer etiquette.

l Take classes. Some middle schools offer computer (and typing) classes for students. Many schools even require students to

take at least one computer course during middle school. If your preteen is interested in more classes, check out local

computer stores, community libraries and community colleges.

l Get online. Even if you dont have internet access in your home, your kids can still get online. Public libraries, coffee houses,

print shops, and school libraries often have computers and wireless internet that can be used for free or for a slight fee.

l Practice, practice, practice. The more your child practices computer skills, the faster he or she will learn how to use different

programs. Trial and error is sometimes the best way to improve.

l Set up email and social networking accounts. Your local internet provider can help you set up an email account for yourchildjust call the customer service number and ask for help. The social networking sites usually have step-by-step

instructions for setting up accounts as well.

l Ask for help. One of the best resources for computer help is friends. Ask your friends or your preteens friends to spend some

time helping your child navigate the computer. Be sure to prepare a list of specific questions ahead of time to make the most ofyour friends time as well.

l Become web literate. Knowing how to use Google, Yahoo! and similar search engines is helpful, but deciphering the

information from these websites can be more difficult. How do you know if the information is accurate and from a credible

source? Guide your kids to ask questions like, Is the site trying to sell a product? How old is the information? Is the

information one-sided or does it give both sides of a story? The last thing you want your child to do is turn in a school (or

college) paper with inaccurate information.



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Sources:

www.allbusiness.com

www.questbridge.org

http://www.questbridge.org/http://www.allbusiness.com/


18/19

Getting into College Takes Smart Goal Setting in Middle SchoolWhen Kids Plan for College They Get There Sooner than Later

EduGuide staff

Its never too early to start thinking about your childs transition to college. Teacher Sherry Bowen recently reviewed a government

publication that makes a convincing case for starting early to plan for college with smart goal setting. Take a few minutes with your

teenager and check out the link below.

According to Bowen, Think College? Me? Now? A Handbook for Students in Middle School and Junior High School starts with the

following tips: Keep your options open. College can mean any path to higher learning: four-year, two-year, technical, business, or

community college.

l Think about money. By starting now, you can explore many options.

l Raise hope. The book offers many examples that show how attending college affects future earnings.

This booklet, available free from the U.S. Department of Education, also explains why people need a college education, what kinds of

jobs college graduates can get, how to get ready for college, and what courses to take.

Readers will learn the importance of putting together a college support team. This team can include parents, teachers, counselors,

librarians, and other students who plan to attend college.

With easy-to-read pie graphs and lists of ways to start looking for state financial aid, grants, scholarships, loans, work-study programs

and federal aid information, this booklet covers all areas of college preparation.

Source: Lynda Wacyk is a formerEduGuide editor from Grand Ledge, Michigan.

http://www.ed.gov/pubs/CollegeMeNow/index.htmlhttp://www.ed.gov/pubs/CollegeMeNow/index.html


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Due to the dynamic nature of our quizzes, they are only available on the web. Follow the addresses below to take a quiz on our

website.

Do We Have a College-going Culture in Our Home?

http://www.eduguide.org/Parents/TakeQuiz/tabid/114/quizId/62/view/StepTakeQuiz/Default.aspx
http://www.eduguide.org/Parents/TakeQuiz/tabid/114/quizId/62/view/StepTakeQuiz/Default.aspx

prepare my sixth grader for college

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