transition to middle school hart middle school 2015-2016 terry conde, principal marcel baker, vice...
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Transition to Middle School
Transition to Middle School
Hart Middle School 2015-2016
Terry Conde, PrincipalMarcel Baker, Vice Principal
Lisa Hague, Vice PrincipalCounselors:
Elizabeth Kozlow A-DhTammy Schoonover Di-M
Sharon Stewart N-Z
Hart Middle School 2015-2016
Terry Conde, PrincipalMarcel Baker, Vice Principal
Lisa Hague, Vice PrincipalCounselors:
Elizabeth Kozlow A-DhTammy Schoonover Di-M
Sharon Stewart N-Z
Hart Mission StatementHart Mission Statement
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.
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 might you see in your What changes might 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 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
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 daily
Plan and monitor long-term assignments, including breaking them down into subtasks and creating timelines
Plan 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
Middle School ExpectationsMiddle School ExpectationsMiddle School students are expected to:
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
Middle School students are expected to: 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
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
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.
Strategies to improve time management
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 learning
Review 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?
Study SkillsStudy Skills
Don’t study later than the usual bedtime Note taking, review before, be attentive during
class, rewrite after class Highlighters Use study buddies. Get phone number of at
least one person in each class
Don’t study later than the usual bedtime Note taking, review before, be attentive during
class, rewrite after class Highlighters Use 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 handouts
Ways to study for a test: flashcards, read notes aloud, use graphic organizers, review homework assignments, answer study guide questions, quiz your child
Space out studying, don’t try to do all studying the night before a test
Don’t just read through the study materialSelf 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 6, Math 6/7
~Wheel: art, computers, home economics, music, college/readiness skills, world language
Includes:~Block: Language arts, History~Science
~Physical education~Mathematics: Math 6, Math 6/7
~Wheel: art, computers, home economics, music, college/readiness skills, world language
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