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PARENTING THROUGH

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS


These tips have been developed to help you become more involved in your childs education. Involved parents improve a childs

YOUR CHILD MATTERS! YOU MATTER!


TIPS FOR PARENTS
1. Let your child know that school is important. Ask questions Get Started Tips for Parents 2. Please review the student handbook with your child to understand the rules and expectations. 3. Attendance is essential to learning. Please make every effort to have your child at school to obtain the information they need to be successful. 4. Read everything that is sent home. Remind your child to share school memos with you. 5. Get to know your childs teachers. Attend school meetings or call the office to set up teacher conferences during the teachers planning periods. 6. Call the office and update your phone number if you are not receiving phone messages from the school. Messages are usually sent weekly and sometimes daily. District messages are also sent to you. 7. Also, please provide the school with an email address for various communications throughout the school year. Each teacher has a school email address that will be shared with you. Teachers check emails daily and will respond promptly. 8. Check the schools website for events and announcements. 9. Visit your childs classroom when classes are in session. Set this up in advance with the school office and the teacher. 10. Volunteer to help with school activities. Attend sports events and other announced activities. 11. Invite stepparents, grandparents, and other adults who care for your child to get involved in school activities. 12. Talk to your school counselor, nurse, social worker and/or resource officer about strategies to help maintain your childs social and emotional health. 13. Join the parent-teacher organization and attend the meetings. 14. Encourage your child to read at home. Visit both the local library and the school library. Be a reading role model for your child.

PARENTING THROUGH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS

What to ask at a Parent-Teacher conference


Is my child performing at grade level? What are my childs strengths and weaknesses in their core subjects? (math, science, reading, social studies) How much time should my child spend on homework? Are my childs assignments completed accurately and on time? Does the school have special programs to meet my childs needs? Does my child have special learning needs and if so who would I contact to discuss an action plan? Do you keep a folder of my childs work? If yes, could you review it with me? Does my child have close friends? How well does my child get along with the other students? What can we do at home to support classroom learning? What is the best way to keep in touch with you? How can I help my child to work independently and make the best use of time? How can I help my child prepare

Homework: An Essential Part of Education


Each student receives an agenda to record homework and grades. Please check your childs agenda daily. If your child does not have homework or weekly grades, please contact the school immediately. Set up a regular time and quiet place for your child to work. Try to place this area away from TVs, radios, or other loud noise. If your child is having trouble with homework, talk to his/her subject area teacher. The teacher may have suggestions such as tutoring or extra help. If you child misses school, have a friend or classmate get homework assignments. Dont forget to send in a note describing why he/she was absent. Suggest that your child do their homework, take a short break, and then recheck the work with fresh eyes. Ask about after-school tutoring.

Use online tutorial programs (ex., www.khanacademy.org) to get extra help for homework, projects, and classroom

PARENTING THROUGH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS

Testing Jargon
CCESCommon Core & Essential Standards The Common Core curriculum is a set of national standards in language arts and math and the Essential Standards guide the curriculum in other subjects such as Science and Social Studies. CCES are aligned with college and work expectations and mastery is tested through EOGs, MSLs, and EOCs.

What to Ask About Testing


Schools use testing to measure how your child is doing; to identify problems your child may be having, to cover classroom material, and to meet standardized and proficiency standards required by the school district or state. What tests will my child be given during the school year? What is the difference between a test the teacher makes and a standardized test? Will someone be available to explain the meaning of test results if I have questions and can I review these test results at home? Should I help my child prepare to take a test, and how would I do that? EOGEnd of Grade Standardized Test 6th grade takes both ELA and Math EOGs 7th grade takes both ELA and Math EOGs 8th grade takes ELA, Math, and Science EOGs MSLMeasures of Student Learning 6th gradeScience & Social Studies 7th gradeScience & Social Studies 8th gradeSocial Studies only EOCEnd of Course Standardized Test 8th gradeAlgebra I

If I wanted to work with my child on practice tests, where could I get copies of old tests or practice test material?
How important are test scores in my childs grade? Do you consider other class projects, essays, and participation, too? Do you keep a folder of my childs work with test results included? State testing information is available at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/parents/middle

A benchmark test is a test your child takes every 4 weeks to determine if they have mastered the goals and objectives taught during that time. Benchmarks are an excellent way to determine strengths and weaknesses. Check for your childs benchmark data in his/her agenda.
What does performing at grade level mean? A level 3 or 4 on the EOG

PARENTING THROUGH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS

Tips to Improve Reading


Encourage reading for the fun of it as a free time activity and keep books in your home. Talk and listen to your children. Language is like a four-legged stool: speaking, listening, reading, and writing are its parts, and each supports the other. Read with your children every chance you get, even if its just part of a newspaper article at the breakfast table, and turn off the TV when you do it. Set the example; be sure your children see you reading and understand that you read for enjoyment and to obtain needed information. Monitor your childrens schoolwork and applaud their efforts.

Parents Rights
Be an advocate for your childs education. You have the right to examine your childs school records, test results and teacher comments. If your child is in special education, you have the right to be a part of developing an individual educational plan (IEP) to meet your childs needs. You have the right to request that your child be excused from school activities that you object to on religious, moral, or other reasonable grounds.

This brochure was created by NELA Cohort III Fellows Stephanie Cottle

Nafeesha Irby
Alexandria Pearson Tawanda Smallwood Ronica Watford

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