Middle School is a difficult transition time for students. They go from 1 or 2 teachers in Elementary School who send home weekly news letters with all their homework and tests for the week to 6 or 7 teachers who may or may not place your children’s assignment on the school’s web site. Therefore, many children feel confused because they do not know or are afraid to ask their teachers when their next paper or test will take place. Hence, the students begin feeling lost. The feeling of confusion turns to apathy. Middle school becomes a place where a nice, well behaved but disorganized student becomes disillusioned with learning because the student can not cope with organization skills that he or she needs in Middle School.

Many Middle School teachers think it’s a time for children to grow up but we can not allow our children to drown in confusion and begin hating school just because they are not organized. When only 55% of students in South Carolina graduate from High School, parents need to stay active and aware on how their children are coping with middle school before they begin to fail at school.

Steps to make the Middle School experience better for your child:

Encourage your children to use their agendas to write down their assignments. Do not fill it out for them. Ask them questions. When is your next math test? If they can not answer that question you will know the answer because you are communicating with the students teachers. Hold them accountable. If you are consistent, they will begin to do it.

Communicate with teachers. 

	Ask the teachers to update their homework pages weekly so you can check your child’s agendas.
	When is your child’s next test? Is there a paper or project due on a certain date? Check their agenda to see if they know!
	How is my child doing?
	Test grades.
	Is homework being turned in?
	Does my child listen in class?
	Does my child disturb the class?
	*** Praise them for knowing what is going on at school.

Help organize.

	Buy a note book with lots of folders so students can place home work in labeled sections. It may sound like common sense but students have a hard time with organization. History homework goes in the History folder. Many students will not spend the extra 2 minutes to place their work in the proper folder.
	Provide a trash can and encourage your child to clean their book bag every week.
	Teach your child to keep a neat book bag.
	Place loose paper in marked folders.
	Throw away papers that are not needed.
	Normally, a disorganized book bag and binder means a disorganized and confused student.

Give them responsibilities 

Make your child work around the house. How can they learn to be responsible if they do not have any responsibilities? Twelve year olds should do yard work, clean dishes, wash clothes, etc.

After School Plus will have students study every day. ASP will provide an environment where your child can study and get help from a teacher with middle school experience. Working together, we can help your child reach their potential.