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Middle School News
September 2006
Your child’s education can open a world of
possibilities, but walking through the school door
is the first step. Regular attendance is essential for school success. As
important as school success is, it’s just one reason why regular attendance is
critical. Students who skip school are more likely to: Fall behind their
classmates. Drop out. Join a gang. Use alcohol or illegal drugs. Get arrested.
You
can influence your child to reduce risks and increase his chances for success by
making sure he's in school (unless he is ill or there is an emergency).
To keep
attendance up:
1)
Make clear to him that you expect him to be in school. Let him know this is a
high priority.
2)
Have consequences if he is truant. Discuss these with him in advance.
3)Schedule doctor appointments during non-school hours if possible. If this is
truly not possible, write a note to his teachers and the office staff explaining
his absence.
Remember that school is his job and don’t keep him out of school to work outside
the home.
Help Build a True Sense of
Responsibility
Boost your middle schooler’s sense of responsibility and you’ll help him in the
classroom and out. Responsible students take learning seriously. To nurture his
sense of responsibility:
v
Expose him to money. If he does not have an allowance, consider giving him one.
By letting him manage money (and not spotting him a few bucks each time he runs
low), he may develop more respect for it.
v
Include him when you’re paying bills or working on your budget. Don’t share
every financial detail, but let him see what budgeting looks like. “I’d love to
order pizza tonight, too, but it’ll have to wait. Payday isn’t until Friday.”
v
Revamp his chore list. Are
you still packing your child’s lunch? How about doing his laundry? If so, pass
the torch. Now that he’s a preteen, your child is capable of handling such
day-to-day chores as cooking and doing laundry. Don’t overload him with hours of
new tasks, but work toward giving him meaningful responsibilities.
v
Let him take his lumps. When
your child makes a mistake, don’t swoop in to save him (unless he’s in true
danger). By allowing him to experience the consequences of his actions, he’s
more likely to learn not to make the same mistake again. If you’re always
running to his rescue, he’ll only learn that he doesn’t have to take
responsibility for anything.
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Developing Good Study Habits
Establishing and
using good study habits now, before your child gets to high school, may be the
best thing he can do to be successful. Encourage him to:
Find out what
works best for him. This includes when to study, where to study and how to
study.
Does he need quiet or does
he concentrate better with background noise? Can he work well at the kitchen
table, or only in his room? Is it more efficient for him to complete one thing
before starting another, or can he work on several things at a time?
Get his timing down. Can he
work straight through for several hours, or does he need to work in 15 to 20
minute bursts? Some students find breaks refreshing, while others get distracted
too easily.
Always read directions. Have
your child ask himself if he really understands the directions. Then have him
read them again. He can’t do the assignment if he doesn’t know what he is
supposed to do.
Remember
presentation. Teachers can’t give credit for homework they can’t read. His
sloppy work shows disrespect for the teacher and himself—it bars him from
demonstrating how much he really knows.
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Greetings from PCN
Wow! It seems we were just
looking forward to summer vacation, and now we’re heading back into the
classroom. Where did the summer go? I hope you and your family found time to
enjoy the slower pace and longer days of the past few months.
Students are excited and nervous about starting a new school year. You can help
by remembering to listen, encourage and guide your child through the ups and
downs. Make an extra effort to meet teachers and school staff, find out what
school volunteer opportunities will fit with your family schedule and plan on
attending as many school functions as you can.
The start of a new school year also provides a wonderful opportunity for a fresh
start at home. Enjoy more meals together, schedule some family fun time, and
talk to your children. They are listening (and watching!) even when you don’t
think they are!
Welcome Back!
Darcy Jensen and the PCN Board
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