Success Tips from a Middle School Teacher Advice from a veteran educator on how to help your child succeed in middle school and beyond By Les Potter EdD and edited Mr. Sullivan During elementary school, most parents are very involved in their child's schooling. They know and meet with teachers and administrators, are aware of their child's progress and behavior, help solve problems, and see to it that kids spend enough time on homework. Unfortunately, when children enter middle school, some parents stop being as actively involved, as if their help and support are no longer needed. Nothing could be further from the truth! Although your middle-schooler is becoming more independent and is increasingly involved in activities outside the family, you should and must remain the most influential person in his life. Through your involvement in school and extracurriculars, you can do much to help your child believe in the value and importance of education, be enthusiastic about learning, and achieve academic success. As a middle school teacher, a big part of my job is to help parents support their children emotionally as well as academically. Here is my best advice for parents of pre-teens: Help your child manage homework time. Encourage them to aim high and always do their best work. Check with teachers to see how much time should be necessary to complete homework. Our school provides an agenda planner for every student, and many teachers have Web sites with helpful links. We use planners at our school and are amazed how successful they are in keeping parents informed of their children's progress (or lack thereof). After your child has completed their homework, go over it with them, and discuss what they’ve learned from the assignments. Show interest in their studies by talking with them daily about what they’re learning and doing in school (don't take "nothing" for an answer!). If you know your child has a project for science, get involved. Discuss ideas and feelings about school, studies, and activities. Be realistic about what your child can and should be able to do. Don't expect great grades or high test scores if she isn't capable. With your child, read and review the information that schools and districts provide. Be familiar with the pupil progression plan, course offerings, student handbook, etc. All these will help you and your child successfully weave your way through the maze called middle school. It is never too early to work closely with school officials. It is better to start early and build a strong foundation of support than to wait until it is too late! Contact counselors, administrators, and teachers periodically. Find out what your child should be learning, how she is progressing, and how you can help. Be a full partner in your child's education. Be sure that they attend school on a regular basis. Even if they are absent for illness or another valid reason, they need to keep up with their studies. Call the school if your child will be missing a day, and find out what he needs to do to make up for it. Know their friends. Who does your child hang out with? Follow up on any suspicions that you may have. Be clear and consistent with discipline. Work with the school on your child's conduct. Understand that children will become leaders and followers and can be easily influenced by you and peers. Consistently acknowledge and reward efforts at school. Many parents expect the school to provide the incentives for their child's accomplishments. While schools do have a lot of motivation programs, parents need to recognize their child's successes too. When your child works hard, your acknowledgment motivates him to persist. Kids love monetary rewards, but you can also try a special trip together, a favorite dinner, or something else unexpected but valued. Your recognition helps your child develop a sense of competency and self-worth, a willingness to try new tasks, and a feeling of satisfaction in doing a job well. None of us are perfect and we sometimes make mistakes in raising our children. But your child needs your love and respect. She needs to become independent, responsible, and self-sufficient to succeed in most of her endeavors in school and at home. The best way to help her in all aspects of development is to try to ensure that her emotional needs are consistently met. Your understanding, common sense, adult judgment, and good sense of humor can make these middle school years a joy for both you and your child.
 
April 9, 2009 2:09 PM
Classroom News
“What’s Happening?” Social Studies Quarterly Update The Third Marking Period in the 2008-2009 School Year will end on Wednesday April 8, 2009! Report Cards will be issued on April 19, 2009! The students are have arrived at the three quarter pole and are entering the home stretch of their 7th Grade year. Only 9 weeks to go!! I hope that they are enjoying their Social Studies class and they continue along the path of academic success! You can always use Powerschool to check your child's academic achievement. If you need to obtain your child’s user name and password, please contact the Counseling Office at 856-223-2750. If you would to receive a copy of your child’s current social studies grades, please contact me as soon as possible! We hope your child has been using the Social Studies / Quia On line Reviews to prepare for tests and quizzes this year. All they have to do is just go to QUIA.COM and log in with their username and password! There will be online games like hangman, jeopardy, and who wants to be a Millionaire as well as Mr. Sullivan’s famous ONLINE QUIZ Reviews! Our 30th Annual Miss Downer Memorial C.Y.O.M. was finished on January 16, 2009. Students learned by doing as they drew realistic maps of an imaginary place that they will created! As they learned more about how maps are made, the boys and girls took a “hands on” tour of the wonderful world of maps, To learn more about this innovative and thought provoking activity, CLICK HERE! Our second Social Studies Book Report Activity began on January 16, 2009. Students selected historical novel (with a World Cultures - World History theme) that they have to read in class. While reading, they have completed several journal responses on the Nice.Net website. After reading their book, they must complete a Book Report, choosing from four different Book Report formats. Each type was designed to reach a different learning style and / or brain preference. CLICK HERE for more information on what was our first Social Studies Authentic Assessment Activity! Concurrently with our World Cultures Historical Novel Activity, the children are learning about world religions. Right now, they are investigating Buddhism, followed by Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism, Zoroastarianism, and Animism. As we investigate these faiths, students will be be learning about many different countries and cultures. As the kids study World Religions, they will be watching several movies with religious themes. Right now, we are seeing Bernardo Bertolucci’s Little Buddha. For more information on Little Buddha, CLICK HERE. Later, they will view Prince of Egypt. CLICK HERE for information on this film. Currently many of the Social Studies activities have been technology based, and the class website is truly serving as a way to extend learning and reinforce what goes on in the classroom. All the Powerpoint presentations used in class are available on the “Daily Update” pages. Additionally, several of the quizzes and reviews are also online. Yes, thus far, it has been another a great year in 7th Grade Social Studies! All the lessons and activities have been carefully designed and selected to reach children with many different learning styles and brain preferences. We hope you will have plenty of educational enjoyment in my Social Studies class over the next six months! As we have just finished celebrating Presidents Day weekend, it’s time to get ready for what lies ahead! No more holidays until Easter Break in mid-April. I hope that every one is having an awesome year so far! Always remember that 7th Grade Social Studies is “swell!”http://www.quia.comCYOM.htmlhttp://www.nicenet.orghttp://homepage.mac.com/socialstudies8/BookReportInfo/BookReportHome.htmlBuddhaLittle.htmlPrinceofEgypt.htmlshapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1shapeimage_3_link_2shapeimage_3_link_3shapeimage_3_link_4shapeimage_3_link_5
Success Tips from a Middle School Teacher! What’s Happening in Social Studies Class Students of the Month - March 2009
Students of the Month March 2009 Each month, four deserving, hard working students (two boys and two girls) will be recognized for their academic and social achievement as Mr. Sullivan's and Mr. Wiseburn’s Social Studies and Science Students of the Month. Mr. Wiseburn’s Science Students of the Month for March 2009 were Claudia Sparacio and Nathan Martini. Mr. Sullivan’s Social Studies Students of the Month for March 2009 were Brittany Bayes and Josh Silang. Claudia, Nathan, Josh, and Brittany will have their photos placed in the Social Studies Hall of Fame and receive a gift certificate from the new Mullica Hill Pretzel Factory and certificates for sundaes at any Applebee’s restaurant courtesy of Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Wiseburn, and your local Applebee’s. April 2009 Students of the Month will be announced on Friday May 1, 2009.../Students%20Only/StudentsoftheMonth.htmlshapeimage_5_link_0
Mr. Sullivan’s