Partner With Your Child's Middle School Teachers
Teamwork between parents and teachers is essential for assuring that kids become accomplished readers and writers.
Even kids who are accomplished readers need involved parents, so keep in touch with teachers.
In middle school your child will be busier than ever. It will be a challenge to keep her organized and figure out ways to fit in family reading time.
Connect With Teachers
Get Involved at School
Things to Do at Home
Connect With Teachers
Ask about the best time to meet with your child's teachers. Be ready to share what you know about how your child learns best. This is particularly important if she has specific learning needs. For example, a student who has trouble with writing or note-taking can benefit from being allowed to use a laptop or the classroom computer. A dyslexic child will benefit from books on tape. "It makes a big difference to a student when she realizes that her teachers and parents are working together," says Susan C. Dailey, 7th grade reading and social studies teacher at Linderman School in Kalispell, Montana.
Dailey also emphasizes the importance of attending the school's Parent's Night, where you should ask each subject teacher to share advice on managing your child's increasing workload. But stay in touch with teachers all year long. "I often communicate with parents about assignments through email," says Dailey. "If parents are continually involved, there will be no surprises at mid-term or grading time," she says.
Questions to ask:
- What study skills are you teaching, and how should I reinforce these at home?
- How should students be keeping track of assignments?
- How many hours a day should my child be spending on homework?
- Should I be correcting homework assignments?
What to do if there's a problem:
- By now, most reading and learning disabilities are likely to have been diagnosed. Children who have been identified as having reading disabilities will already have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) detailing the educational accommodations needed. If your child has an IEP, meet with the school’s child-study team to determine if there are additional accommodations (such as untimed tests or being allowed to take tests in a separate location) that may help him compensate for his reading difficulties.
- If your child has not been diagnosed with a learning disability but still seems to be struggling to comprehend what he's reading, talk to his teachers, the school reading specialist, and the guidance counselor for suggestions on what remedial instruction and other extra help is available.
Get Involved at School
Many middle schools have extracurricular activities and special events that promote reading and literacy. Research what's available, and encourage your child to join one that suits her interests. Then find out how you can lend a hand. Maybe you can help proofread the school newspaper or literary magazine. Maybe the history club needs a chaperone for its trip. Even getting up early and driving your child to the English teacher's 7 a.m. "Bagels and Books" club shows your middle-schooler how much you value literacy.
- Keep your student organized: "Check assignment books each night so that you are aware of long-range projects," suggests Dailey. It's helpful to hang a weekly schedule on the fridge to keep track of upcoming tests and project due dates. "Make sure kids' binders are not falling apart or stuffed with loose papers," Dailey adds. At the end of each week, go through the binders and file away tests and past assignments in an accordion folder.
- Preserve reading rituals: "As children get older and more independent, one of the biggest mistakes we can make is to stop reading aloud," says Nancy Zimmerman, President of the American Association of School Librarians. "Hearing you read aloud increases their vocabulary and comprehension, and improves their understanding of varied sentence structure," she says. "And the more kids hear good writing, the better writers they'll become." But you'll have to get creative about snatching read-aloud time. At breakfast, read your sports fan an account of last night's game. Before you head to a movie, review what the critics said about it. Encourage your child to read to you, too. Maybe she'll want to quiz you from a movie trivia book or read you portions of an interview with her favorite star. It's also relaxing to save some time at the end of the day for everyone to gather in the family room and read silently.
- Squeeze in book talk: "Kids get very busy in middle school, so sneak in discussion whenever you can — whether it's at the dinner table or on the way to swim or soccer practice," says Zimmerman. Ask your child about what he's reading. If it's a book you read in school, share how you felt about it. "Discussing your reasons for liking or disliking a book helps your child learn evaluation skills," Zimmerman explains. "Middle schoolers may pretend to resent your interest, but they secretly love knowing that you're taking the time to talk to them about their books."
Parent's Tip
"I get my own copies of the books my twins have to read for sixth grade English class, so I can read them too," says Karen Datz, a mother of four from White Haven, Pennsylvania. "The boys really love the idea that I have homework along with them, and we're able to have lots of interesting discussions about the plot and the characters."
