Building Responsibility

Allow Students to Determine Their Best Study Times

Now that your child is in middle school, she/he must take more responsibility for their own learning.  One activity they may find helpful is determining how, when and where she can do her best work.  Here are some things for them to consider:

* Do they learn best by Seeing? Hearing? or Doing?

* Where is the best place for them to sit in the classroom?

* Do they concentrate better at home, at the library or some other place?

* What time of the day are they most alert?

* Do they need specific study times, such as 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for math, 7:30     p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for English? 

* What lighting and air temperature do they prefer when concentrating?

* How often do they need a break?

Once your child your child answers these questions they will have a study profile of themselves.  If they stick to the profile then they will probably study more effectively.

Help Your Child Get Organized for a Successful Year

Kids in the middle school can be smart, they can work hard, yet they can still fail.  Most often the problem is disorganization where the student loses or forgets assignments.  Some things that can be helpful to make the student a success are:

* A good planner or assignment book where the student can keep track of each subject.

* Multiple pocket folders or binders that can be color coded to make different subjects easy to identify.  Place papers that return to school in one pocket. 

* A homework kit where you have pencils, paper, file cards and other needed school supplies. 

* A homework routine where the student studies at the same time, same place everyday making homework a habit.

* A family reading time when you turn off the television and read together either a book, a magazine, or the newspaper.