Transition to Middle School

Transition to Middle School

Hart Middle School 2015-2016

Terry Conde, PrincipalMarcel Baker, Vice Principal

Lisa Hague, Vice PrincipalCounselors:

Elizabeth Kozlow A-DhTammy Schoonover Di-M

Sharon Stewart N-Z

Hart Middle School 2015-2016

Terry Conde, PrincipalMarcel Baker, Vice Principal

Lisa Hague, Vice PrincipalCounselors:

Elizabeth Kozlow A-DhTammy Schoonover Di-M

Sharon Stewart N-Z

Hart Mission StatementHart Mission Statement

In following the ideals and standards of our namesake, Thomas S. Hart, the staff is committed to creating an environment for our students that fosters integrity, responsibility and respect for others. In partnership with the parents of Thomas Hart students, we will strive to prepare our students for continued academic success, to become respectful and accepting of our increasingly diverse society.

In following the ideals and standards of our namesake, Thomas S. Hart, the staff is committed to creating an environment for our students that fosters integrity, responsibility and respect for others. In partnership with the parents of Thomas Hart students, we will strive to prepare our students for continued academic success, to become respectful and accepting of our increasingly diverse society.

Middle School Transition for Parents

Middle School Transition for Parents

Become a school partner by Maintaining regular contact with teachers Joining PTSA Volunteering (yes, we need you!) Attend school events Attend monthly principal coffee

Demonstrate a spirit of cooperation TALK TO YOUR CHILD

Become a school partner by Maintaining regular contact with teachers Joining PTSA Volunteering (yes, we need you!) Attend school events Attend monthly principal coffee

Demonstrate a spirit of cooperation TALK TO YOUR CHILD

Communication ToolsCommunication Tools Q connection Pleasanton E connection Telephone/E-mail School website: www.Hartmiddleschool.org

Principal’s newsletter PTSA info School Site Council Hart Weekly Woof (student on-line

newspaper) Parent resources School Calendar

Q connection Pleasanton E connection Telephone/E-mail School website: www.Hartmiddleschool.org

Principal’s newsletter PTSA info School Site Council Hart Weekly Woof (student on-line

newspaper) Parent resources School Calendar

Middle School Student Transition

Middle School Student Transition

Responsibility begins to shift to student

Accountability increases Bodies change Friendships change Experiments with new

behaviors/personas

Responsibility begins to shift to student

Accountability increases Bodies change Friendships change Experiments with new

behaviors/personas

How to help your child with the transition

How to help your child with the transition

Help child to divide new tasks into smaller, more manageable parts

Avoid rescuing Get the whole story, not just your

child’s side

Help child to divide new tasks into smaller, more manageable parts

Avoid rescuing Get the whole story, not just your

child’s side

Communication GoalsCommunication Goals

Listen Gather information

ask questions check assumptions

Resolve issue at lowest level Remain calm Model communication skills

Listen Gather information

ask questions check assumptions

Resolve issue at lowest level Remain calm Model communication skills

Communication: The Steps

Communication: The Steps

Planner, Q connection, Study Buddy

E-mail teacher If no response (allow 24 hrs.),

leave message for teacher Make appointment with teacher If issue is still unresolved after

meeting with teacher, call principal or vice-principal

Planner, Q connection, Study Buddy

E-mail teacher If no response (allow 24 hrs.),

leave message for teacher Make appointment with teacher If issue is still unresolved after

meeting with teacher, call principal or vice-principal

What changes might you see in your What changes might you see in your middle school child?middle school child?

Many changes in Physical, Cognitive (thinking Many changes in Physical, Cognitive (thinking processes) and Social/Emotionalprocesses) and Social/Emotional

PHYSICALPHYSICAL Body Changes! (muscle mass, strength, Body Changes! (muscle mass, strength,

weight) … need more food and sleep! weight) … need more food and sleep! Concern about appearanceConcern about appearance Personal hygiene (may be needing things such Personal hygiene (may be needing things such

as deodorant)as deodorant) Nutrition Nutrition

WHAT CHANGES?WHAT CHANGES?

COGNITIVECOGNITIVE YOU MAY SEE MORE ARGUING – RATIONALIZING YOU MAY SEE MORE ARGUING – RATIONALIZING

THEIR NEEDS (new phone, curfew etc.)THEIR NEEDS (new phone, curfew etc.) Arguing becomes more sophisticated – wears you Arguing becomes more sophisticated – wears you

down!down! Abstract thinking (starting to see their future …)Abstract thinking (starting to see their future …)

WHAT CHANGES??WHAT CHANGES??

SOCIAL/EMOTIONALSOCIAL/EMOTIONAL Some hormones bring on emotional Some hormones bring on emotional

changes (mood swings …)changes (mood swings …) Acceptance – peer relationships (fitting Acceptance – peer relationships (fitting

in)in) FRIENDS! (May choose friends over FRIENDS! (May choose friends over

parents for confiding in, solving parents for confiding in, solving problems etc.)problems etc.)

Moving towards independenceMoving towards independence

How to help your child make the most of middle

school

How to help your child make the most of middle

school Keep grades in

perspective Maintain balance between

work & play Monitor electronic

communications Develop an organizational

system that works for the student

Keep grades in perspective

Maintain balance between work & play

Monitor electronic communications

Develop an organizational system that works for the student

Middle School ExpectationsMiddle School students are expected to:Remember to write down assignments consistentlyKeep track of assignments and other materials (notebooks, folders, etc.)

Know which materials need to be brought home or taken to school daily

Plan and monitor long-term assignments, including breaking them down into subtasks and creating timelines

Plan how work will be organized and time will be spent, including estimating how much time is required to complete daily assignments as well as long-term assignments

Middle School ExpectationsMiddle School ExpectationsMiddle School students are expected to:

Keep track of other responsibilities or belongings – gym clothes, lunch money, permission slips, etc.

Manage the complexity of changing classes, including the problems associated with having to take different materials to different classes and having teachers with different organizational styles and expectations

Middle School students are expected to: Keep track of other responsibilities or

belongings – gym clothes, lunch money, permission slips, etc.

Manage the complexity of changing classes, including the problems associated with having to take different materials to different classes and having teachers with different organizational styles and expectations

Able to develop long-term goals, such as going to college, becoming an engineer, winning the league championship in basketball, etc.

Able to develop short-term goals, such as completing math homework before dinner, achieving a high score on the social studies test, winning the soccer game, etc.

Help your child to identify goals that matter to him/her and that are within his/her power to achieve

Able to develop long-term goals, such as going to college, becoming an engineer, winning the league championship in basketball, etc.

Able to develop short-term goals, such as completing math homework before dinner, achieving a high score on the social studies test, winning the soccer game, etc.

Help your child to identify goals that matter to him/her and that are within his/her power to achieve

Goal SettingGoal Setting

Organizational SkillsBackpack: What system does your child use? a binder, a notebook, a folder? Where is homework placed?Possibly have a different colored pocket folder for each class

In each folder a student can keep a record of their test, quiz, and homework grades for that class

Never put loose papers in the backpack. Clean out backpack once a week, minimum

Store returned assignments in a file at home

Organizational Skills (cont’d.)Planner: use every day in every class. Check off all completed assignments.

If needed have teacher sign, have parent sign.

Use it as a planning calendar for long-term assignments.

Strategies to improve time management

Prioritize time and assignmentsMake a list and check off each assignment when completed

Do homework during the times when child works best

Break large tasks into small manageable partsGet help!Make a schedule for completing homeworkSchedule breaksStart homework at the same time every dayExpect homework to be completed before any use of electronics

Keep track of assignments on Q connectionIf needed build in a system of rewards for doing homework

Study SkillsActive listening, active readingHelp your child to formulate questions about everything he/she is learning

Review material that was learned as soon as possibleWhat did I just read? Why is that so?What are the general concepts and important ideas?

How can I summarize this in as few words as possible?

What questions about this are likely to be on the test?

Why is this important?

Study SkillsStudy Skills

Don’t study later than the usual bedtime Note taking, review before, be attentive during

class, rewrite after class Highlighters Use study buddies. Get phone number of at

least one person in each class

Don’t study later than the usual bedtime Note taking, review before, be attentive during

class, rewrite after class Highlighters Use study buddies. Get phone number of at

least one person in each class

The Study AreaHome: Where does your child study? When? What works? What doesn’t work? Make study place available whenever your child needs it

Free from interruptions? Distractions?Enough light? Enough room?iPod maybe, TV probably notDoes the study area have all the materials needed?

Make the kitchen table an option?

Test PreparationSetting aside time for studying: when should your child begin preparing?

Identifying what to study: textbook, class notes, teacher handouts

Ways to study for a test: flashcards, read notes aloud, use graphic organizers, review homework assignments, answer study guide questions, quiz your child

Space out studying, don’t try to do all studying the night before a test

Don’t just read through the study materialSelf test or have another person test the info studied

Good Listening In ClassGood Listening In Class Be Cognitively ready to listen as soon as class starts Be emotionally ready to listen, attitude is important Listen with purpose, what does the student expect to

learn and hopes to learn? Listen with an open mind Be attentive Be an active listener Meet the challenge, don’t give up when you find the

information being presented is difficult to understand Triumph over the environment, don’t give into the

inconveniences of noise, temperature, light. TRY TO STAY FOCUSED

Be Cognitively ready to listen as soon as class starts Be emotionally ready to listen, attitude is important Listen with purpose, what does the student expect to

learn and hopes to learn? Listen with an open mind Be attentive Be an active listener Meet the challenge, don’t give up when you find the

information being presented is difficult to understand Triumph over the environment, don’t give into the

inconveniences of noise, temperature, light. TRY TO STAY FOCUSED

Morning and Evening Routines

Use effective, noisy, annoying alarm clocks

Use lists to remind child of what to take to school

Prepare the backpack the night beforePut all work to be brought back to school into the backpack

Prepare clothes the night beforeMake and use lists dailyMake a daily schedule

Sixth Grade ScheduleSixth Grade Schedule

Includes:~Block: Language arts, History~Science

~Physical education~Mathematics: Math 6, Math 6/7

~Wheel: art, computers, home economics, music, college/readiness skills, world language

Includes:~Block: Language arts, History~Science

~Physical education~Mathematics: Math 6, Math 6/7

~Wheel: art, computers, home economics, music, college/readiness skills, world language

Bell ScheduleBell ScheduleBell ScheduleBell Schedule

Don’t forget, We are a support system for your child

Your child’s success depends on systems of organization, time management, study skills and you!

“Be the child’s safety net. Monitor the child’s progress while standing close by in the background. Most of the time, you won’t be needed, but there’s no harm in standing by.”

Resources:Organizing the Disorganized Child by Kutscher and MoranAVID Learning Style InventorySmart but Scattered by Dawson and Guare

Activities Offered at Middle School

Activities Offered at Middle School

Dances Math Counts County Spelling Bee Activities at lunch Extracurricular athletics Clubs Leadership activities

Dances Math Counts County Spelling Bee Activities at lunch Extracurricular athletics Clubs Leadership activities