Communicate with your child
- Ask open-ended questions ... What are you studying in ___?; Tell me about your day.
- Be available to listen ... Talk when your child wants to talk. He/she will be more open when you are doing something "distracting" such as making dinner, driving in the car, going for a walk.
- Recognize his/her concerns ... It might seem like a small thing to you, but to your child it could be a HUGE problem. Validate what they are telling you by reflecting what you hear and offer a simple suggestion to help; but do not push the issue. They want to figure problems out on their own because they are trying to be independent.
- Pay attention to non-verbal communication ... Watch for changes in moods, sleeping & eating habits; drastic hair style or clothing changes; also take notice of the friends they have. If you are concerned, talk with him/her. IF they are resistant to talking, contact your child's teachers or school counselor.
Some of the information above is taken from "Starting Middle School A Guide for Parents" - Woodburn Press - www.woodburnpress.com
HOMEWORK SURVIVAL GUIDE
[Taken from National Association of School Psychologists; Peg Dawson, Ed.D., NCSP; Center for Learning and Attention Disorders, Portsmouth, NH]
[Taken from National Association of School Psychologists; Peg Dawson, Ed.D., NCSP; Center for Learning and Attention Disorders, Portsmouth, NH]
Place to Work
- Find the right place. What setting, in the home, is the best place, away from possible distractions? Is there enough light, space, etc.?
- Gather necessary materials: Pencils, erasers, a ruler, a calculator, scrap paper, highlighters, scissors, glue, tape, colored pencils, a stapler.
- Write assignments in agenda book, include due dates for longer projects.
- Have the necessary textbooks, worksheets, etc.
- Break large tasks down into smaller ones.
- What long term projects can be worked on now?
- Have your child decided what order they want to complete the work. Begin & end with assignments that are "easy" with the harder assignments in the middle.
- Allow some time for short breaks in between completing tasks. Try working 20 - 30 minutes at a time, taking a 5-10 minute break, then getting back to work.
- Know what assignments are due when: mark this in an agenda book or on a monthly calendar.
- Break large assignments into smaller more manageable parts
- Create a timeline with due dates, outlines
- Discuss the assignment with your child to be sure they understand what they are supposed to do
- Wean your child from having you sit with them the entire time. There will come a day when you will not be able to help they any longer and they need to learn responsibility.
- The goal of homework to give the child time to independently practice a skill they have learned
- If your child is spending too much time on an assignment, have the child or yourself contact the teacher to see if they understand the assignment or if the assignment can be broken down into smaller parts.