Parent Tips

Scroll down the page to view the following topics:

Transition to Middle School

Bullying

Help Your Child Succeed

Work with Your School

Parent-Teacher Conference Discussion Topics and Questions

Transition to Middle School

Middle School is a big step and a very big change, for both students and parents.

Students are faced with new opportunities and challenges, are expected to be more independent, more focused, and more responsible than they were in elementary school. They may be excited and apprehensive about these new changes.

During this transition period, it's important to keep the lines of communication open. Talk to your children, and listen to what they say.

It is important for you to be involved in your children's lives during these middle school years. You need to make sure that your children are making good choices and decisions, and that they are doing well in school. Now, more than ever, your children need your guidance, encouragement, love, and understanding.

Bullying

 Bullying can be a real problem at the middle school level. Talk to your child about what to do if he/she ever sees or hears a student being bullied. If your child ever complains about being bullied or harassed, find out exactly what has happened, and then talk to the teacher, counselor, or principal.

Sometimes students are afraid to tell their parents they're being bullied. If your child suddenly doesn't want to go to school, ask if someone is bullying or harassing him/her in any way.

Bullies want power and they like to have an audience. Since bullies are influenced by how other people react, bystanders can help discourage a student from being a bully. Bystanders need to let bullies know that their behavior is "not cool" and that it is not acceptable. Bystanders are the key to stopping bullies!

Discuss or role play with your child what someone should do if they're being bullied and what bystanders can do to discourage bullying.

Discuss the fact that while you don't have control over someone else's behavior, you do have a choice as to how you react.

Help Your Child Succeed

1. Provide school supplies and a place to study.
2. Help set academic goals.
3. Insist on daily attendance. When students miss school, they miss lectures, notes, discussions, assignments, enrichment activities, quizzes, & tests. It doesn't matter how conscientious students are about making up their work. They can never make up all of what they miss, even if they're absent for only a day or two.
4. Attend all parent programs.
5. See all midterm reports and report cards.
6. Sign up for the online gradebook parent portal so you can keep track of your child's performance on a daily or weekly basis.
7. Use rewards and consequences.
8. Encourage a healthy lifestyle.
9. Help improve organizational skills.

• Make sure your child has a folder, binder, or notebook labeled for each class.
• Have your child use a student planner, assignment notebook, or agenda to keep track of assignments and check it periodically.
• Remind your child to put all handouts and assignments in folders/binder. Never in backpack. Encourage your child to clean out backpack & locker each week.
• Help your child organize and prioritize homework.
• Large or long term assignments can seem overwhelming. Show your child how to break down large assignments and projects into smaller, more manageable tasks.
• Have your child get everything ready for the next day, before going to bed each night.

10. Help with time management.

11. Make homework your child's responsibility.

12. Encourage involvement in school activities.

13. Encourage independent problem solving.

14. Provide academic support.

Work with Your School

• Show support and interest.
• Make the most of parent-teacher conferences.
• Communicate with your school. (Newcastle has a website with teachers' email addresses and schools' phone numbers.)
• If there is ever a situation (health problems, divorce, death in the family) that might affect your child's attitude or performance, be sure to let the teacher know what's going on.
• Don't hesitate to ask for information or help when your need it.
• Work with the school to resolve problems.

Tips for Parent-Teacher Conferences

Discussion Topics and Questions

• Homework - Is my child's homework completed thoroughly, accurately, and on time?
• Class Participation - Does my child ask questions, volunteer answers, and participate in discussions?
• Organization - Does my child seem organized? Does he/she come to class prepared?
• Academic Success - How is my child doing in this class? Is my child working up to his/her potential?
• Classroom Time Management - Does my child use class time wisely?
• Attendance and Punctuality - Is my child in class every day? Does he/she come to class on time?
• Focus - Does my child pay attention in class?
• Social Adjustment - Is my child respectful and courteous to teachers and classmates? Does my child appear to get along with the other students?
• Strengths and Weaknesses - What are my child's strengths? Which skills need more work?
• Additional Comments - Do you have any advice or suggestions for me or my child? What is the best way for me to contact you if I have a question or concern in the future?