Be prepared for changes in your child’s mind and body

Many parents find that middle school is the time when their youngster leaves childhood behind. Although all children are different, most are firmly into their teenage years by the end of middle school.

The transition will be easier if you know what to expect and how to cope with these years.

Some ideas:

• Remember. How did you feel when you were 12, 13 or 14? What was important to you?
• Read. Some things are the same as when you were young. Others may be different. Ask your child’s teacher or school librarian to recommend a few books about young teens and parenting them.
• Reassure. Let your child know he can come to you with questions about the changes in his mind and body at this time. Tell him that these changes are a normal and healthy part of growing up. Consider getting a book if you find some subjects difficult to discuss.
• Respect. Your child has new needs now—including a need for privacy. Unless you notice suspicious activity (missing money, significant personality changes, telling lies), do not snoop through your child’s things or listen in on his calls.

Reprinted with permission from the December 2005 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2005 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Nemours Foundation, “A Parent’s Guide to Surviving Adolescence,” KidsHealth.org, www.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/adolescence.html.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suggest different ways to improve comprehension

Reading for students in middle school requires more sophistication. Children need to be able to understand it, interpret it, analyze it and apply it to the next topic. Recent research shows many children are having difficulty with this.

Here’s how to help your child read better in middle school:

• Preview. Your child will better understand the material if she has an idea of what it is about before reading. For textbooks, read titles, headings, captions and graphs.
• Tackle new concepts. Perhaps the chapter will introduce your child to new terms. She should look these up before reading so she won’t get confused when she comes to them.
• Think about what you know. Teach your child to always be asking herself, “Is this in any way familiar?” She will better grasp a concept that she can relate to something she knows.
• Monitor. After reading a little bit, your child should ask herself, “Do I understand this, or am I already confused?” If confused, she can ask for help or use another strategy.

Reprinted with permission from the December 2005 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2005 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: “Mastering the Challenges of Reading,” All Kinds of Minds, www.allkindsofminds.org/CaseStudy.aspx?casestudyid=9.

Let knowledge soar when learning about science online

The United States government has many science resources on the World Wide Web. Your child can use them to find information for homework. They can also be just interesting reading.

One website your child may find useful belongs to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Most people know it as NASA.

The NASA webpage gives hints for homework help. It shows how to find more resources on the Internet. It also has news about the latest happenings at NASA.

The information will change often—sometimes daily. But here is a sample of what to expect:

• How satellites and computers can help fight fires.
• How NASA helps to track storms that form over oceans.
• How NASA scientists use telescopes to crash comets.
• How NASA is challenging students to learn more about the planet Mars.

Your child can find the NASA website for middle schoolers at www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/index.html.

Reprinted with permission from the December 2005 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2005 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.