1. Tips for Helping Your Child Move From Elementary to Middle School Kathy Block & Regina Gould WCPSS Counselors

4. Number 10 is most important  Getting lost or finding classes  Opening the locker  Getting good grades  Bullies and/or being teased  Making new friends  Having more than one teacher  Finding the bathroom  Not knowing the school rules  Carrying around all those books  Feeling stupid compared to other kids

5.  Being embarrassed by parents in front of other kids  Puberty (pimples, body changes)  Changing before and after P.E. in front of other kids  Going from class to class without being late  Having someone to sit with at lunch

7. We’re Glad You Asked… Meet the teachers and visit the school in advance Ask questions What are you most excited/worried about? How can I help the most? Listen closely Listen without giving advice Ask if they want advice Reinforce the positive Be willing to talk

8. Stay active in your child’s education Help students stay organized Encourage homework completion (written, reviewing, studying, projects, previewing) Reinforce the importance of good effort Encourage healthy habits Maintain open communication Maintain a positive attitude Communicate with their teachers Black board/email

9. Create opportunities for success Encourage extracurricular activities (balance) Set high expectations Discuss bullying and peer pressure with your child Introduce yourself to people who sit around you in class Sit with different people at lunch rather than the same old crowd Find friends with similar values and beliefs Learn to handle conflict in a positive way Talk with a trusted adult about uncomfortable situations

10. Set goals with your child each quarter/semester Monitor academic progress Know the school rules, policies and procedures Dress code Regular attendance Make up work Treat others with respect WCPSS has a no tolerance policy for gang related activity, alcohol/drugs and fighting

11. Know each teachers’ policies Encourage your student to develop a positive relationship with all teachers at the beginning of the year On time for class Prepared for class Work turned in on time Exhibit positive behaviors Ask appropriate questions

12. Teach your child self advocacy skills Talk to the teacher when they have questions/concerns. A good time to talk is before school, after school, during lunch, before class, after class—NOT during instructional time Be respectful Email teachers with questions Ask for help when they need it

13. Purchase an agenda Be open about discussing development and changes Physical Changes (Puberty) For girls, puberty begins around ages 10 or 11 and ends around age 16. Boys enter puberty later than girls – usually around age 12 – and it lasts until around ages 16 or 17. Girls and boys usually begin puberty around the same time their mothers and fathers did. Talk with your child about the physical changes that will happen during puberty.

14. Social and Emotional Development Preteens and teens begin to spend more time with peers and less time with family. Preteens and teens begin to form their identity by exploring different clothes, hairstyles, friends, music, and hobbies. Moodiness is common as youth struggle to search for an identity. Preteens and teens push limits that adults put on them to assert their independence. Preteens and teens have mixed feelings about "breaking away" from parents. One day your daughter may want nothing to do with you, the next she is constantly at your side. Troubled youth may act out (for example, get into physical fights, use alcohol or other drugs, skip school, etc.) to express emotional pain.

15. Intellectual Development Most 11- to 14-year-olds are still concrete thinkers – they perceive things as good or bad, right or wrong. This is normal. They are just beginning to imagine possibilities, recognize consequences of their actions, and anticipate what others are thinking. Youth begin to question family and school rules and challenge their parents. Preteens and teens tend to believe that bad things won't happen to them. This helps explain why they are risk-takers. For example, a young girl may believe she can smoke cigarettes without becoming addicted. Preteens and teens believe they are the center of attention. This explains why they are painfully self-conscious – a tiny pimple may seem like the end of the world.

16. Prepare your child for more challenging work Create a learning environment at home Quiet study area Kitchen timer Study routine Organization, organization, organization Interact and guide Mastery and improvement Keep a family master calendar of assignments, projects, tests, and extra curricular activities

17. Practice opening combination locks

18. Know your resources Teachers Counselors Administrators Media Specialists School Resource Officers