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If you're the parent of a new or soon-to-be middle schooler, brace yourself for some major changes. Middle school is more intense and has a heavier workload--most middle school curriculums include five core subjects and two electives. Children are expected to do more, question more, and think more critically.
Above all, middle school demands that children function as independent students. How can you encourage your child to engage in activities that promote greater independence? Here are four tips that will encourage independent learning:
1. Establish a good routine. Middle school is a time when children must take ownership of their academic responsibilities, and there's no better way to encourage this than to build a strong, nightly homework routine.
2. Promote goal-setting. Setting goals is a powerful exercise that encourages children to think about school more intentionally and narrow their focus on what they want to achieve (and how they will do so). Parents and their children should spend time setting goals at the start of each semester and writing down the obstacles and to-dos to overcome them
3. Encourage self-monitoring. In simple terms, self-monitoring is a strategy that helps students check their own work for mistakes or areas that need improvement.
4. Step up the planner usage. Many children start using planners in elementary school, but middle school is when this becomes essential. With seven or eight classes to keep track of, children must stay organized, and it's hard to do without some sort of organizational system and a planner.
Help your child be successful by nudging him or her toward increased independence. Lay the foundation now and by the time your child reaches high school, he or she will be ready to face any challenge with confidence!
See more on our full blog post.
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It takes a village to raise a child! If you're struggling to help your child be academically successful, give us call at: (916) 585-3823 - we can help.
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