Academic Support

Tips For Parents   On How To Survive Middle School

Check Your Child’s Agenda Book   Students should be filling out their agenda books everyday. By checking the agenda, you will be more informed about what is happening at school and see if any teachers are trying to communicate with you.  Use our 6th grade team page and the teacher’s weekly homework calendars for support in this area.

Sign-up!If you have Internet access and e-mail, sign-up for Skyward Access. Some teachers also use Class Dojo and Remind.  These tools will keep you up-to-date with your child’s assignments, overall grades and daily conduct.

Help Your Child Keep Organized  Keep a watchful eye on that binder!   Many teachers will color code their papers. (English-pink, Science-purple, Social Studies-yellow, Math-blue, Reading-green) Your child’s binder should look like a Rainbow – if it looks like Skittles then your child may need your help with his or her organization.

Schedule Homework/Study Time  Try a find a quiet place without distractions for your child to do his or her homework and study. It helps to have a consistent daily homework/study time. With being on the block schedule, we definitely encourage students to do their homework assignments the night they are assigned!

  • You Are Not Alone!Middle school is full of changes. – Remember you are not alone!
  • Set Realistic GoalsSit down with your child at the beginning of each quarter and together set realistic academic goals for each class.
  • Encourage Your Child To Read“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go.” ~Dr. Seuss
  • Help Your Child To Understand What Is Expected At School  Focus on appropriate/expected behaviors and accepted use of personal electronics.
  • Know That We Want Your Child To Succeed  Please know that our main goal as a team of teachers is to see your child succeed and grow to his or her full potential!
Tips For Students On How To Survive Middle School
  1. Don’t Listen To Rodrick!Everyone is nervous about starting middle school – even “The Wimpy Kid” (from “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”, by Jeff Kinney). It’s totally normal, and it’s not as bad as you may think.  🙂  Your parents and teachers want you to succeed. 
  2. Learn Your Schedule and Locker Combination  Your stress level will go down when you know where to go and how to get in your locker. The sooner you master these tasks the better off you will be.
  3. Use Your Agenda Book!  Write your assignments in your agenda book everyday for every class, even if you don’t have homework!  If you don’t write down your assignments, you will eventually forget to do one.
  4. Be OrganizedIf you keep your binder, folders, and locker organized, you will be less likely to loose important assignments and notes.
  5. Choose Friends That Support Your GoalsTry to make friends with people that support your success in and out of school. Friends that put you down for doing well are not very good friends. Surround yourself with people that lift you up and challenge you to be the best person you can be!
  6. Do Your Homework The Night It Is Assigned Doing your homework the night it is assigned will give you an opportunity to talk to your teacher in the morning, if you run into trouble. Then, the teacher can help you with assignment and you will still have time to finish it – on time!
  7. Study!!! Study!!! Study!!! You will need to take notes and review them regularly this year, or passing tests will be hard.
  8. Ask For Help  Many of your teachers will be willing to meet with you during lunch or Student Support, if you schedule it ahead of time.
  9. READ, READ, READ! Reading will help you in ALL of your classes.  The more you read, the better you will become at it.
  10. Know What Is Expected Of You At School And Strive To Achieve Those Expectations  Remember YOU are responsible for turning your work in on time and completing it in a quality manner. You should ALWAYS write in complete sentences that restate the question, unless told otherwise (maybe taking outline notes).  If you are absent, you are expected to make up your work and turn it in on time.

For students & parents who are looking for resources to help when you’re struggling with middle school, here are some options:

Wednesday Student Support
Each Wednesday morning students can get specific help on assignments or projects from a teacher. Students must fill out an ORANGE PASS and have it signed by the teacher who is giving the help.

Guidelines:

  1. Students must arrive between 8:15-8:30am in order to participate.
  2. Students will enter at Door #1, sign in upon arrival, and report to the teacher.
  3. Students will not be permitted to go to lockers, so bring all needed materials.
  4. Students without a signature will not be allowed to enter.
Developing Good Study Habits at Home

Video: 7 Steps of Good Study Habits, Pt. 1

Video: 7 Steps of Good Study Habits, Pt. 2

 

Online Tutors at the Indianapolis Public Library

Get an online tutor 4 pm–11 pm seven days a week. Find a resource 24/7. IndyPL offers free online academic and career resources and tutoring from Tutor.com for all students & adults, and in Spanish too! All your students need is an IndyPL library card. Get a Library Card

* K-12 and college students can get help with homework, studying, projects, essay writing and test prep in every subject, including algebra, statistics, chemistry, physics, social studies and English.