If you have children, late July, August and early September represents more than summer ending, cooler weather and fall foliage. School begins once again for millions of kids across the country. Getting your child prepared, regardless of whether they are in Kindergarten or a senior in high school, is a must. Here are some tips to make the transition from several weeks of summer fun to school days and homework easier.

Children in Kindergarten – 5th grade



About a week before school starts, have your children go to bed at the time they will when school begins. Set their alarm or wake them up early. It’s difficult for some kids to adjust to going to bed and getting up earlier after having an entire summer of sleeping in or staying up late. Many young children need to be on a schedule and preparing a week or so earlier will pay off, especially if you have a night owl or late sleeper.



If you have a school supply list (many school districts post them on their website or hand them out the last day of school), buy the supplies early. For the child who is not organized, this is a good way to begin the school year off on the right foot. Label everything and get the backpacks ready the night before school starts. Buy some extra supplies to keep at home if your child is one to lose or forget their pencils or markers at school. They will probably need some basic supplies for homework time. Nothing is more frustrating than sitting down to do homework and discovering the basics are missing.



If you have a Kindergartener, walk to school two or three days before school begins (or drive if they take a bus or you will be driving them). This helps acquaint them with what they will actually be doing that first day and can work wonders for alleviating the first-day jitters. If your child is especially anxious, ask if you can let them visit their new Continue Reading

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If you have children, late July, August and early September represents more than summer ending, cooler weather and fall foliage. School begins once again for millions of kids across the country. Getting your child prepared, regardless of whether they are in Kindergarten or a senior in high school, is a must. Here are some tips to make the transition from several weeks of summer fun to school days and homework easier.

Children in Kindergarten – 5th grade



About a week before school starts, have your children go to bed at the time they will when school begins. Set their alarm or wake them up early. It’s difficult for some kids to adjust to going to bed and getting up earlier after having an entire summer of sleeping in or staying up late. Many young children need to be on a schedule and preparing a week or so earlier will pay off, especially if you have a night owl or late sleeper.



If you have a school supply list (many school districts post them on their website or hand them out the last day of school), buy the supplies early. For the child who is not organized, this is a good way to begin the school year off on the right foot. Label everything and get the backpacks ready the night before school starts. Buy some extra supplies to keep at home if your child is one to lose or forget their pencils or markers at school. They will probably need some basic supplies for homework time. Nothing is more frustrating than sitting down to do homework and discovering the basics are missing.



If you have a Kindergartener, walk to school two or three days before school begins (or drive if they take a bus or you will be driving them). This helps acquaint them with what they will actually be doing that first day and can work wonders for alleviating the first-day jitters. If your child is especially anxious, ask if you can let them visit their new Continue Reading

]]> http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/back-to-school-preparation-for-all-ages/feed/ 0 http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/middle-school-may-be-passe-within-the-boston-schools/ http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/middle-school-may-be-passe-within-the-boston-schools/#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:16:18 +0000 admin http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/middle-school-may-be-passe-within-the-boston-schools/

The middle school model was conceived in the 70s and implemented throughout the 70s and 80s across the nation. It was thought that middle schools would provide a nurturing bridge between the early elementary school experience and high school. Unfortunately, many education experts now consider the experiment a failure with their poor performance and uprooting children twice during their turbulent and challenging adolescent years. Middle schools now are being viewed as the weak link in the educational chain by many.

Prior to the implementation of middle schools, these grades were either part of the elementary school experience or an expanded high school environment. Now, education leaders across the nation (including the Boston schools) are looking to return to those earlier models.

Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Model

With this model, the Boston schools would expand their elementary schools to include kindergarten through eighth grade. Many Boston schools educators believe this would deliver a supportive structure that would foster longer-term relationships between the teachers and their students. The thought is to use the earlier school experience to extend the nurturing that the middle school model was suppose to provide but hasn’t.

The push to integrate the middle schools with the elementary Boston schools is gaining momentum. Parents are especially in favor of the K-8 model for the Boston schools, wary of sending their children to the current middle school environment — especially within the urban areas.

Many Boston schools leaders and educators are familiar with the middle school struggle to raise achievement levels. They believe the K-8 model will keep the students and their families not only involved with their Boston schools but also connected on a more positive level.

Upper Grades Model

Others support the upper grades model of Continue Reading

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The middle school model was conceived in the 70s and implemented throughout the 70s and 80s across the nation. It was thought that middle schools would provide a nurturing bridge between the early elementary school experience and high school. Unfortunately, many education experts now consider the experiment a failure with their poor performance and uprooting children twice during their turbulent and challenging adolescent years. Middle schools now are being viewed as the weak link in the educational chain by many.

Prior to the implementation of middle schools, these grades were either part of the elementary school experience or an expanded high school environment. Now, education leaders across the nation (including the Boston schools) are looking to return to those earlier models.

Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Model

With this model, the Boston schools would expand their elementary schools to include kindergarten through eighth grade. Many Boston schools educators believe this would deliver a supportive structure that would foster longer-term relationships between the teachers and their students. The thought is to use the earlier school experience to extend the nurturing that the middle school model was suppose to provide but hasn’t.

The push to integrate the middle schools with the elementary Boston schools is gaining momentum. Parents are especially in favor of the K-8 model for the Boston schools, wary of sending their children to the current middle school environment — especially within the urban areas.

Many Boston schools leaders and educators are familiar with the middle school struggle to raise achievement levels. They believe the K-8 model will keep the students and their families not only involved with their Boston schools but also connected on a more positive level.

Upper Grades Model

Others support the upper grades model of Continue Reading

]]> http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/middle-school-may-be-passe-within-the-boston-schools/feed/ 0 http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/middle-school-may-be-pass-within-the-boston-schools/ http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/middle-school-may-be-pass-within-the-boston-schools/#comments Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:24:18 +0000 admin http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/middle-school-may-be-pass-within-the-boston-schools/

The middle school model was conceived in the 70s and implemented throughout the 70s and 80s across the nation. It was thought that middle schools would provide a nurturing bridge between the early elementary school experience and high school. Unfortunately, many education experts now consider the experiment a failure with their poor performance and uprooting children twice during their turbulent and challenging adolescent years. Middle schools now are being viewed as the weak link in the educational chain by many.

Prior to the implementation of middle schools, these grades were either part of the elementary school experience or an expanded high school environment. Now, education leaders across the nation (including the Boston schools) are looking to return to those earlier models.

Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Model

With this model, the Boston schools would expand their elementary schools to include kindergarten through eighth grade. Many Boston schools educators believe this would deliver a supportive structure that would foster longer-term relationships between the teachers and their students. The thought is to use the earlier school experience to extend the nurturing that the middle school model was suppose to provide but hasn’t.

The push to integrate the middle schools with the elementary Boston schools is gaining momentum. Parents are especially in favor of the K-8 model for the Boston schools, wary of sending their children to the current middle school environment – especially within the urban areas.

Many Boston schools leaders and educators are familiar with the middle school struggle to raise achievement levels. They believe the K-8 model will keep the students and their families not only involved with their Boston schools but also connected on a more positive level.

Upper Grades Model

Others support the upper grades model of Continue Reading

]]>

The middle school model was conceived in the 70s and implemented throughout the 70s and 80s across the nation. It was thought that middle schools would provide a nurturing bridge between the early elementary school experience and high school. Unfortunately, many education experts now consider the experiment a failure with their poor performance and uprooting children twice during their turbulent and challenging adolescent years. Middle schools now are being viewed as the weak link in the educational chain by many.

Prior to the implementation of middle schools, these grades were either part of the elementary school experience or an expanded high school environment. Now, education leaders across the nation (including the Boston schools) are looking to return to those earlier models.

Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Model

With this model, the Boston schools would expand their elementary schools to include kindergarten through eighth grade. Many Boston schools educators believe this would deliver a supportive structure that would foster longer-term relationships between the teachers and their students. The thought is to use the earlier school experience to extend the nurturing that the middle school model was suppose to provide but hasn’t.

The push to integrate the middle schools with the elementary Boston schools is gaining momentum. Parents are especially in favor of the K-8 model for the Boston schools, wary of sending their children to the current middle school environment – especially within the urban areas.

Many Boston schools leaders and educators are familiar with the middle school struggle to raise achievement levels. They believe the K-8 model will keep the students and their families not only involved with their Boston schools but also connected on a more positive level.

Upper Grades Model

Others support the upper grades model of Continue Reading

]]> http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/middle-school-may-be-pass-within-the-boston-schools/feed/ 0 http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/after-school-activities-finding-a-balance/ http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/after-school-activities-finding-a-balance/#comments Sun, 18 May 2008 15:46:47 +0000 admin http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/after-school-activities-finding-a-balance/

How much is too much?

Many parents feel that it is important for children to participate in after school activities.  Certainly, sports, gymnastics, music and language classes do serve to create a well-rounded child, but overscheduling our children can become an issue.  We as parents may be hard-pressed to find a balance between home life, school life and after school activities.  We want our children to have fun and be creative outside of school, but we also must step back and give them room to grow and to breathe.  How do we decide how much is too much?

In Kindergarten, even if your child has attended preschool, he is just getting into the routine of “real school”.  In many districts, kindergarten is becoming more and more academic and structured, emphasizing  reading and writing over playing and socializing.  In additional, if the kindergarten is full day, then your little one is ready to cut loose at the end of the day.  Keep it simple.  Perhaps a swimming class on Saturday mornings or one day during the week, or an art or music class.  You may even choose not to enroll your child in after school activities at all, choosing instead to let him “hang loose” in the after school hours.

By the time your child reaches first grade, she has gotten into the “swing” of the school schedule and has matured.  The concentration level has improved slightly and she may be less antsy after school is over.  Who likes sitting at a desk for six hours anyway?  Either way, let your little one have a healthy outlet with a playground visit or a playdate with a classmate.  Give her this time to romp and have a good time as well as expend some energy.  Physical activity is the best as it allows for growing bones and stretching muscles to do their thing.  Personally, I would not recommend competitive sports – children need this time to grow and Continue Reading

]]>

How much is too much?

Many parents feel that it is important for children to participate in after school activities.  Certainly, sports, gymnastics, music and language classes do serve to create a well-rounded child, but overscheduling our children can become an issue.  We as parents may be hard-pressed to find a balance between home life, school life and after school activities.  We want our children to have fun and be creative outside of school, but we also must step back and give them room to grow and to breathe.  How do we decide how much is too much?

In Kindergarten, even if your child has attended preschool, he is just getting into the routine of “real school”.  In many districts, kindergarten is becoming more and more academic and structured, emphasizing  reading and writing over playing and socializing.  In additional, if the kindergarten is full day, then your little one is ready to cut loose at the end of the day.  Keep it simple.  Perhaps a swimming class on Saturday mornings or one day during the week, or an art or music class.  You may even choose not to enroll your child in after school activities at all, choosing instead to let him “hang loose” in the after school hours.

By the time your child reaches first grade, she has gotten into the “swing” of the school schedule and has matured.  The concentration level has improved slightly and she may be less antsy after school is over.  Who likes sitting at a desk for six hours anyway?  Either way, let your little one have a healthy outlet with a playground visit or a playdate with a classmate.  Give her this time to romp and have a good time as well as expend some energy.  Physical activity is the best as it allows for growing bones and stretching muscles to do their thing.  Personally, I would not recommend competitive sports – children need this time to grow and Continue Reading

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