Most people think middle school doesn’t really count. The big failures and successes — dropping out, pregnancy, graduating with honors or a good job — usually show up in high school. But education experts say you can predict high school success by what students do in the middle school classroom. Here are middle school ideas to improve your kids' grades and their odds of success.
- Stop assuming and start planning. By the end of eighth grade, 9 out of 10 students say they want to go to some type of college. After all, a college degree can mean an extra $1 million in lifetime earnings and a ticket out of the unemployment line. But about half of those students never reach their dreams because they fail to take the right steps along the way. Those steps begin in middle school. That’s why you shouldn’t assume that schools will do everything. They can’t. The students who stay ahead have parents who get engaged planning their education and choosing challenging classes, such as algebra and a foreign language, in eighth grade. My parents missed getting me into eighth grade algebra. In college, that put me behind for pursuing a wide range of technical and medical careers.
- Get an inside source. During middle school, your child may have more than a dozen teachers. Sooner or later, you’re going to run into questions or problems. So build a relationship now with someone — a teacher, counselor, principal or active parent — who can help you work through the school system to get what you need.
- Back up your child’s teachers. Teachers want to treat all kids the same. But many teachers admit they’re more likely to go out on a limb for a child when they know her parents will support them. That’s because bad experiences with other parents have made many teachers back off. You don’t have to agree with teachers on everything, but it’s a good idea to let them know you will support them. To build the relationship, get five minutes face-to-face with them in the first three weeks of school. Then put three dates on your calendar when you’ll email or call them during the year to see how things are going.
- Refocus your child's time. You know about sex and drugs. But did you know that spending too much time in front of the tube also puts your child’s success at risk? Kids who spend too much time in front of TVs and computers don’t do as well on tests; they may have a harder time staying focused on school work. Doctors say your children should not spend more than one to two hours a day in front of screens. So pull the plug on TV and video games. And help your child use a calendar and daily schedule to manage her time. Learning to pay attention now will help her hold down a good job later.
- Choose a dream career and college. Career paths begin in middle school, when students learn how the classes they’re taking will affect what they can do later in the real world. Don’t worry now about picking the right two- or four-year college program; just give them something to aim for. Most kids who make it to college are told early and often that they are going. Even better, have your child take a college course. Many colleges offer special summer and evening classes geared to middle students, or they let them participate in adult learning programs.
- Consider the SAT test in middle school. It’s not just failing kids who fall behind. One study found that gifted kids were almost as likely to drop out after eighth grade. But teachers and parents often don’t recognize when a child is gifted. One solution is taking the SAT, a college entrance exam also used to identify gifted students in seventh or eight grade. High scores on the exam can help them qualify for Talent Search and other special programs that will keep them using all those smarts in useful ways. But few middle school students take the SAT, so you’ll need ask someone at school if you want your child to take it.
- Monitor motivation. Ask your kids every week what they like and don’t like about school. It will give you an idea early on when something — a bully, bad grades or worse — is going wrong. Don’t accept a one-word answer; get your child to talk about all of these things. Remember, kids who like learning keep learning.
Want to help your child stay ahead? Choose one of the steps above and do it this week.
Bryan Taylor, publisher and president of EduGuide, is a speaker for parents, students and educators. He addresses more than 1 million people annually through his writing, speaking and media work.