Rite of Passage for Parents

As the summer comes to a close, families begin the transition back to school. At Francis Howell Middle one rite of passage is our Summer Survival Series. For one evening, parents of incoming 6^th grade students meet with both administrators and parent leaders. We hold a Question and Answer Session where topics include: Academic expectations, homework guidelines, BYOD, inter-grade level grouping for lunch and Character Connection Class, the middle school model, lunch, lockers, and extra-curricular activities. This event affords our parents the opportunity to learn more about our school culture, climate, and expectations. This informal venue allows for greater parent participation. Helping parents transition to middle school is just as important as helping their children move from 5^th to 6^th grade.

There are four keys to a successful parent transition meeting:

·         Remain transparent in answering questions and with all interactions,

·         Encourage parents to take an active role during the middle level years (which includes volunteering and even having lunch with their child),

·         Provide relevant resources,

·         Reiterate the rigor and relevance of the academic curriculum.

This time with our incoming parents is priceless. It provides an opportunity for the school leadership team to meet with and get to know our new parents. It also allows the parents to take an evening to meet and discuss important topics regarding middle school “life”. Together we now prepare to take the final steps in getting ready for the start of the new school year!

What will you do differently?

Even though the New Year (2014) is over four months away, now is the time to answer the question, “What will you do differently to inspire, motivate, and engage your students this year?” Now is the time to make those “new school year” resolutions!

We all recall the choice George Bailey made in It’s a Wonderful Life! What a life changing event. Today, we do not need to go the degree in which George experienced. Instead we can simply make the choice to  

live our life to the fullest, make the best of what we have, and give of ourselves to others.

This time of year is really a time for educators to make our “new year’s resolutions”. It’s important to reflect and determine what we can do to make 2013-2014 the best year for our students, our school community, and ourselves.

It could be as easy as:

•  Connecting with more students,
• Engaging your students in new ways (e.g. Using 20% Time),
• Applying new strategies in the classroom (i.e. Flipping your classroom),
• Looking into different forms of technology (Schoology), and/or
• Venturing into the realm of Social Media.

Whatever you decide to do, remember, we must meet our students “where they are”. So for  some this will require us to change our way of using technology and Social Media or for others it will be rethinking how to lead out classroom instruction. Take some time to make those “new school year” resolutions, and watch to see how it positively impacts your students (and yourself)!