Middle school question
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Anonymous
| My kid has executive functioning problem, lost track of time, and forget things. May I ask do 6th graders have to select their own classes ( different schedule for every kids), stores things in locker, go to different classrooms for different subjects? Do all these start n middle school or high school? |
Anonymous
Starting in 6th grade. Sign up for electives and math level and sometimes Engish or Social Studies level. Each kid gets their own set of classes. Many schools have lockers. It's hard for executive functioning. Get there 504/IEP and learn to use the apps as a parent. |
Anonymous
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Starting in sixth grade they get to pick from a few electives. Everything else is assigned. They change classes. Most kids don’t use their locker much. But some schools assign them.
As a mom of a kid with abysmal executive functioning issues, I understand your worry. But it went really well for my son. He was even able to drop from an IEP to a 504. |
Anonymous
This is helpful. Terrified here. What to include specifically in 504? |
Anonymous
| Op here. Thank you. Should I get him a smartwatch(suggestion?) to tell time and set tons of alarms to remind him to go to different classes? He has ADHD. He is forgetful, and I probably will ask him to carry his backpack (with all he needs inside) everywhere. Do they have a homeroom? Or else he may have to carry backpack/water bottle everywhere to lunch, gym or restroom if there's no locker or homeroom? |
Anonymous
Most middle schools will not allow a backpack to be carried throughout the day. Backpacks stay in the locker and kids carry binders for the most part. Big zippable folders that hold many subjects. The bell rings at the beginning and end of each class to let kids know when to move to the next one. Hardest part for our kid with executive functioning was understanding how to turn everything in with so many different teachers with different styles and also remembering to turn the assignments in. Check out the special needs board on DCUM and post. People will have advice there as well. 6th grade was a tough transition, but the administration is helping all 6th graders get settled in to a new routine. But yes, try to get a 504 or IEP in place for extra support. |
Anonymous
This is great advice. I would not worry about him forgetting to go to class, as they move en masse, but I'd make sure his schedule is printed out (maybe in a couple of places) so he can refer back and ensure he is heading the right direction. Some of the other stuff is school-by-school so definitely take advantage of all the orientation options, including for parents. There is some variation between schools on items like locker use, assigned chromebooks versus classroom chromebooks, etc. The best case scenario is that your child puts his backpack in the locker, carries a big zippable binder, and does not need to bring a computer to class. But like I say some of that is school by school. Also correct about the homework. That's by far the most difficult element for any 6th grader, including but not limited to those with EF challenges. The kids will be given a paper organizer and he should be encouraged to write everything down there, including the platform (Canvas, Kami, etc). You should be able to add "teacher check planner at end of class" as an accommodation but you'll also want to familiarize yourself with the digital platforms so you can double check. Unless absolutely needed, I'd warn against asking for extended homework time. In general, all assignments will have a "due date" and a "deadline." The deadline is typically before the end of the marking period. Because the 6th grade teachers are trying to ease the transition, they often don't penalize for missing the due date, particularly in the first semester, so it can be tempting for a kid with EF challenges to aim for the deadline instead. That road leads to piled up work, tears, and frustration. Better to build the habit of hitting the due date. |
Anonymous
| What planner book do your kids use to write down all assignments due date, tests, quizzes or etc for all subjects ? How about the brand of zipped big binders? |
Anonymous
One of the things that was most helpful for my son was to choose his own. About 4-6 weeks after school started he was able to discuss what his organizational shortfalls were. He spent literally hours in Staples choosing his system. And it was worth every second since he owned it and it worked. It was the start of him taking responsibility for managing his disability. Not all MSs give homework. So don’t borrow trouble until you know what yours requires. If they do, you can get teachers to review the planner to ensure that everything is written down. That’s typically part of a 504. Agree with PP. Avoid extra time if you can. It’s all due in the end anyway and once you start down the road of not meeting a deadline, you easily end up in a disaster at the end of a quarter. Make sure you review whatever online resources the school uses. If there are big projects you may need to help your child or even ask for teacher help to chunk it out and have interim deadlines. Honestly it was a time of real growth for my son. He learned to develop his own accommodations during this time. Managing his disability is still a process but it’s his process. |
Anonymous
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Definitely get him a 504 plan, OP, if he has ADHD. Get a medical provider to make a suggestion on accomodations.
My kid's middle school does not allow backpacks, but getting a backpack pass is one of DC's accommodations -- has been very helpful. Also helps to get extended time on assignments and assessments, and electronic acess to timing of all assessments and assignments (not all teachers do this on Canvas even though they are supposed to). Would suggest posting to special needs board. |
Anonymous
| Why carrying backpacks are not allowed in middle school? Due to concern kids carrying guns? |
Anonymous
There is not enough space in the classrooms. They end up on the floor and in the way. No cubbies like elementary school and the rooms crampt. |
Anonymous
Second hardest thing is dealing with the horrible rule about no backpacks. The binder they have will “explode” 20 times a week and cause massive disruptions |
Anonymous
| When my dc with ADHD was about to start middle school, her developmental pediatrician said that switching classes would potentially help dd focus more because she’d get a movement break, change of scenery, and new teacher, and if anything had made her overwhelmed in a class, the next period would function as a reset. That was an upside I hadn’t considered. |
Anonymous
Wouldn't it be great if they taught organization and study skills.to the kids beginning in middle school? At the e d of the week, evaluate if the material should be kept for a test or paper or it can be thrown away. For all the programs they waste time on, it seems how to be a successful student might have room in there somewhere |