Middle School expectation

[Anonymous]

Background: I have a 6th grade boy in an Arlington middle school.

What is the expectation of a middle schooler to manage their own workload, assuming no extenuating circumstances (no IEP or 504)? Like if they have work due, do I need to be checking over his shoulder to make sure things were turned in? Assuming there is a test, can I assume he knows to study and review his work beforehand? If he isn't understanding something, checking in with the teacher or getting tutoring on the paper app? Is he doing the "optional" extra class work when he doesn't understand? If he gets a bad grade on an assessment, is he going back to see what he got wrong?

In the olden days, my school gave us paper planners, we were taught to write the assignments and manage our time. We got back paper that we would bring home and could review. Now it's all on Canvas and my son says he never has homework when I think he probably does. I check and he often has work turned in late or missing. I have no access to see anything that he's turned in or gotten back unless I take his iPad.

I feel like I'm missing some connection point and not getting the full picture. How do I help him manage his workload without micromanaging and nagging? It's obvious he isn't doing all of his work or is turning things in late. What is reasonable to expect from a 6th grade boy in terms of handling his workload?

[Anonymous]

I can share what I've done:

I generally check the gradebook on ParentVue 2-3x a week. If an assignment is missing, I ask my kid what's up. Occasionally she misses turning things in, especially if it's classwork and the teacher didn't clearly say to submit it or the deadline is buried somewhere in Canvas.

When checking the gradebook I'll also look for low scores. If my kid is having trouble with something we'll talk about it. For instance this year I learned that my kid had no idea how to study for a foreign language test. We talked about flashcards and practicing with a partner and her next test was better.

Basically, I let her do it and I'm the backstop if I see a problem. Because she's doing well, she only hears me ask about anything a couple of times a quarter at most.

[Anonymous]

I have a 6th grader in APS and have an older kid.

With our kids, we get the parentvue grade update email once a week and if we see something off there, we ask our kids what is going on and if they need any help.

You can also get a parent observer canvas account where you can see their canvas account. From the internet...A Canvas parent observer account allows you to monitor your child's academic progress by viewing, course content, assignments, grades, and calendars. You can see assignment due dates, course modules, announcements, and teacher feedback, as well as check if assignments are missing or late. However, observers cannot submit work, take quizzes, or see student discussion post

Both my kids came up with their own systems for tracking when work was due. My son ended up using a white board, which was our suggestion after some screw ups. He would map out each week and what was due. He did this a couple months and then it just became an ingrained habit and he was better able to plan his workload. We definitely had to go over study methods with him after some bombed tests.

My younger one is a bit more resistant to our help but she has made her way. Her system is she has a page in her notes app on the school ipad with all the classes listed and every day she deletes thing she's finished and adds new assignments or upcoming tests to it so she can see in one place everything she is supposed to do. It seems to work for her.

I definitely think some kids struggle more and if they need help, you support.

[Anonymous]

Same poster above again. I would say the first bomb test is an opportunity for you to walk them through the hygiene of how to handle it. I did this with both my kids.

Go to the teacher and figure out what you got wrong.
What do you think the problem was - are you not getting it, not paying attention in class, bad test taking habits, rushing during test, taking too long on some Qs and running out of time, you didn't really study. Basically they have to diagnose the problem and then together you come up with solutions.
Next unit/test try some of the solutions and see what happens. Go from there.

The reaction should not be move on and hope for a better result next time doing the same things.

[Anonymous]

Are grades reflecting missing/late work? I have my kid’s canvas login and sometimes things show as missing or late that are actually fine.

[Anonymous]

I find it really hard to figure out assignments/test dates but maybe that’s just me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it really hard to figure out assignments/test dates but maybe that’s just me.

I do also. Each teacher's Canvas page is different. No wonder kids miss things.

OP, since we're half way through the school year I think you know your kid needs some help organizing and studying for tests. I have zero expectation that APS is teaching these skills because I have heard nothing from any APS teacher telling me that they are teaching these things. IMO, nobody intuitively knows how to study for a test. This is a skill everyone has to learn at some point in their life.

In addition to reviewing the weekly grand book emails, I also ask my middle schooler to make a list each weekend of their homework and check things off as they go. That helps me know if they're working on homework or if they need a reminder. Ideally my middle schooler would make this list every day, but we're not there yet.

My middle schooler would rather not make lists like this. Earlier this year I let them try their system, which really was just trying to remember. They missed a few assignments, got a couple lower grades than usual. So now we're using my list system. After enough time forgetting to talk to a teacher about a low grade on a test, they now don't complain when I tell them to write a note and put it in their ipad so they remember while at school.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it really hard to figure out assignments/test dates but maybe that’s just me.

I do also. Each teacher's Canvas page is different. No wonder kids miss things.

OP, since we're half way through the school year I think you know your kid needs some help organizing and studying for tests. I have zero expectation that APS is teaching these skills because I have heard nothing from any APS teacher telling me that they are teaching these things. IMO, nobody intuitively knows how to study for a test. This is a skill everyone has to learn at some point in their life.

In addition to reviewing the weekly grand book emails, I also ask my middle schooler to make a list each weekend of their homework and check things off as they go. That helps me know if they're working on homework or if they need a reminder. Ideally my middle schooler would make this list every day, but we're not there yet.

My middle schooler would rather not make lists like this. Earlier this year I let them try their system, which really was just trying to remember. They missed a few assignments, got a couple lower grades than usual. So now we're using my list system. After enough time forgetting to talk to a teacher about a low grade on a test, they now don't complain when I tell them to write a note and put it in their ipad so they remember while at school.

Good luck!

I think this really is the best system, even if it is only a post-in on their desk or on the inside of the ipad case. It's the method I still use, in addition to a paper planner.

[Anonymous]

6th grade was a lot of scaffolding for us, especially at first. First year there was any real homework, and different teachers do things differently. Like a PP above, canvas doesn't always reflect reality. Teachers have to input due dates and those due dates might change, which means something looks missing that isn't. IXLs don't seem to show up as assignments at all. Some teachers don't use canvas as much. I basically gave up on canvas pretty early on because it was a confusing mess. Instead I checked in with my kid each day on what homework was assigned - had him mentally walk through each class ("no English, some science" etc), because the default was often "nothing" or it just wasn't a thought at all, so I wanted him to get used to thinking about what homework he had each day. And then I used parentvue as the reality check. Usually on the weekend I had him actually check on canvas to make sure nothing was missed.

A lot of maturing happened over 6th grade, and 7th grade has required a lot less oversight, although I do usually still ask "what homework do you have?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:6th grade was a lot of scaffolding for us, especially at first. First year there was any real homework, and different teachers do things differently. Like a PP above, canvas doesn't always reflect reality. Teachers have to input due dates and those due dates might change, which means something looks missing that isn't. IXLs don't seem to show up as assignments at all. Some teachers don't use canvas as much. I basically gave up on canvas pretty early on because it was a confusing mess. Instead I checked in with my kid each day on what homework was assigned - had him mentally walk through each class ("no English, some science" etc), because the default was often "nothing" or it just wasn't a thought at all, so I wanted him to get used to thinking about what homework he had each day. And then I used parentvue as the reality check. Usually on the weekend I had him actually check on canvas to make sure nothing was missed.

A lot of maturing happened over 6th grade, and 7th grade has required a lot less oversight, although I do usually still ask "what homework do you have?"

PP here, if my kid has missed turning in a paper assignment, he'll set an alarm on his ipad (with a description in the alarm) for the start time of the class where it's due to remind him to turn it in. He came up with this system on his own and it seemed to work (hasn't needed to do this much in 7th).

[Anonymous]

My current 6th grader needs a lot of support with this. He forgets about homework, doesn’t get things done in class, etc.

My older kid is in 9th grade now and was also a mess in 6th grade. But now she is completely on top of things. It was a process to get her there, but there is hope!

[Anonymous]

We have a 7th grader at an APS who is now working with an executive functioning coach. I’m sure it is great for their business but they said APS middle school requires kids to use executive function beyond what is age reasonable.

I’ve had two kids who have been 100% fine with zero support. The one who needs help is getting all As but I was having to provide way too much support. And she needed that extra learning how to learn support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6th grade was a lot of scaffolding for us, especially at first. First year there was any real homework, and different teachers do things differently. Like a PP above, canvas doesn't always reflect reality. Teachers have to input due dates and those due dates might change, which means something looks missing that isn't. IXLs don't seem to show up as assignments at all. Some teachers don't use canvas as much. I basically gave up on canvas pretty early on because it was a confusing mess. Instead I checked in with my kid each day on what homework was assigned - had him mentally walk through each class ("no English, some science" etc), because the default was often "nothing" or it just wasn't a thought at all, so I wanted him to get used to thinking about what homework he had each day. And then I used parentvue as the reality check. Usually on the weekend I had him actually check on canvas to make sure nothing was missed.

A lot of maturing happened over 6th grade, and 7th grade has required a lot less oversight, although I do usually still ask "what homework do you have?"

PP here, if my kid has missed turning in a paper assignment, he'll set an alarm on his ipad (with a description in the alarm) for the start time of the class where it's due to remind him to turn it in. He came up with this system on his own and it seemed to work (hasn't needed to do this much in 7th).

Isn’t an alarm going off in class disruptive to the teacher and the other students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6th grade was a lot of scaffolding for us, especially at first. First year there was any real homework, and different teachers do things differently. Like a PP above, canvas doesn't always reflect reality. Teachers have to input due dates and those due dates might change, which means something looks missing that isn't. IXLs don't seem to show up as assignments at all. Some teachers don't use canvas as much. I basically gave up on canvas pretty early on because it was a confusing mess. Instead I checked in with my kid each day on what homework was assigned - had him mentally walk through each class ("no English, some science" etc), because the default was often "nothing" or it just wasn't a thought at all, so I wanted him to get used to thinking about what homework he had each day. And then I used parentvue as the reality check. Usually on the weekend I had him actually check on canvas to make sure nothing was missed.

A lot of maturing happened over 6th grade, and 7th grade has required a lot less oversight, although I do usually still ask "what homework do you have?"

PP here, if my kid has missed turning in a paper assignment, he'll set an alarm on his ipad (with a description in the alarm) for the start time of the class where it's due to remind him to turn it in. He came up with this system on his own and it seemed to work (hasn't needed to do this much in 7th).

Isn’t an alarm going off in class disruptive to the teacher and the other students?

He sets it for right before class starts and it's not blaring or anything. It's also not frequent. Sticky notes didn't work for him, they'd get lost.