6th Grade School Counseling6th Grade Tips of the MonthSpring is here and snow days are behind us. This is a reminder to students and parents that 3rd quarter ends on March 20th. All missing assignments, tests, etc. need to be completed prior to that date. Students are encouraged to communicate with their teacher if they have concerns.
As we look toward 4th quarter, students tend to experience several emotions with ending their sixth grade year and the anticipation of being a seventh grader. In the midst of this transition, it has been documented that Tweens seem to worry most about the following areas. *The health of someone they love. Fifty-five percent of kids surveyed for a recent KidsHealth poll said they worry about the health of someone close to them "almost all the time. *Social issues. Tweens are hyperaware of their social status. Are they fashionable enough, popular enough, too smart, not smart enough? "Kids at this age are physically developing at such different rates," says Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., author of Freeing Your Child From Anxiety. Chansky also states, "All of these factors fuel anxiety about fitting in, about whether they are normal." *Their grades. Middle school requires kids to be more independent than they were in elementary school, and academics become more challenging. Suddenly, there's an emphasis on the importance of succeeding in school and the idea that grades are starting to "count." Remind students to use agenda, ask questions, attend tutoring and to complete assignments. Scholastic.com gives advice on How to Help Your Child Cope It is natural when your child is hurting, to rush in, reassure him/her and try to fix things. Scholastic suggests it is better to sit back and let him/her share what's on their mind and remind the student that the feelings and concerns are natural and others are experiencing these same emotions. Later, you can clear up any misunderstandings. *Distinguish facts from fears. Worries tend to take on a life of their own in a child's mind, so help her to make the distinction between a feeling and a fact. Often, kids imagine scenarios that are worse than the reality *Empower them. Parents can try to give kids a sense of control over their worries by bringing the abstract back to the concrete. If he/she is worried about grades or friendships, think up some ways these worries can be improved — encourage spending more time on homework, studying or tutoring to improve grades. If friendship problems are causing worries have student invite a certain person over or approach that person face to face to talk about issues. *Create calm. It's scary to see your child worried, and vice versa. Kids are constantly watching adults for cues and how they handle issues. If your own anxiety is overwhelming, get help so you can be there for your child. A child should be able to view parents as calm, confident, and level-headed. *Know when to seek help. Some degree of fear and anxiety is normal, and even necessary, as a protective or motivating force. But how do you know if your child's worrying is excessive? Red flags include changes in behavior, sleep, or eating patterns; suddenly avoiding school; crying more than usual; and complaining of physical ailments. Resource: www.scholastic.com/parents/resources WOW! The first semester is over and the second semester has already started. If I were to ask many of our students about the beginning of their middle school experience, I suspect they would comment on the various challenges they have encountered as a six grader. It is up to the adults to provide words of encouragement to help the students get ahead of their studies, stay focused and balance out the academics and social aspects of responsibility and independence.
Attitude is everything. During the first quarter, a lesson on "Success with Attitude" was presented to all six grades. ATTITUDE... This is one of the words that can change a lot in a person’s life when applied in all aspects of life. It’s possible that you may have heard this phrase in your lifetime and you think, "Yes, I've heard that before". You may think the world doesn't care what you are going through; however, all things are determined by the attitude you display while others are watching. A positive attitude puts things into perspective. Mathematics is viewed as the toughest subject by a majority of students. By developing the right attitude towards this subject, you have the chance of going against the odds. There are a lot of challenges that students face and it is the right attitude that can help them face all hardships. Attitude has the potential of changing a person’s life and thinking especially when applied at the start of things. Let's continue to work together demonstrating positive attitudes, hard work and effort to experience success in school and home. |
Quarter Tip
Students are encouraged to use their agendas to document homework assignments, project/test dates, PE/health days and to use as a communication tool between teachers. The agenda is also a tool for parents to use if students do not understand homework assignments, need a conference or just need to share information with a teacher. The end of 1st quarter is October 28th and I am challenging students to end the quarter putting forth their best effort. Parents, please follow-up with your students regarding homework completion and turning the work in to teachers. Two pages in the agenda book need to be highlighted. Immediately following the September monthly calendar is a page titled, "SET YOUR TARGETS" focusing on student strengths, improvements needed and possible changes. The page adjacent to the October monthly calendar is titled, "ACTION PLAN" providing space to create goals for the year and monitor progress. Parents and students are encouraged to work on these items together. |
Fuquay-Varina Middle School Counseling, 109 N. Ennis Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Counseling Office Phone: (919) 557-2731; Main School Phone (919) 557-2727
Counseling Office Phone: (919) 557-2731; Main School Phone (919) 557-2727