Middle School: School and Academics Articles

How to Write a Letter to a Politician
Is your middle schooler fired up about politics, but disappointed that he's not old enough to take a trip to the polls? Sure, he may be a preteen, but that doesn't mean he lacks the passion to do good in his community. Here's a quick guide on how to write a letter to your local politician:

7th and 8th Grade Reading: What to Expect
In case you were in doubt, your seventh or eighth grader is probably all too happy to remind you: for kids this age, elementary school is definitely over. When your kids say this, of course, they’ll probably be thinking of skateboards and iPods, but in the classroom it’s definitely true, too. ...

7th and 8th Grade Writing: What to Expect
Just about every twelve and thirteen year old still struggles with writing, whether that means ideas, sentence structure, paragraphs, or flat-out wacky spelling. How do you know your kid is on track?

8th Grade Social Studies: What to Expect
Hard to believe, but in most districts it's true: barely two years after finishing elementary school, your eighth grader is now a "senior" of middle school. Teachers hope that this will mean new levels of good citizenship and disciplined work.

Sixth Grade Social Studies: What to Expect
It's the first month of sixth grade. If you're waiting with baited breath, you're not alone: it can be a nerve-wracking time. Sixth grade typically means a new and larger school building; several teachers, and new responsibilities like homework planners and lockers.

When Your Child Hates the Textbook
We might as well admit it: by the time your kid hits middle school, textbook reading just isn't as "fun" as it used to be.

7th Grade Social Studies: What to Expect
Congratulations! Your child has made it through sixth grade. In a perfect world, that means that lockers, planners, backpacks, and all the other new systems of middle school are old hat.

Middle School Science: What Happens
Maybe it’s the Bunsen burners or those life-size models of human intestines, but there's something about a science classroom that keeps most middle school kids riveted. Teachers want it that way. In fact, says the National Science Teacher’s Association (NSTA), these are critical years.

6th Grade Math: What to Expect
It seems like yesterday you were counting pennies, leaves, and gold stars with your first grader. Now she's taking sixth grade math. It's a shock to lots of parents—and kids, too. So what can you expect? Here's a list of general themes your bound to see in sixth grade.

Sixth Grade Reading and Writing: What to Expect
English Language Arts, the only subject required every single year from kindergarten through twelfth grade, becomes especially important in the middle school years. Elementary teachers typically spend a large part of the day on English, usually integrating it into a wide variety of subjects.
- Kindergarten Sight Words List
- What Makes a School Effective?
- Test Problems: Seven Reasons Why Standardized Tests Are Not Working
- Bullying in Schools
- A Teacher's Guide to Differentiating Instruction
- First Grade Sight Words List
- Should Your Child Be Held Back a Grade? Know Your Rights
- The Homework Debate
- What is Reggio Emilia?
- Social Life in Middle and High School: Dealing With Cliques and Bullies
