The transition to middle school can be difficult for many students. Often, meeting the demands of several teachers and keeping materials and time organized require a level of maturity that some kids are simply not ready for. If kids are struggling, consider a structured program that may aid in their development of these skills.
Setting Goals
The group leader should prepare a brief survey to assess student’s mastery of the strategies the group sessions will cover. Survey should include a few questions for each session topic. This will allow the leader to gain an understanding of student’s base knowledge. Students choose two or three areas they wish to focus on during the group, and devise several short term goals for each area.
Organizing Materials
Students should bring their binders and notebooks to this working session. The group leader instructs and demonstrates how to organize materials and provides strategies for maintaining organization. If time allows, this discussion should be extended to lockers and home study space, as well.
Time Management
Group leader should devise and distribute Time Management Schedules. These are simple charts that provide half-hour blocks for afterschool time from Monday through Friday. Students can fill in charts with routine activities and responsibilities, and brainstorm ways to schedule homework and study time. Group should discuss ways to prioritize activities as well as strategies for avoiding time-wasting
Homework Strategies
During this sessions, students compile a list of common homework hurdles (forgetting to write down assignments, leaving materials at school, not understanding directions, etc.) and brainstorm solutions together. Students can choose one or two solutions to implement during the following week, with intentions to report back to the group at the next session.
Listening Skills
Students brainstorm and review behavior, body language, and other cues that indicate good listening is taking place. The object is for kids to come up with as many indicators as possible. Then students work in pairs to practice and identify good listening skills. One student of each pair is the “speaker” and one is the “listener.” The listener is instructed to use good listening skills, with feedback to be provided afterwards by the speaker.
Test-Taking Strategies
Students discuss study and test taking strategies including using notes, study time, student made-quizzes, reading directions, checking test, and test anxiety.
Solving Problems
Group leader instructs students on how to use a problem-solving model. After students are comfortable with the model, they can practice applying the problem solving model to typical student problems. They can then follow up this activity with a discussion of positive problem-solving behaviors such as following directions and asking for help.
Review/ Posttest
This session is used to review the previous seven lessons and to retake the survey so results can be compared to those gathered in the first session (pretest/posttest model.)
Not all students are developmentally ready for the demands of middle school. Using these structured activities to target struggling students may help them develop skills more quickly.
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