Transitioning to Middle School: Making the Move Fun For All!

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Transitioning to Middle SchoolMaking the Move
Fun For All!

• Sarah Armstrong
• Traci Curry
•  Auburn City Schools
• J. F. Drake Middle School
• 655 Spencer Avenue
• Auburn, Alabama 36830
• 334-887-1940

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On your handout

• Make a list of the three major concerns, fears,
  challenges that parents often have as children
  make the transition from 5th to 6th grade (for
  most, elementary to middle school).

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WELCOME TO CAMP DRAKE MIDDLE
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How did we get here?

• J. F. Drake Middle School
• Over 1000 students in 6th-7th grades
• 500 sixth graders all coming from six different
  neighborhood elementary schools
• Location of Drake is intimidating to many
• Parental concerns related to the Big Bad Middle
  School, new friends from other schools, lack of
  familiarity with staff, etc.
• We needed a way to stop the fears before they
  escalated through the summer months.

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Middle School The Uncharted Territory

• You must start planning for orientation early!
• Principal meets with all 5th graders in the
  spring
• 5th grade parents are invited to attend last PTA
  meeting of the year
• 5th grade students visit and tour each spring
• 5th graders are notified of their team placement
  on the last day of school!
• Their specific Camp DMS dates are included on
  their team notification
• Test scores are not back by then homeroom
  lists, advanced math placement information not
  available

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The hurdles in the beginning?

• Are our teachers paid to be there in the summer
  for this afternoon?
• Dates are announced early this year we were
  given 2011 Camp DMS dates on the first day of
  school in 2010.
• PTA luncheon

• Do you ever have teachers refuse to attend?
• What if they cant attend?

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Getting Ready for CAMP

• Teachers must ALL attend
• Teams make plans for students (Powerpoint, Get to
  Know You activities, handouts, etc)
• Building clean and as ready as possible to
  receive first time visitors
• PUBLICIZE THE EVENT on signs, websites, flyers
• DMS/Team Color shirts
• Folders with supply lists, bus routes, staff
  information, lunch account information, etc.
• Pre-made by front office staff, each team has a
  color folder for summer pickup after Camp DMS
• H2O bottles/rubber bracelets
• Parent volunteers/ Student volunteers
• ID tags for teachers

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Opening Day ?

• They (parents and students) tend to arrive early
  so be ready!
• Balloons and banners outside, students greeting
  at the door
• Selling t-shirts and team merchandise at the door
• Music Playing We are Family, Celebration, etc.
• Parents and students sit in bleachers in the
  cafetorium until program begins
• Student volunteers, teachers, administrators, all
  clapping and getting parents and kids excited.
• Brief welcome and a few administrative
  introductions
• Parents leave with principal for parent
  presentation
• Students leave with teachers and go to rooms

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Student Program

• Student Program
• Meet teachers
• Meet other students
• Scavenger hunt to tour the building
• Get familiar with lockers
• Supply list and expectations
• Meet former team students and ask questions
• Team building
• Teammates like Me!
• Turn Toss
• Find Someone Who
• Line ups

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Parent Program

• Parent Program
• Request siblings not attend if possible
• JOIN PTA!!
• Parents meet parents of upcoming teammates and
  also hear from parents of former Panthers for
  advice
• Parent presentation attempt to include anything
  about which they may be nervous!

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Skills for a Successful Year !

• Use planners
• Study Skills
• Time Management
• Organization
• Parent Involvement
• Conferences

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Teaming What is it ???

• 4 teacher teams
• Location of teams
• Common planning
• Common activities
• Team parent meetings
• Family and home base within the larger school

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Teaming to Us

• Students have a home they are plugged in and
  connected to a group
• -T-Shirts -Pep Rallies
• -Celebrations -Home Room Activities
• Team Spirit
• Bonds
• Teacher/Teacher
• Students/Teacher
• Student/Student
• Parent/Teacher

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Teaming to Us (cont.)

• Academic Success
• Thematic Units
• Collaboration
• Curriculum
• Team Meetings
• Team notebooks help with documentation
• Team leaders are link from administration to the
  team
• Grade Level Meetings
• Faculty Meetings

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Team Pride
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Dress for Success!

• School clothes must be appropriate
• No skin
• No sagging pants
• Fingertip length shorts/skirts for girls
• When in doubt dont wear it
• Parents WILL BE called for new clothes

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LOCKERS

• Purchase lockers and practice (throughout summer
  even!)
• May have locker mirrors, magnets, shelves,
  organizers
• No stickers!!!
• Protect your combination!!!

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Daily Rotating Schedule
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Arrival Procedures

• Arrive between 730 755. School begins at
  800.
• All students will arrive by bus and car in the
  front loop of the school.
• 7th graders will be dropped off at the new gym.
  7th grade parents will loop through the parking
  lot of the new gym and proceed out with the other
  cars in the front loop when exiting.
• Buses and cars will be in the same loop. Cars
  DO NOT pass buses. Please be patient. Wait
  until they unload and follow out.
• After you proceed through the loop a CPO officer
  will direct you to turn right or left at the
  bottom of the hill
• If you must park and come into the building DO
  NOT park in the front loop. Park in the lot by
  the new gym.

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Dismissal Procedures

• Cars waiting for students will be stopped at both
  entrances of the front loop until all buses
• are loaded and off of the school grounds.
• Cars will then be allowed to procede up the loop
  to pick-up their child. Please make sure your
• child is looking for you and loads quickly.
• We will stop approximately 15 cars. Load the cars
  and all will leave at once. We will then
• bring in 15 more cars, load, leave, and continue
  the process.
• When it is not raining the students will be
  outside and not under the overhang. They must
• be looking for your car.
• Both arrival and dismissal will be difficult this
  year. We need for all car riders to be patient
• and know that it will be time consuming. We will
  do our very best to get the students loaded
• quickly and safely. Once our new building is
  completed, our arrival and dismissal will be fast
  
• and easy.
• If we see problems with this procedure we will
  notify all parents of any changes necessary.

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Discipline Procedures

• High Expectations
• ACS Policies
• DMS Procedures
• PBS - ROAR
• Team Rules
• Strong Discipline System
• Parental Involvement

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Challenge Making learning fun and exciting for
middle school kids.

• Cooperative Learning
• Thematic Units
• Field Trips
• Activities outside of the class
• Connecting Material (basketball math)

• Room arrangements
• Hands-on instruction
• Speakers/visitors
• Pacing guides
• Curriculum support
• Visiting other teachers

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Starting the Year off Strong !

• Team Building
• Nurturing
• Procedures
• Tours
• Get to know parents
• Lockers/Planners
• Teams within classrooms

• Positive parent contact
• Parent night

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DATES TO REMEMBER

• 6th grade Meet the Teacher time August 11th
  100 300
• Visit teachers and tour the building again to
  make students comfortable one more time.
• Planners, and detailed schedules will be given
  out 1st day of school AUGUST 15th!!!

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Meeting the Challenge!!
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Meeting the Challenge!!
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Meeting the Challenge!!
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ssarmstrong_at_auburnschools.org Sarah
Armstrong tcurry_at_auburnschools.org Traci
Curry   http//www.auburnschools.org/drake/panther
s CEU CODE PM2 Auburn City Schools J. F. Drake
Middle School 655 Spencer Avenue Auburn, Alabama
36830 334-887-1940