Welcome to Takoma Park Middle School

1. Welcome to Takoma Park Middle School

2. 8 Period Block Schedule Odd Days: Periods • 1 • 3 • 5 • 7 Even Days: Periods • 2 • 4 • 6 • 8

3. Required Classes: • Advanced English 6 • Mathematics (6, 6B, IM) • Investigations in Science 6 • Advanced World Studies 6 • Physical Education / Health • 1 quarter of health • 3 quarters of PE

5. Making Course Recommendations • 5th grade teacher makes recommendations • Parent Recommendations………… -Does your child love to read? -Has he or she always earned A’s in on level math? • How does your child perform on the above-grade level skills? -What does the teacher tell you? REGISTRATION FORMS DUE Friday, March 2nd

6. Electives

7. Music Electives • Band (beginner, intermediate and advanced) • Orchestra (intermediate and advanced) • To be in advanced a student has to audition

8. World Language Electives • Spanish 1A FY • Spanish 1AB • French 1AB • If you are recommended for reading you may not be in a World language

9. Special Topics Electives • Family and Consumer Science • Computers • Contemporary Communication • Art • Dance

10. Middle School Expectations

11. Academic Expectations • Homework • Assigned more often • Bigger projects • Higher levels of student responsibility expected • Used to reinforce concepts learned in class

12. Academic Expectations • Planner: Agenda Book • Make it a habit from the start • Learn how it is organized • Crucial piece to student organization • Valuable home – school communication tool

13. Academic Expectations • Middle School is ‘Setting the Stage’ • Students classes are preparing them for their high school classes • Establishing the habits for high school and beyond

14. Social Expectations • Students have more opportunities to get involved with clubs and activities • 6th graders are the small fish in the big pond • new behaviors: wanting more independence; more time with friends, testing boundaries, sharing less information … • Handling new and different types of peer pressure • Learning how to set boundaries for themselves • How to interact with each other & fit in • Using technology responsibly

15. What can parents do? • Communication • Students have multiple teachers • Know how to contact the school and your student’s teachers • Talk about your child’s day and ask your child questions • Make your child show you the COMPLETED HW • Empower your child by having them develop study routines that work for them

16. What can parents do? • Sign up for Edline • Monitor and support • Attendance • Ensure that your student is receiving services • Know what the school has to offer • Join the PTA

17. TPMS Student Support Programs: • Homework Club • TAP (Takoma Academic Period) • Afterschool Academic Academy • Mentoring Groups • Counseling Groups • Peer Mediation • Teacher Lunch Time Tutoring • Afterschool Clubs, Sports, and Activities • PBIS

18. Teacher Quotes: • “The first thing that parents need to know is that their 6th graders need more support now than they did last year. . . . It usually takes a student the first quarter to become acclimated to the new environment” • “The biggest thing is that they are literally the small fish in the big pond. This change creates anxiety and confusion.”

19. Teacher Quotes: • “Making the planner a habit is one of the best ways to adjust.” • “A lot more is expected of them in middle school and many of them struggle at the beginning of the year to juggle all of their work.” • “It would be really useful for parents to be familiar with the planner and to check it every night starting at the beginning of the year.”

20. Questions?Thank you for coming!