Free Joe Bruzzese by Parents' Guide to the Middle School Years Page B

for some sage advice about parenting adolescents. For me, what started as a strategy for school supply trips has become a standard for most of the nonessential items my children want. Paying half of the bill encourages kids to think about which purchases really warrant spending additional time working around the house to earn the needed money. One note of caution: this strategy can prove challenging for the parent whose child earns a significant allowance. Expenses may begin to creep up when these same kids see the opportunity for frequent shopping trips on which Mom pays half.
    Whether you decide to opt for the proactive process of negotiation or the “I’ll Pay Half” arrangement, arrive at the store with a commitment to one of these strategies. Arguments over nonessential items can leave you and your child feeling embarrassed amidst the crowd of other shoppers. Locating and purchasing the right supplies is the first step toward becoming more organized.A little extra effort to organize the supplies before the school year begins will pay off later when teachers begin to heap on assignments and projects. While other kids are spending time looking for materials, your child will be completing assignments. That organized study space you’ve created together can lead to more efficient, effective study sessions.
Creating study central
    Building a house requires a specific set of tools and materials; tackling the academic challenge of a middle school day takes a specific set of tools and materials as well. Designating a specific location for all school-related activities is the first step in a series of tasks designed to bring organization to your child’s year.
    Kids can (and do) study in a variety of locations. The traditional desktop setting may not be the best location for your child to get things done. The kitchen table, family room, or the back seat of your car are other likely candidates. When scouting out the ideal space with your child, consider the following as optimum conditions for completing homework activities:
    1. Is there adequate lighting?
    2. Are electrical outlets within reach?
    3. Does the space have a hard flat surface?
    4. Are there any distractions?
    5. Is there space to house supplies?
    If your child appreciates the structure that a desk can provide, you’re in luck. All of the supplies you purchased can live happily within a few desk drawers. But a growing percentage of middle schoolers have become mobile, opting to change study venues ona regular basis. Changing locations can eat up valuable minutes unless each study location has a full set of supplies. Creating multiple sets of supplies can be a costly alternative. Consider, instead, the mobile supplies station. Large lidded plastic containers can house all of a student’s supplies for easy transport around the house or in the car if need be. An alternative to carrying large tubs around the home is a moveable cart.
    The goal of any study space is to provide a comfortable environment with quick access to supplies. With comfort and accessibility, the task of getting things done becomes more efficient.
Milk crates: America’s premier filing system
    With six or more teachers to contend with, it’s only natural to assume that there will be a substantial increase in the volume of paper that travels home with your child. Plan to cope with this influx of paper by setting up a filing system before the school year begins. The milk crate has evolved from its humble roots as a multipurpose carrying case to an economical filing solution. You can find office versions of the milk crate stacked high on the shelves of most office supply stores, waiting to be filled with a set of hanging files. At a retail price of just under $5, there isn’t any reason to opt for a highly stylized $20 version. With your child, retrieve the plastic tabs that came with your set of hanging files. Label each folder with the name of one class.
    COACHING