51����

Moving from middle to high school can be traumatic for some freshmen. The changes involved in that move can sometimes be overwhelming, whether social, academic, or physical. Suddenly, students who were guided through the academic process by parents and teachers are expected to perform much more independently than ever before. At the same time, high school is often a period where friendships change as students struggle to figure out where they belong. The good news is that there are plenty of ways parents can help their new high school students adjust to the transition.

Understand Potential Stressors

According to well-known pediatrician Dr. Paul, there are many factors that can cause stress at this time of life, including:

• Changes to school structure, including more teachers, larger school building, and a faster pace
• Changes to body image, as students begin attending school with others who are basically young adults
• Changes in friends, as students head to different schools and different classes than those they grew up with

With these changes comes the fear of not fitting in, not keeping up, and not meeting parental expectations. While many students may not voice these fears to their parents, that doesn’t mean the anxiety doesn’t exist. Parents need to tune into potential stressors in their child’s life during this time to help the child work through those anxieties and concerns proactively.

Provide Reassurance

Once parents understand the factors that contribute to the stress of the high school transition, they can provide reassurances to their child

A wealth of resources and web site links for all subject areas for kindergarten teachers.

• Shape Book Patterns - A to Z Shape Book Patterns with and without lines
• Literacy Sites available en francais and English - Literacy Center offers a fun and interactive site where early learners can explore numbers, letters, colours and shapes in English and French.
• -
• CENTER SIGNS - A wonderful site. Every sign you can think of ! Great for labeling ~
• Internet4classrooms - Online Interactive Web Sites ~ Literacy and Math ~ For use as Independent Skill Activities during Center Time
• More Sequenced Lesson Plans from Utah - Looking for ideas and formal lesson plans and activites for your core curriculum then do check this one out!
• BACKFLIP Kinder Collection
• Carls Corner - 'Where kids play and teachers learn' Literacy
• FRENCH sites - FSL Activities with M. Renaud
• KINDERGARTEN ~ From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Includes Kindergarten systems of various countries, functions of Kindergarten, what should kindergarten activities include, readings and external links
• Kindergarten Rubrics - In writing and science..can be modified and adapted
• Kindergarten Web Site...ings of the Day - Check in here frequently for new additions!
• Mrs. McCullers' Top Dog Blog - Kindergarten Blogs ... you made a great job for your Blog.
• Kindergartenconsultant.com - Kindergarten Consultant
• -
• Songs 4 Teachers - Back to School - Presents songs & poems for 'Back to

• gain from each other's efforts.
• recognize that all group members share a common fate.
• know that one's performance is mutually caused by oneself and one's team members.
• feel proud and jointly celebrate when a group member is recognized for achievement.

This video illustrates the team model of learning.

• promote student learning and academic achievement
• increase student retention
• enhance student satisfaction with their learning experience
• help students develop skills in oral communication
• develop students' social skills
• promote student self-esteem
• help to promote positive race relations

• Each group member's efforts are required and indispensable for

STEM education, the teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects, is an essential component to preparing the workforce of the future. However, it appears schools across the country are failing to answer that call. Few primary and secondary schools are offering courses in these subjects that directly apply to the workforce needs of today, and even where courses are available, they are still not considered part of the core curriculum. The good news is that as gurus in these industries begin to sit up and take notice of the gap in our education system, some schools are also rising up in an effort to bring STEM studies to public education.

STEM is not widely embraced by the public education system in the U.S. currently. According to a U.S. News and World Report report, only 2,100 high schools out of 42,000 currently offer the Advanced Placement test in computer science. This number is actually down 25 percent over the past five years. In addition, few states allow computer science to be taken to meet a math or science requirement. Only nine states allow computer science to be used as a core class that goes toward meeting graduation requirements.

“It will get you just as close to graduation as it will if you take woodworking,” Brad Smith, executive vice president of legal and corporate affairs at Microsoft, told . “I love wood, but it’s not the future of our economy,”

Homework is the opportunity for children to practice the skills that they are learning at school at home. It allows parents to assess how their child is doing in school and to give extra help when needed. Homework also provides students additional time to research and grasp important concepts fully.

Getting Homework Help

If you are having trouble solving a problem or finding the answer to a question, there are several resources you can turn to. You may want to begin by asking an adult for help with your homework. Another resource is to look online for answers. Several online sites offer free tutoring help whenever you ask.

• Homework Help: Resources to help you get started on your homework
• : Free online homework help

Search First! The Answer May be Right in Front of your Nose

Students often overlook prominent places to find the answers and solutions to the problem. Before you turn to online sources, check your textbook for answers. Carefully reading the assigned chapters can often help you find the information. Another great source is doing a quick search on the Internet.

• : Online site to help get you started researching

This video offers an opinion about homework, i.e., the pros and cons.

Found Answer Online, How Do I Know If It's Right?

When researching, it is important to consider your online sources carefully. Sites that