September Updates Part 2: House Block and other items

Hello all,

  1. 8th Grade students and teachers are now getting into the routines and norms for each of their respective classes as we get into the latter half of September. In homeroom and TAG time we are beginning the initial stages of building the attributes of BERT (Belonging, Empathy, Respect, and Trust) among our homerooms and across the 8th grade. The first part of our journey is developing a sense of belonging among members of homerooms and TAG groups. This was the theme for our first house block in which the 8th grade gathered for a group of team-building activities in a friendly, competitive manner. Below are some pictures from a few of the activities this past Friday.

2. Chromebook Care and Usage Agreements.

    Prior to the roll out of Chromebooks for students this year all students and families are required to fill in and sign the Care and Usage Agreement. I have included the link below to the agreement for you. Please print and sign the last page of the usage agreement and return with your child to their homeroom teacher as soon as possible. This will allow them to receive their Chromebooks on the first day of roll out and not be delayed by not having the agreement turned in.

Wayland Middle School Chromebook Site

Care and Usage Agreement (also found on the site above)

3. Homework Management Strategies

 Please help your child develop a set time period at home for them to be working on their homework in a distraction-free environment.

1. Get your child into a routine will help them focus and improve work quality as this is their "homework time" at home. 
2. Please also help them create/locate a distraction free area at home for them to do their work. No TV, computer access for things other than work,  no distractions from video games, and anything else that may prevent them from focusing on their work. 
3. 8th graders often need some coaching as well in setting the appropriate amount of time to focus on work. Many students prefer to work for 30 minutes, take a 5 minute break, then work for another 30 minutes. Having set work and break times will also improve work quality.
4. Talking with students about the content of their homework is an ideal way to help reinforce the concepts in their head. Ask them to explain to you or demonstrate a science concept, math equation, etc. to you in the evening.

EFFECTIVE EFFORT

In 8th grade we really try to give a common message that effective effort and hard work leads to success. As much as you can reiterate and model the components of effective effort/hard work at home will help instill this in your child:

HARD WORK

·         Time – A willingness to spend the minutes and hours needed to finish the job well

·         Focus – No TV or other distractions; concentrating only on the work

·         Resourcefulness – Knowing where to go and whom to ask for help when I’m really stuck

·         Use of feedback – Looking carefully at responses to my work so I know exactly what to fix

·         Commitment – Being determined to finish and do my very best work

·         Persistence – If one strategy isn’t working, keep trying different ones until I find one that works.

Thanks for your support and efforts at home this school year. We hope that the same message and expectations at school and home will be helpful this year and going forward into high school.