Tips for Helping Your Middle Schooler Manage Homework

Middle school is a time of transition for students.  Not only do they have to deal with social and physical changes, but they also have new academic challenges like multiple teachers and larger homework loads.  Recent brain development research tells us that adolescents often have a difficult time planning ahead and processing cause and effect type consequences, which is why middle school students are often reactive instead of proactive.  Their reactive nature also makes it difficult for them to manage their time and, at times, find the motivation to get their homework done.

Schools play an important role in helping middle school students learn how to manage their time.  CMS offers our students opportunities during the school day and after school to get help on their assignments as well as daily planners to help them learn how to organize their school work.  This year, CMS has also implemented Friday School.  Friday school serves two purposes: first, it is an opportunity to finish homework assignments that have not been turned in and second, it is a consequence for not turning in assignments.

Obviously, parents also play a crucial role in helping their middle school students learn how to manage their time and find academic success.  I know that our students' parents do the best that they can to help their students, but I also know that it can be difficult to talk to middle schoolers about school and academics.  Below is a link from schoolfamily.com that provides some simple tips for parents to help them help their middle school students stay on top of their homework and learn time management skills that will help them now and in their future.

Helping Middle Schoolers Mangae Homework

CMS December 21st Awards and Activities Schedule

Students from CMS help load cans for the Caring for Sharing Food Drive

Chadron Public Schools will dismiss students at 1:30 on December 21st for Winter Break.  Chadron Middle School will run our 1:30 dismissal bell schedule on that day, but we will dismiss students to the gym for awards and activities at 12:30.

The 5th grade class collected 758 non-perishable food items and won the "Golden Can", which is an award that is given to the class that collects the most non-perishable food goods during the Caring for Sharing Food Drive.  In total, Chadron Middle School students collected 2,243 non-perishable food items, which were donated to the food pantry at Assumption Arena.

In addition to the Golden Can, the 5th grade class earned the opportunity to compete against the CMS faculty in a "Minute-to-Win-it" challenge.  The competition will take place in the Middle School gym and is scheduled to begin at 12:40.  The first round will last 15-minutes and include 4 challenges.  At the end of the round we will give out our end of the 2nd quarter awards and then do a second 15-minute challenge round.  All students (5th-8th grade) will be dismissed from the gym at 1:30.

We enthusiastically invite parents to come and watch the competition.  We had a lot of fun playing the 8th graders in a basketball game during last year's competition and we expect to have a lot of fun with our 5th graders this year! 

6th-12th Grade Band and Choir Concert

There will be a 6th-12th grade holiday band and choir concert on December 15th.  The bands will start their performances at 6:00pm and choirs will follow at 7:15.

We look forward to seeing you there.