Academic Toolkit

	Toolkit Books Toolkit Links Middle School…What's It All About? What makes a student "hit the wall" in sixth or seventh grade? Many students experience only the usual ups n' downs during the elementary school years, but suddenly find themselves overwhelmed by sixth grade expectations. Changing classes, adapting to more teachers and their mysterious ways, new levels of peer pressure, not to mention tons and tons of homework --- it feels like just too much! Grades, behavior, and attitudes may enter a sudden downward spiral. The middle school curriculum feels harder because it actually is harder! Middle school is all about laying the foundations for abstract, conceptual thinking. During the developmental burst of early adolescence, the brain grows and changes at the fastest pace since early childhood. The curriculum becomes much more linear and detailed as it attempts to take advantage of this new intellectual capability. Every school subject introduces procedures and methods for reasoning, plus the new conceptual vocabulary words that make reasoning possible. For example, elementary school science is descriptive nature study, ("Our Friend the Beaver"), while middle school science combines top-down theoretical explanations with lab experiments ("Heat Transfer in Common Materials"). The sudden surge in the school's demands on abstract thinking skills catches many children and parents by surprise. If elementary school basic skills are a bit weak or underdeveloped, a student may still struggle with the "how to do it" and not notice the school's new emphasis on "explain why it's true or false". Middle school students tend to perceive their schoolwork as a series of unconnected assignments. They need help to see the Big Picture! Families can play a key role in helping students understand how school actually does makes sense, if you know how to look at it…really!
	A Mind At a Time Mel Levine, M.D. What is your student's individual learning style? Is there a mismatch with the school's teaching style? Different minds learn differently, but unfortunately, many schools still cling to an outmoded one-size-fits-all approach. An excellent introduction to successful learning strategies for students with learning or attention differences, and a ripping good read! You'll recognize kids you know…and maybe even recognize yourself at a younger age. Buy it now at Amazon.com!
	A Call to Character: A Family Treasury Colin Greer and Herbert Kohl, editors Does your student struggle with writing assignments, vocabulary, or reading comprehension? To unplug a child's "verbal output pipe", so to speak, nothing is better than reading aloud together. This collection of short but vivid stories stimulates verbal development through classics of world literature. Each selection centers on a vital ethical issue, so reading aloud soon morphs into rewarding family discussions. Marvelous! Every family needs a copy! Buy it now at Amazon.com!
	Left Back: A Century of Failed School Reforms Diane Ravitch As a parent, do you feel puzzled by the ways school has changed since you were a child? Why don't teachers correct your child's homework? Why the emphasis on "portfolios" and "cooperative learning"? Why to the textbooks seem dull, yet incoherent? Here's why! Although this book is rather long and complex, readers who make it to page 534 will gain a whole new perspective on their public schools. Buy it now at Amazon.com!
	Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good About Themselves But Can't Read, Write, or Add Charles J. Sykes Zippy and entertaining, covers many of the same issues as Ravitch's Left Back. Buy it now at Amazon.com!
	Ritalin Nation: Rapid-Fire Culture and the Transformation of Human Consciousness Richard DeGrandpre, Ph.D. Fascinating argument that views ADD/ADHD as developmental issues, not as medical diseases or permanent "handicaps". Positive, hopeful guidance for parents and teachers. Buy it now at Amazon.com!
	HISPANIC CREO The Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options improves educational outcomes for Hispanic children by empowering families through parental choice in education. They act as a national voice for the right of Hispanic families to access all educational options and to be an agent for equity and quality in education. www.hcreo.org

	Secondary Scholastic Aptitude Test (SSAT) If your 8th grader is interested in attending an independent high school, this link is for you! Practice exams, registration, rules and regulations! www.ssat.org

	High School Placement Test (HSPT) If your 8th grader is interested in attending a Catholic high school, check to see if your school of choice required the HSPT instead of the SSAT. Although both tests cover the same middle school curriculum, the HSPT and SSAT differ in emphasis, especially in the language arts sections. Practice exams, registration, rules and regulations! www.hspt.com

	All Kinds of Minds If you'd like to skip the theory on learning and attention differences and go straight to the practical strategies, Dr. Mel Levine's website can't be beat! It's vast, fascinating, and packed with highly useful information for students, parents, and teachers. The learning strategies described here really work, and are formulated with classroom realities in mind. If you need positive suggestions to bring to your next parent-teacher conference, look here. www.allkindsofminds.org www.coreknowledge.org

	MiddleWeb: Exploring Middle School Reform A gold mine....everything about middle school child development, curriculum, instructional methods, teacher tips, and classroom management. Intended for educators, but highly beneficial for parents! www.middleweb.com

	Great Schools An easy-to-use searchable database --- a great place to learn about your school's actual academic performance and demographic characteristics. Includes clear explanations of California's STAR tests, school Academic Performance Index rankings and other key issues for parents and students. www.greatschools.com

	Core Knowledge Foundation Homepage Famous education reform foundation which supplies a top-quality curriculum to more than 1,000 schools nationwide. Dedicated to high academic standards and intellectual development for every child. www.coreknowledge.org Return to the top of page