Her grades dropped dangerously low in sixth and seventh grade. But this year, she said, she smartened up. With the encouragement of her parents and a tutor, her grades are back up to A's and B's. For many students, middle school remains a difficult time. Some schools have tried to help out by giving students a planner.
Students can write down daily assignments, and parents and teachers can communicate through notes.
It's even more helpful if parents stay involved with school, say educators. They note that when kids hit middle school, parents often stop volunteering. There are too many teachers. The school is noisy. The kids are boisterous.