Middle School Archive

Parent involvement in middle school can be a challenge; we'll help you meet it. The articles below have tons of ideas and tips for connecting with middle school parents. When you're done reading, head over to the Message Boards to connect with other leaders dealing with the same issues.

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• Middle School: A Role for Parents - Involvement can be a harder sell in middle school, but there are still plenty of ways parents can participate.
• Hmong Parent Group Connects Cultures - St. Paul, Minn., junior high school teacher Ann Hebble talks about the parent group she founded to serve the school's population of Hmong families.
• Prisoners Help Renovate School - PTO leaders coordinate with the state's prison work-release program for a minimum-security makeover of the school's building.
• Volunteer Focuses on Community Service - Giving back is a great way to set a good example and gets the entire parent community involved.
• National Winner: Middle School Magic - Creating involvement at the middle school level can be tough, but Rosemont Ridge PTO has the magic touch. That made them PTO Today's 2004 Parent Group of the Year.
• Communication for Middle School PTOs - Middle school parent group leaders share the messages and communication strategies that have helped them build involvement.
• School Security: How It Affects PTOs - Protecting children on school grounds while also maintaining an open atmosphere for parents is a careful balancing act.
• Troubled Times, Proactive PTO - With their school getting media exposure for all the wrong reasons, the leaders of PTO Today's 2005 Southern Region Parent Group of the Year stepped in to help administrators and students.
• Quiz: Rate Your Involvement IQ -  See how your group's attitudes and practices for building parent involvement measure up.
• School Store Stocked for Success - Students learn money management behind the counter of a cafeteria store filled with school supplies and other goodies.
• PTO Wins With Tournament - Teams of students compete in a basketball tournament that has become a rallying point for the entire middle school.
• Make Your Group a Resource - If people think of your group as welcoming and helpful, they'll turn there first when they have questions—and the PTO will gain their support and loyalty.
• National Runner-up: Building on a Strong Foundation - A group that was already successful reevaluated—and revamped—all of its programs and systems to become even better, making it PTO Today’s 2008 Parent Group of the Year national runner-up.
• Family Event: Fun and Eco-games - PTO Today’s 2008 Outstanding Family Event was a green festival that combined learning and fun, included a large number of parent volunteers, and helped strengthen the connection between the middle school and home.
• Community Service: Knitting for a Cause - PTO Today’s 2008 Outstanding Community Service Project turned a fundraiser into a heartwarming event: Students knitted hats in all sizes for patients at the local children’s hospital, then delivered them personally.
• Adjusting to Middle School Involvement - Ways to maintain an active role even after the kids get older.
• Administrator Makes Schools Family-Friendly - A former principal encourages PTOs to work together with their schools' leaders to engage all parents.
• Make It an A+ Year! - PTOs can make even more of a difference for schools with good planning, good communication, and a focus on building student achievement.
• Bike Drive Energizes Community - By collecting and repairing bicycles for low-income families, PTO Today's 2009 Parent Group of the Year for Outstanding Community Service Project turned a simple annual event into a community-building exercise.
• Middle School: Staying Involved - Elementary students love it when their parents volunteer at school during the day. Middle schoolers, not so much. A new report by Duke University researchers may help middle school parents and PTOs looking for the best way to stay involved.
• Communication Tips for Better Involvement - How you reach out to parents can help build involvement—or it can work against your group. We'll help you get it right.
• Defining the Role of a PTO - What role should your PTO play? That answer will change as the needs of your school community change.