Supporting Student Success: Academic Guidance for Parents, Families, Caretakers, and Communities (Sixth through Eighth Grade)

Supporting student learning is a shared effort between caregivers and educators. Many things can influence how students develop, learn, and perform in school. A strong support system can make a meaningful difference in their success. This guide provides ideas and questions to help strengthen the connection between home and school, helping students receive the support they need to thrive. To get the most from this resource, think about how the suggestions fit into your daily routines and conversations. These prompts can spark meaningful discussions with your child and their teachers. 

About This Guide and the Colorado Academic Standards

This guide was developed by academic content specialists at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) with input from CDE’s Office of Family, Community, and School Partnerships, CDE’s Office of Migrant Education Program, and other family and student advocacy groups. The Colorado Academic Standards and Essential Skills provide educators with a road map to help students find success in college, careers, and life. The essential skills, as outlined in Colorado law, include creativity, problem solving, social and cultural awareness, civic engagement, character and leadership, and the use of technology to gather, evaluate, and communicate information. 

The best place to learn about what your child is learning is from your child’s teacher and school. The standards are written for professional educators and your child’s teacher can help you understand what the standards mean for your student. In Colorado, teachers and schools make decisions about the materials, methods, and courses used to help your student reach the goals described by the standards. 

If you want to learn more about Colorado’s standards and access other guides, contact the academic content specialists in CDE’s Office of Standards and Instructional Support.

Arts

The visual and performing arts standards reflect the knowledge and creativity required to produce a work of art. Students are expected to study art in different forms, such as dance, theatre, music, and visual arts, and participate in each by creating, performing, and presenting art while responding to the art of others and making connections between works of art and the world around them.

Ways You Can Help Your Student at Home

Students in grades 6-8 are capable of understanding and producing sophisticated works of art. Many middle school students will use art to express how they feel and define who they want to be as a person. As a caregiver, you can use this as an opportunity to help your student navigate their increasing independence in productive and creative ways. This is also a good time to help your student begin to consider the arts as a potential career or life-long hobby. Here are some suggestions for helping your student create, enjoy, and perform art:

• Find opportunities for artists and performers to work together outside of school.
• Support performers with memorization of materials.
• Provide a space in the home and designated time to make art.
• Create a gallery wall and/or performance space for sharing creations at home.
• Provide access to art materials and tutorial resources at home.
• Encourage students and peers to gather with friends or a group to create and learn art together, whether at home, school, or a community space.
• Find opportunities for artists and performers to work together outside of school.
• Support performers with memorization of materials.
• Provide a space in the home and designated time to make art.
• Create a gallery wall and/or performance space for sharing creations at home.
• Provide access to art materials and tutorial resources at home.
• Encourage students and peers to gather with friends or a group to create and learn art together, whether at home, school, or a community space.

Tips for Successful Communication

You can help your student succeed by communicating openly with them and their teachers. Here are some suggestions.

Humanities

The standards in the humanities promote effective communication and understanding diverse perspectives. The content areas of reading, writing, and communicating, social studies, and world languages are essential in a well-rounded education that develops skills like using language, problem solving, civic engagement, and cultural awareness.

Ways You Can Help Your Student at Home

Students in grades 6-8 learn more about the world and are capable of communicating in mature ways. Students this age are developing their understanding of how a person’s background influences the way they communicate. This understanding of how culture mixes with communication continues to develop as students grow into adulthood. Here are some ways you can help your student explore the humanities at home:

• Identify keywords from a song or music video in another language by first guessing and then confirming their meaning.
• Learn about school life in another culture and compare what things are the same and what things are different.
• Choose a relative or trusted adult to interview, using the information learned to draft a biography or digital story board of their life.
• Read articles and speeches on the same topic and find where they disagree on facts, interpretations, or perspectives. If the student believes someone is wrong have them provide facts and logical reasoning to support their evaluation.
• Encourage your student to write daily reflections where they can express their thoughts on events or topics of interest, using grade-level vocabulary and correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Set aside time for your student to practice speaking in a world language with a family member or friend, focusing on everyday topics to build confidence.
• Encourage your student to identify a region of the world that they are interested in learning more about. Then, have them “dig in” to the culture, history, and peoples of those regions.

Tips for Successful Communication

You can help your student succeed by communicating openly with them and their teachers. Here are some suggestions.

STEM

The standards for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) emphasize the importance of real-world applications, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Computer science focuses on computational thinking, systems, programming, and societal impact. People use mathematics to reason with numbers and shapes and their representations to make sense of their world. Science is a process that is used to address real world problems and make people’s lives better by applying authentic science and engineering practices.

Ways You Can Help Your Student at Home

Students in grades 6-8 analyze data, understand the role of technology in society, and apply mathematical concepts like ratios and statistics. Students continue to build on their abilities to problem-solve, discuss current technological advancements and their societal implications, and explore mathematical ideas through practical activities. Here are some strategies to help your student engage in STEM:

• Practice mental math with your student by exploring real-life questions about energy usage, such as: How much gas does the car need for a trip? How can you estimate how long a battery will last?
• If your student uses social media, help them understand how their posts and likes influence the ads and content they see.
• Talk about different jobs and how the STEM skills they are learning now could be useful in future careers.
• Let your student know it is okay to not have all the answers to their science questions. Being curious is good!
• Ask “What if?” questions to your student and encourage them to ask you questions as well. What if the moon disappeared? What if we didn’t have gravity? Asking imaginative science questions builds creative and critical thinking.
• Share stories about people from all backgrounds working in STEM. Representation helps students see what is possible and see themselves in STEM careers.
• Ask your student to “teach” you a new STEM concept they are working on in school. This helps to reinforce their understanding and shows you are interested in their learning, even if you are learning alongside them.
• Talk with your student about staying safe online and protecting their personal information. Practice good internet habits together.
• Push your student to cite sources of information.
• When your child makes a claim about science, ask them where they learned that information.

Tips for Successful Communication

You can help your student succeed by communicating openly with them and their teachers. Here are some suggestions.

Wellness

Wellness standards promote holistic well-being by focusing on personal health, financial literacy, and physical education. The health standards emphasize emotional, social, and physical health, while personal financial literacy teaches students about money management and decision-making. Physical education promotes healthy lifestyles, physical literacy, and personal responsibility. Together, these standards help students develop essential skills for navigating today’s world and leading healthy, fulfilling lives.

Ways You Can Help Your Student at Home

Students in grades 6-8 compare nutrition labels and practice effective communication skills, while discussing media sources. 
They learn about positive social interactions, set personal boundaries, and explore factors affecting financial choices. Physical activity is encouraged through workout circuits, games, and exploring movement patterns and different aspects of fitness. Here are some suggestions for helping your student learn to manage their wellness:

• Practice reading nutrition information on food labels and comparing products.
• Practice how your student can communicate their wants and needs with another person.
• Look at various forms of media and talk about which ones are useful sources of information.
• Talk about why people use drugs.
• Identify ways your student can demonstrate positive social interactions in the neighborhood.
• Discuss and practice how to set clear expectations, boundaries, and personal safety strategies.
• Talk to your student about the external factors that affect financial choices (for example: job loss, inflation, political events).
• While traveling, discuss the different ways currency is used in other cities, states, or countries - such as relying on cash, using digital payment systems, or exchanging goods and services instead of money.
• Identify opportunities in school and in the community for regular participation in physical activity to enhance physical fitness. 
• Set up a workout circuit with activities such as sit-ups, jumping jacks, or hopscotch, and do it together with your student.
• Compare movement patterns of a sport with the movement patterns of everyday life.
• Create a game that uses different levels, speeds, directions, pathways, and objects.
• Identify sports or professions that use data to improve an athlete’s performance.

Tips for Successful Communication

You can help your student succeed by communicating openly with them and their teachers. Here are some suggestions.