Ready Guide

Your child has finally gotten to be the top of middle school, congratulations! Before you start worrying about high school, find out how you can best support your student during this last year of middle school. Each contributor to 8th Grade Ready is a current or former 8th grade teacher who has worked extensively with parents and families of students. Beginning with how 8th grade differs from 7th and moving through preparing them for 9th grade, this book will serve as your guide. It will describe what to expect in a variety of areas and what to look for as you navigate your child's physical, emotional, and academic growth. 8th Grade Ready includes: • Expert advice on a wide range of topics, from academic expectations to emotional and social development. • Practical suggestions and relatable anecdotes. • Conversation starters for you and your middle schooler to open new lines of communication that can continue throughout the school year. • Effective strategies to balance guidance and support with encouraging self-reliance, helping parents strike the right balance. Contributors have all been Teachers of the Year or finalists in their state or are nationally recognized educators. 8th Grade Ready is edited by Timothy M. Dove, who was the 2011 and 2012 Ohio State Teacher of the Year, where he was a 7th and 8th grade teacher. He has also been an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University. Since retirement from K-12, Tim has been a consultant with Battelle for Kids in Hong Kong, Learning Forward, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and the Collaboration for Effective Education, Development, Accountability and Reform (CEEDAR) Center. Eighth grade can be a major year of change for your child. We hope this book helps you as you support your student to be the best they can be.