“hi sence i was not friday can you please send me the work we did thank you”
What you just read is a typical email from one of my seventh grade students. That’s why writing an email properly is one of the life skills for middle schoolers I teach alongside academics.
As a teacher, I’ve noticed that kids are at a disadvantage in the classroom when they lack certain life skills. There are 5 in particular that middle schoolers should learn before high school. Keep these skills on your radar even if your kids aren’t in middle school, and their future teachers will thank you!
1. Telling Time
My school has a no-phone policy, so I hear a steady stream of, “What time is it?” I have an analog clock in my classroom, but most of my 12- and 13-year-olds can’t read it. They get nervous when they have to include the time on their restroom pass and embarrassed when they have to admit they can’t tell time. You can teach your children this skill by starting with the parts of a clock and asking them to count by fives. Practice at home even if phones are around. Buy a simple battery-powered wall clock and give pop quizzes.
2. Typing 
You might be thinking, “My kids are constantly typing!” But typing on a phone or tablet is different from typing on a keyboard, and most kids can’t type quickly and accurately. A student who can’t type well in high school will fall behind while taking notes, typing essays, and completing assignments. Increase your kids’ words per minute by having them spend 10 minutes a day on a free online typing tutorial. And, you can be less of an enforcer and more of an encourager by using one of our printable Goal Charts. Reward them for daily practice or improving their speed and accuracy.
3. Troubleshooting
We have laptops in our classroom, and when students can’t log on, forget their passwords, or “the site isn’t working”—the hands go up. My students will tell you that my favorite response in these situations is “troubleshoot.” They know to try multiple ways to solve a problem before they ask me. You can help your children develop troubleshooting skills by pausing before you offer solutions. Instead, guide them toward coming up with a solution on their own. Troubleshooting is a life skill they can take into high school and beyond.
You can help your children develop troubleshooting skills by pausing before you offer solutions. Click To Tweet4. Advocating for Themselves
Some students have no problem asking me about a grade or an assignment. Some do, which means I get a number of emails from parents on behalf of their children. I don’t mind parent emails, but I want my students to develop the life skill of advocating for themselves. So, if your tween asks you to talk to his teacher, encourage him to do it. You can always email the teacher on the side telling her your child is afraid. Then, the teacher can approach your child and allow him to speak for himself.
5. Working Through a Bad Grade
Student reactions to a bad grade run the gamut: tears, embarrassment, bravado, and nonchalance. Students who are wrapped up emotionally in a bad grade will feel calmer if they develop a plan. Help them identify the steps they can take: turning in missing work, talking to their teacher, studying extra for the next test or quiz. A bad grade is also a chance to remind your children that grades are assessments of the assignments, not assessments of your children. (If your child is a perfectionist, check this out.)
Most of these life skills for tweens can be learned with some time, attention, and guidance. What other life skills will help middle schoolers as they move toward high school?
