Academics, Behaviors, and Social
Skills in Middle School
ASD Class
In middle school teachers start to stress student independence and self responsibility.

Changes in Focus in Middle School
ASD Class
Shift from Skill
Acquisition to Skill
Utilitzation
Handouts: Common Core Standards
Course Syllabi
Parent Rights
In middle school teachers start to stress student independence and self responsibility.

Middle School Focus
Common Core Standards Usage
• Basic Incoming Skills
• ELA
– In Elementary School
– In Middle School
• Math
– In Elementary School
– In Middle School
• Content Area Subjects – Science and Social Studies
• Social Skills
• Vocational Studies
• Middle School Differences
• Middle School is Preparation for High School

Middle School Focus
Basic Incoming Skills
In order for incoming 6th graders with IEPs to be successful in
middle school, below is a list of necessary skills students need to
learn while they are in elementary school. Skill levels are
dependent on IEP assessments and needs.
– Reading
– Writing
– Oral Language
– Math
– Social Interactions
– Procedural Responsibilities
– Study Skills
– Organizational Skills
– School Rules

Middle School Focus
Basic Incoming Skills - Reading
• Be able to find main ideas, supporting details,
examples and text when another is reading
• Independent reading - with appropriate level
novels; have a book to read when done with
work or waiting for instructions

Middle School Focus
Basic Incoming Skills - Writing
• Penmanship that can be read
• Be able to write complete sentences and paragraphs with
writing conventions
• Spelling that is understandable
• Taking notes during instruction (independently) from lecture,
from the board or projector (far point skills), from a
book/paper
• (near point skills), your students should have this experience.
It’s really important for us to know which kids
• cannot take notes and will need copies of notes or a scribe
• Keep a journal including page numbers, table of contents,
assigned work – per teacher requirements

Middle School Focus
Basic Incoming Skills – Writing (cont.)
• Binder paper issues: start on the side where there are 3
holes on the left side of the paper first, respect paper
margins, start on the first or second line.
• Number paper for tests per the teacher’s directions
about titles, number, paper set up
• How to "fill in the bubbles" on a Scantron
• Put name (first and last), date and class period on right-
hand top corner of paper; Staple papers on the top left
corner
• DO NOT write in or damage books or materials that
belong to the school

Middle School Focus
Basic Incoming Skills – Oral Language
• Presenting a 3 minute oral report as based on a poster, model,
or PPT

Middle School Focus
Basic Incoming Skills – Math
• Mastery of +, -, x, and / skills
• Read and understand maps and schedules (bus,
train, etc.); use a school map to find a classroom

Middle School Focus
Basic Incoming Skills – Social Interactions
• Working in a small group to create something
• Raise hands for questions or ideas, wait for turn to speak, be
an active/courteous listener
• Use restroom during breaks or know how to ask appropriately
if need to go during class

Middle School Focus
Basic Incoming Skills – Procedural
Responsibilities and Study Skills
Procedural Responsibilities
• Complete assigned work - open book, turn to the correct
page, read the first question, make best effort, talk to the
teacher and explain the problem
• Walk into classroom, sit down, take out agenda, and write
down homework
Study Skills
• Test prep – i.e., review notes/handouts, read the book, self-
questioning techniques, study buddies/study groups

Middle School Focus
Basic Incoming Skills – Organizational Skills
• Keeping a daily agenda - log assignments, homework, and project
deadlines daily in agenda for every subject every day.
• Students must come to school EVERY DAY with needed supplies
(pencils, erasers, agenda, sharpener, paper, homework
• folder, etc. These are not provided), keep up a binder with 6
colored-clear- plastic 2 pouch dividers and organize papers
• in tabs inside a binder, when finished with daily homework, put in
binder neatly; turn in on time; make corrections
• Keep area around desk safe, backpacks under desks, paths between
desks clear
• Be able to follow directions (oral and written) for assignments
• Be able to use a combination lock for PE lockers

Middle School Focus
Basic Incoming Skills – School Rules
• Respect yourself, others and our school per the Positive
Behavior Improvement and Support (PBIS)
• Follow school rules and dress codes
• Electronics stay at home; cell phones must be turned off (not
on vibrate), Texting not allowed

Reading Focus in
Elementary School
1. PHONEMIC AWARENESS—The knowledge and manipulation of
sounds in spoken words.
2. PHONICS—The relationship between written and spoken letters
and sounds.
3. READING FLUENCY, INCLUDING ORAL READING SKILLS—The ability
to read with accuracy, and with appropriate rate, expression, and
phrasing.
4. VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT—The knowledge of words, their
definitions, and context.
5. READING COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES—The understanding of
meaning in text.

ELA Focus in Middle School
• Fluency, word identification – oral reading practice, literature
circles
• Self-monitoring comprehension, integrated strategy use (word
identification and comprehension strategies) – guided/interactive
reading
• Word identification, vocabulary, grammar, mechanics, and spelling
– word study, grammar, mechanics
• Fluency, vocabulary, self-monitoring comprehension, integrated
strategy use (word identification and comprehension strategies) –
reading interesting, self-selected books independently
• Writing fluency – response to literature, persuasive, narrative
• Self-monitoring, comprehension, integrated strategy use –
learning and using strategies for comprehension

ELA Focus in Middle School
Cause and Effect Context Clues
Compare and
Contrast
Inferences
Description/Elabor
ation
Multiple Meanings
Proposition/Suppo
rt
Figurative
Language
Sequencing Conotation/Denot
ation
Summary

Middle School ELA Practices
• Oral and shared reading
• Guided reading in flexible groups
• Word study in guided reading groups
• Comprehension strategy instruction
• Literature Circles
• Self-selected extended reading and writing
• Assigned writing topics
• Grammar and mechanics
• Instruction using Common Core standards with
supplementary materials as needed

Elementary School Math Practices
• Conceptualization – understanding why
the concept is done
• Problem Solving – understanding what
needs to be done
• Mechanics – understanding how to
solve the problem
• Instruction using Common Core
standards with supplementary materials
as needed

Middle School Math Practices
• Conceptualization – comprehension of concepts,
operations and relations
• Procedural Fluency – skill in flexibility, accurately,
efficiently, and appropriately using procedures
• Strategic Competency – ability to formulate, represent
and solve problems
• Adaptive Reasoning – capacity for logical thought,
reflection, explanation, and justification
• Productive Disposition – view of math as useful,
sensible and worthwhile coupled with belief in
diligence and personal efficacy

Middle School Content Areas
Science
• Science – follow the grade level standards for each
grade, accommodating/modifying as needed
– 6th grade – Earth Science
– 7th grade – Life Science
– 8th grade – Physical Science
Grade level materials are used with
accommodations/modifications as needed.
• Instruction using Common Core standards with
supplementary materials as needed

Middle School Content Areas
Social Studies
• Social Studies - follow the grade level standards for
each grade, accommodating/modifying as needed
– 6th grade – Ancient History
– 7th grade – Medieval History
– 8th grade – American History
Grade level materials are used with
accommodations/modifications as needed.
• Instruction using Common Core standards with
supplementary materials as needed

Middle School Social Skills
In middle school teachers start to stress student
independence and self responsibility.
• Friendship
• Bullying
• Intimacy
• Puberty
• Appropriate social behaviors
• Autism self-awareness and self-advocacy
– Shift set training/Cognitive Flexibility –
learning how to change from one
activity/focus to another easily
(transitioning).

Middle School Vocational Studies
• Career/vocational assessment
– career/vocational assessments
– career/secondary education planning
• Career/secondary education planning (School-Based
Preparatory Experiences. This can include:
– career/vocational assessments
– career/secondary education planning
– curriculum integration of work readiness
skills/contextual learning
• Career Preparation & Work Based Learning Experience.
This includes career awareness & exploration activities.
• Collaboration/Youth Development & Leadership. This can
include:
– self advocacy/disability awareness
– destination/transportation training

Middle School Differences
• More students at the school and in mainstream classes. The
classes tend to be larger than those in elementary schools.
• Changing classes and more teachers. In middle school, your child
may have up to six different teachers and will have to change
classes with each subject.
• New curriculum. As in elementary school, middle school
curriculum is guided by state standards.
• New school schedule. This new schedule also includes different
break and lunch times than your child may have had in elementary
school. There is no play equipment in middle school for breaks or
lunch time.
• More after-school activities and programs. Middle schools tend to
offer more social and academic learning options and/or activities
for children after the regular school hours.
• Parent Involvement begins to decrease as students are
encouraged to move toward independence

Middle School is Preparation for High School
• High School is much bigger!
• Bigger classes
• Increased workload, more homework
• Big fish (8th grade) to little fish (9th grade)
• Schedules are different
• Parent involvement continues to decrease during high school.
• Suddenly the goal is very clear: this is the real deal!
• Now, they could have six or seven teachers each day -- all with
their own methods, standards, workloads, moods and
idiosyncrasies.
• Sports!
• Peer pressure rears its ugly head. Succumbing to peer pressure
can quickly derail an academic career, and it's a major factor in
many dropout cases