Sixth Grade Imagine That!

Your sixth-grader will be asked to write persuasive and informative essays, do multipart math problems, analyze historical documents, and more. Phew! The good news is, she'll likely also get to exercise her creativity, says Mariola Doran, who teaches sixth- and seventh-grade history and English at Randolph-Macon Academy Middle School, in Front Royal, VA. Expect to see her writing a play, or a fictional letter to a book character.

Your Roles:

Project Manager: Make a binder for each long-term assignment and have your child mark days on the calendar to work on them.

Assertiveness Trainer: Brainstorm ways she can speak up when she doesn't understand something: Can she approach her teacher after class or e-mail her?

Focus-Group Member: Let her bounce ideas off you. “Say ‘Oh, you have an essay due on Friday. Why don't you read me what you've got so far?’” advises Tobias.

•SECRET-WEAPON WEBSITE: BIOGRAPHY.COM HAS GREAT HISTORICAL BIOS

•BIG-PICTURE GOALS: INCREASING ATTENTION SPAN; FOSTERING CREATIVITY; BUILDING MATH CONFIDENCE AND COMPETENCE

•AMOUNT OF HOMEWORK: ANYWHERE FROM 60 TO 90 MINUTES