t Workshops will meet this summer.

Earlier this month, many Island parents received registration forms for the “Strategies for Success in Middle School” workshops, which are offered for incoming sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at the McMurray Middle School during July and August.

Devon Atkins, who has taught middle and high school students for 10 years, created the workshop and has taught it for four years at McMurray. The curriculum, which is updated regularly with suggestions by Vashon teachers, is about easy-to-remember strategies and small plans that children learn and use to better “pay attention” and “do the work” in their everyday lives, not just at school.

The workshops are always scheduled for the summer months to give students a jumpstart so that they can learn and practice before the school year begins.

The workshop teaches children how to pay attention — track assignments, use a syllabus, use the McMurray planner, improve listening and note-taking skills and develop good time management — and do the work — develop and maintain a “learning log,” organize and complete long-term assignments, learn test-taking strategies for before and during tests and read with purpose, understanding and retention.

Each morning, parents receive an e-mail that tells what their children will learn that day so that parents can encourage the learning and support the newest strategy. And, this year, a companion two-hour workshop will be offered to all parents to teach strategies that encourage better communication and support among students, parents and teachers.

“Just like their children, parents are more likely to do what it takes to be successful if they just have an easy plan for doing so,” Atkins said.

The tuition is $20 for one or two parents.

Tuition for the student workshop is $90 ($45 for returning students). Thanks to a grant from PTSA, students who receive free and reducedprice lunch attend at no cost.

Pre-registration is recommended; class size is limited to 12 students for each workshop, and materials and snacks are included. Call Atkins at 353-9227 to register.

Workshops are set for incoming sixth-graders from 10:30 to noon, seventh-graders from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and eighth-graders from 3:30 to 5 p.m Monday through Friday, July 28 to Aug. 1, and Aug. 18 to 22.

Parent workshops will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 29 or Wednesday, Aug. 20.

t Workshops will meet this summer.

Earlier this month, many Island parents received registration forms for the “Strategies for Success in Middle School” workshops, which are offered for incoming sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at the McMurray Middle School during July and August.

Devon Atkins, who has taught middle and high school students for 10 years, created the workshop and has taught it for four years at McMurray. The curriculum, which is updated regularly with suggestions by Vashon teachers, is about easy-to-remember strategies and small plans that children learn and use to better “pay attention” and “do the work” in their everyday lives, not just at school.

The workshops are always scheduled for the summer months to give students a jumpstart so that they can learn and practice before the school year begins.

The workshop teaches children how to pay attention — track assignments, use a syllabus, use the McMurray planner, improve listening and note-taking skills and develop good time management — and do the work — develop and maintain a “learning log,” organize and complete long-term assignments, learn test-taking strategies for before and during tests and read with purpose, understanding and retention.

Each morning, parents receive an e-mail that tells what their children will learn that day so that parents can encourage the learning and support the newest strategy. And, this year, a companion two-hour workshop will be offered to all parents to teach strategies that encourage better communication and support among students, parents and teachers.

“Just like their children, parents are more likely to do what it takes to be successful if they just have an easy plan for doing so,” Atkins said.

The tuition is $20 for one or two parents.

Tuition for the student workshop is $90 ($45 for returning students). Thanks to a grant from PTSA, students who receive free and reducedprice lunch attend at no cost.

Pre-registration is recommended; class size is limited to 12 students for each workshop, and materials and snacks are included. Call Atkins at 353-9227 to register.

Workshops are set for incoming sixth-graders from 10:30 to noon, seventh-graders from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and eighth-graders from 3:30 to 5 p.m Monday through Friday, July 28 to Aug. 1, and Aug. 18 to 22.

Parent workshops will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 29 or Wednesday, Aug. 20.