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Information adapted from HOW TO ENSURE YOUR TWEEN ROCKS THE FIRST DAY OF MIDDLE SCHOOL by Zina Harrington (2016). https://letslassothemoon.com/middle-school/
Click on each of the headings below for some excellent Middle School Transition Tips for students and parents!
What to Know Before the First Day...
What to Know Before the First Day...
Know the Layout of the School. SMS offers a schedule pick-up time before the first day of school. Slot you and your tween some extra time to physically walk through their class schedule a few times until they feel comfortable navigating the new school building all on their own.
Combination Locks! This simple task can be tougher than it seems, especially on the first day of school, when there's a time crunch and people are watching and a nervous tween-age brain feels overloaded. Have them practice opening and closing their locker during schedule pick-up day until they feels totally comfortable doing it. Be patient and encouraging.
Middle School Dress Code. Be sure to review your new school's dress code before doing any back-to-school shopping. Make sure that a "must-have" outfit doesn't violate any "what not to wear" school policies. And, speaking of picking out school clothes, have some fun choosing...
Speaking of.. What to Wear on the First Day?! Even if your child has their first day outfit picked out, recommend that they pick out a secondary outfit, too—just in case! It's always good to have a backup plan. (A great Life Lesson for middle schoolers to learn at this stage anyway.) Speaking of clothing, fashion, and style, remind your kiddos - Your style is always evolving. We all change from day to day. So can your style. Embrace all the different versions of YOU. Fashion is about fitting in; style is about being you. Don’t be afraid to create your own style. Be comfortable. Be confident. Wear clothes that make you feel at ease in the moment. Find things to wear that make you feel good inside and out.
Daily Planners. Most elementary schools start teaching kids this skill during their last year. Start the year off on the right foot... Ensure your tween has a daily planner that's conducive for keeping track of homework assignments and test dates. The goal is to teach them to independently keep track of their own workload. Another helpful tip - Grab-and-go organization! When picking out school supplies, remind your tween they will need to grab-and-go between classes. Consider color-coordinating notebooks and folders by subject for fast locker finds between classes.
What does your student need to know the first week?
What does your student need to know the first week?
ALL THE KIDS ARE AS NERVOUS! On the first day, remember ALL the first-year students are anxious. So tell them: "Be brave, and smile." It'll help them, and put others at ease, too.
Throw around KINDNESS like Confetti! Yes, it's A-OK to reconnect with your elementary school classmates on the first day of school. Still, make a habit of going out of your way to talk to new people, too. Be friendly, be kind, and take an interest in all the new (nervous) faces around you, too.
Put yourself out there! Middle school offers a variety of great opportunities to connect with others and explore new talents and skills. Try out for a sports team. Join a club (art, debate, robotics, etc.). It's an excellent way to quickly meet new people in a semi-structured environment.
Speak up in class! This year, your tween will be working with a lot of teachers who don't yet know how awesome they are. Encourage your tween to not only ROCK the first homework assignments, but to continue to speak up in class, even if they are feeling a bit hesitant or intimidated.
Laugh at yourself! Something is bound to happen. There's no way to ensure a perfect first week of middle school. Remind your kiddo that everyone is struggling to find their own way through the first week, and try to get them to laugh at whatever situation has them cringing.
What Parents Need to Know!
What Parents Need to Know!
This is how they find their way in the world! Your student has to create an identity apart from you in middle school, so they can learn how to build healthy relationships with others in the future. Knowing this might make it a little bit easier to bear the fact that your tween may be separating and relying more on their friends now than you. Middle school is the spot where our kids officially start their transition into adulthood. There's no turning back, so you might as well embrace it.
CELL PHONES. We live in a tech savvy world. More and more students have phones and it's our jobs as parents to help monitor that! Technology can be scary and social media creates a number of problems. Ask your kids questions. If you let them have social media accounts, are you friends with them? Do you follow them? Check them regularly. Know their passwords! It's a scary venture and we need to help guide them through it!
Respect! Middle schoolers often feel that their parents don't take them seriously or give them the respect they're craving... And sometimes we don't. Children at this age are starting to see themselves as young adults, and we parents often don't respond accordingly. We still see them as eight- or nine-year-olds. Honestly—where does the time go? But, our tweens are in a transition period where they're practicing how to become adults. So, show your middle schooler increasing respect as they work toward developing their independent decision-making skills, responsible work habits, and so on.
Find alternatives to asking, "How was your day?". The default answer will most likely be one word. Instead, get a bit creative with your questions. For example: What was your favorite part of lunch? If an alien spaceship came to school today and beamed someone up, who would you want them to take? Tell me something that made you smile today.
Stay Connected. Don't let them get away from you! Talk to them! Take an interest in what they are learning! Find ways to connect with them!
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