Transitioning to Middle School
Middle school is a wonderful, exciting adventure! As a middle school student you will have more responsibilities, more freedom, and more fun. You will learn a great deal!
What to Expect in Middle School
Students are usually more successful and enjoy school more when they know what to expect. Here are some things you can expect to find in middle school
New Teachers and classmates
For many students, going to middle school means going to a different, larger school. For all students, it means new teachers, new classes, and new friends.
Let's face it. EVERYONE in middle school is worried about making friends and fitting in. Just remember, everyone in your grade is new to middle school - and everyone is a little nervous.
New things to adjust to
Lunch periods, teachers, changing classes, PE class everyday are just a few of the new things to which most middle school students have to adjust.
New Classes
The classes are often more difficult and there is usually more homework. Middle school students are also expected to do more work on their own.
Pay careful attention the first few weeks of school to learn what each of your teachers expect.
More Activities and sports
Middle school is a time to try new things - and getting involved in activities is a great way to meet other students who have the same interests.
New rules and policies
Every middle school has its own rules and policies regarding attendance, tardies, dress code, and electronic devices.
More things to organize
In middle school, students have more classes, more teachers, and more homework. To keep up with everything you need to be organized.
All students are given a planner, it's called a Binder Reminder. Take your planner to each class and write down all your assignments. Use your planner to write down quizzes, tests, and special events - anything else you need to remember.
Top Social Emotional Skills For Middle School Students
1. Make good friend choices. This typically comes on the heels of making some questionable choices. Do you have fun and laugh with this person? Can you be yourself? Is there trust and empathy? Common interests are a bonus.
2. Work in teams and negotiate conflict. Not many students get through middle school without feeling like they had to carry the load on at least one group project. Maybe they didn’t delegate and divide the work effectively at the onset. Perhaps they chose to take ownership to avoid a poor grade. Try to understand what happened and consider what you might have done differently.
3. Manage a student-teacher mismatch. Don’t bail out by asking for a teacher change. You still can learn from a teacher you don’t like. It’s a chance to practice working with someone you find difficult. If you can manage the situation, you won’t feel powerless or helpless the next time. Focus on concrete barriers to success in the class, not the interpersonal conflict. Is it miscommunication? Study skills?
4. Create organization and homework systems. Make sure you are the architects of this process. Come up with solution-oriented plans and tweak them as needed. Are you using your planner? Creating a checklist?
5. Monitor and take responsibility for grades. Monitor your own grades. There is a connection between preparation, organization and grades.
6. Learn to self-advocate. By middle school, you should be learning how to ask teachers for help or clarification. This may be in person or through email.
7. Self-regulate emotions. Know when to take a breath or hit the “pause” button before reacting. Implement a strategy—maybe take a break or listen to music. Are you stuck in all-or-nothing thinking? Are you consistently self-critical?
8. Cultivate passions and recognize limitations. When you are fired up about something, run with it and explore. Get books, go to museums, go in depth with the subject. In the process, you will figure out what drives you. On the other hand, it is okay if you struggle in a specific area. That too is useful information. No one needs to be good at everything.
9. Create and innovate. Our changing world needs imaginative creators and divergent thinkers. It also can build confidence to think independently and outside the box. As you do homework, read required texts and take standardized tests, remember that these benchmarks are not the only ways to measure success. Make connections across material from different classes, to build, write, invent and experiment.