Tips For Making An Easier Transition To Middle School

We went to another Middle School parents orientation meeting last night. It was very different from the one we went to last week, yet they were both working from the same set of Powerpoint slides. I will do a comparison post some time next week, but while they are still fresh in my mind, I would like to share some tips from the two schools for making the transition to middle school easier for you and your child.

1. Purchase a basic combination lock now and have your child practice memorizing the combination and getting comfortable with using a combination lock . Apparently, the number one stressor for new middle school students is lockers and the fear of not being able to open them. A child who is comfortable with a simple combination lock will be much less stressed.
2. Take a tour of the school. Most middle schools will offer a variety of orientation activities for parents and students. Take advantage of every opportunity to visit the school, tour the grounds, and begin to get familiar with the environment. This will help ease your child’s anxiety about getting lost that first week of school.
3. Help your child develop an organization strategy. The second biggest issue in 6th grade is making the transition from a teacher-directed organization structure to student-controlled organization structure. What makes sense and works for you is not necessarily the best way for your child. Talk with your child and share ideas to come up with a system that they can handle.
4. Communication. Keep the lines of communication open between your child, their elementary school staff and the middle school staff. Be informed of your choices, get your child’s input, and keep talking.
5. Be mindful of your own anxieties. If you have concerns and anxieties about your child moving to middle school, be careful about letting your child in on it. Unfortunately I am so guilty of this one! If you talk about the experience in a positive way – more from the standpoint of an exciting new adventure, or chapter in their lives, your child is apt to be more at ease. They have their own concerns and don’t need yours in on top of it all! Relax. We all made it through those years, and most of us came out just fine.

Do you have any tips to add to this list? Share please!