Transitioning from elementary school to middle school (sometimes called junior high) can be both exciting and nerve-racking for a tween. On one hand, the tween is going from being "King of the Hill" to "Bottom of the Barrel" during this transition. On the other hand, a tween may have high expectations for new responsibilities and freedoms that come with getting older. Be ready for middle school by being armed with some typical scenarios that take place during the transition.
A New Set of Rules
In most cases, elementary schools have one primary teacher for children in a class. This teacher is responsible for the fundamentals such as math, science, reading, and history. Children get a taste of what it is like changing classes when it comes to art, gym, and music, but that is the extent of it.
In middle school, a tween will have to learn how to transition to new classrooms up to six times a day, and get to classes on time. This means there is not a lot of time for socialization between classes. It is best to save this for before school, during lunch time, and after school.
Different Class and Home Assignments
Middle school gives a tween a chance to pick some electives that match his interests. For instance, choir or drama might be a choice, or perhaps starting a foreign language course early could be a possibility. Know what choices a child has to choose from, and guide him in making good decisions about what he is most comfortable with.
A tween heading into middle school should expect a larger workload both during school and for homework. If a tween is keeping up with his classes, this should not cause too much anxiety. Look for signs that a child is comfortable with the workload given, and not falling behind. This could indicate that he is not understanding his studies, and it might be time for a parent-teacher conference initiated by the parent. While there are set conferences throughout a school year, anything that needs to be addressed between these times should not be ignored.
Dealing With Peers
By the time a tween leaves elementary school, he knows the lay of the land, and feels pretty confident about his place. Coming into middle school there will be a whole new set of peers. Some may be old friends from elementary school, while many will be new faces. If a child is not comfortable making new friends, perhaps he just needs a little boost of confidence from mom and dad. Remind him how he made many friends in elementary school, and in time, he will make plenty of new friends, too.
Middle school is rite of passage for all tweens. Having involved parents/guardians can help him make this transition easier. Visiting the American School Counselor Association is a great idea for more tips on how to help a tween prepare for middle school. Check it out today.
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