This article is part of the following topics: Back to School Get Involved at School Middle School School Life Summer
Moving Up to Middle School
The step from elementary to middle school can be a big one, but these tips will help ease the transition for both parents and children.
Your child is headed to middle school. Don’t panic! You can take steps to make sure you and your child are ready.
Mark Terry, principal of Eubanks Intermediate School in Southlake, Texas, has been helping families make a seamless transition from elementary school to 6th grade for years. The secret: getting parents inside the school. “The thing we find the most successful is simply communicating with parents,” he says. “They feel like their kids will get lost, and we want to assure them that they won’t.”
Here are Terry’s tips for keeping cool while your child makes the leap to middle school:
Lockers are a major source of anxiety for students. Buy your child a combination lock so he can practice over the summer. Once at school, he’ll have a new combination to learn, but he’ll be confident he can get into his locker quickly.
Learn the dress code. New middle school students also stress out about fashion. They want the latest styles, while parents want them to dress demurely. Check with the school and find out what type of clothing is allowed. Take note of what 7th graders are wearing, shop accordingly, and try to let your child win the battle of the wardrobe.
Middle school students have more opportunities for extracurricular activities. Talk to your child about what interests she would like to cultivate.
Remind your child that she won’t be the only new kid at school. Everyone in her grade will be new. “We go back to the Girl Scouts: ‘Make new friends and keep the old, some are silver and the other gold,’ ” says Terry.
Familiarize yourself with how middle school operates. Does your school have team teaching? Vertical teaming? Do students have a different teacher for every academic subject? Or do some teachers teach both math and science or language arts as well as social studies? How does the school communicate with parents? Are homework and project assignments posted online?
If your child is less than enthusiastic about the school, check out the school spirit shop and purchase some T-shirts for the family. Wear them all summer. By identifying yourself as a future Cougar or Raider, you might meet other families at the local pizza place or at the pool.
Get to know the middle school kids in your neighborhood. Chances are they’re good kids and there’s nothing to be afraid of. “Once parents get into the building they’re like, “These are nice kids,” Terry says.
Help your child learn the invaluable lifelong skill of being organized. Many kids who struggle in middle school have problems with organization. They get overwhelmed, procrastinate, and don’t ask for help until it’s too late. Give your child some summer responsibilities that will help him build time-management and other organizational skills.
Join the PTO. Many parents think they aren’t needed or wanted at the middle school, but that’s not true, Terry says. He wants parents involved. His teachers want parents involved. And kids, believe it or not, want their parents involved.
Don’t fall prey to neighborhood rumors about the middle school. Find out the facts for yourself by visiting the school and talking to the principal. Terry has had to squelch rumors that students are rewarded when their parents do their projects for them. He assured nervous parents that teachers know when parents do their child’s work and that they do not reward cheating. “Don’t listen to gossip,” he says.
Enrolling your child in middle school is scary. It’s a bigger school. Your child will go from being one of the oldest kids in school to being one of the youngest. The homework load will probably increase. The pace will speed up. The good news? Your child is ready. With your support, your child will rise to the challenge.
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Posted by - sarah on Aug. 19, 2009
i just moved here a week ago and just started school and im in my 2nd year of middle school. I was cry all day on the first and second day of school.1) because i was scared
2) i missed the bus
3) i don't no anyone
4) people made fun of my last name
5) no one would sit by me
6) a dude pushed me into the school wall looked backed and laughed
who could have a worse day then me?!?!
Posted by - anonymous on Aug. 12, 2009
I read the article. Many things were helpful EXCEPT number six.if it was me and my parents did that i would be MORTIFIED.
other than that everthing was good.
Posted by - khansa on Aug. 10, 2009
i like itPosted by - Jasmine on Aug. 06, 2009
I LIKE THESE TIPSPosted by - Brittany on Jul. 06, 2009
I'm starting middle School,and was nervous very nervous,I was nervous because I thought I might forget my locker combination,what classes I go to,what to do if I make a fool of myself,if nobody likes me,if I dont dress right,If my hair looks to puffy or to strait lol,and most of allfogettinf everthing,like brushing teeth,dressing right,forgetting to brush my hair and all the other stuff!O.k. that was alot sorry,but after i read this page most of all that stuff went away!Thank the Lord!!!lol!Anyways this page really helped ME.I hope it does the same to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by - Tyler on Jun. 28, 2009
Middle School can be scary, but it isn't after the first day when you get the hang of things. I was nervous on my first day of sixth grade by: not remembering my locker combination, not seeing my friends from elementary school, not remembering my schedule and room numbers. But after the first day, I felt confident. I think this page article is really awsome. Now that I will be an 8th Grader in the fall, I won't need this page. Rising middle schoolers and their parents should really use this page!Posted by - eetrtw on Jun. 26, 2009
Posted by - Kendra on May. 31, 2009
I am starting Junior High this fall. This artical really helped alot i am super scared but after reading this artical i am kinda scared still but i will have my friends with me.Posted by - MARIA on May. 13, 2009
You should be really scared. My daugther had been pounched in the face today and I can't believed. I've cried. I'm so upset she is not going back. Twoo weeks ago someone stole her IPOD from her bag and todayy this. I can't take itPosted by - Angela Norton Tyler on Mar. 13, 2009
One of the best things you can do for your soon-to-be middle schooler is teacher him Homework Organization and How to Study. Changing classes is only part of the middle school transition. We often forget that students have never been show how to keep track of 5 different classes' homework, assignments, projects, etc AND how to study effectively for each subject.Posted by - Brianna on Jan. 26, 2009
Im in fifth grade but im scared to enter middle school because the old fifth graders often bullied me but this kind of takes away my other worriesPosted by - cindy medina on Oct. 25, 2008
I started middle school like a month ago and i was so scared because i didnt know what to do and i didnt know where to go i was always lost and i couldnt get my locker open and know im always good to go and i know how to open my locker and i love school kinda rock on ,celestePosted by - sarah on Oct. 19, 2008
Wow! I started middle school two years ago and I was totally dis organized! I wish you had this article up when I was in sixth grade! well next year im to high school! Got any advice for that school?!?!? eep!Posted by - kemonie on Sep. 29, 2008
ithink it goodPosted by - sem on Sep. 27, 2008
I started middle school this fall,and I am in all of the advanced classes, so its kind of overloading me but after I read your article it helped me a lot.Posted by - Kim on Aug. 24, 2008
Middle school is a huge transition from the 'comforts' of elementary school. I truly appreciate the information posted. The middle school where my son will articulate to does not have a strong reputation. However, after reading tip #10, I was convicted of falling into the neighborhood rumors about this school. Truth be told, there are good schools and not so good schools. What matters most is the support and advocacy a parent provides to their child that will make the experience positive or not so positive. Thanks for information. I plan to share this site with the other 'worried' moms in my communityPosted by - 123iseecheese on Aug. 24, 2008
Thanks, this was useful information. Im not as nervous. There's one week until school for me and now im excited.Posted by - gaby on Aug. 24, 2008
i was really really nervous but by reading this is made me more calm im still very nervous but im gonna try some of your tips and do my best to have an awesome school year !!!Posted by - amandasmile on Aug. 19, 2008
WOW! i am statring Junior High this year, at first i was scared, but now its like a chip off the old block. lol! it sounds a lot of fun, other then mean teachers an stuff like that. thanks for writing this!Posted by - shania on Aug. 15, 2008
i am staring junior high this year... and your list REALLY helped me. i have been stressing all summer about how much of a mess i was going to be, but reading this really picked things up... THANXPosted by - Lindsey on Aug. 05, 2008
I'm starting middle school this year. I saw your site and decided to read it. You really gave me some great advice. I am kind of nervous going to middle school. But I'm sure that if I follow your tips I'll have a great time. Thanks again.Posted by - amber on Jun. 30, 2008
this is an awsome page that you wrote.I'm just about to start middle school,and i was scarde at first but now I'm ready to go and get my stuff ready for this year!