Transferring from primary school to middle school is a big step that can intimidate your child.
Behavior
Transition Your Child into Middle School (4 Tips)
Transferring from primary school to middle school is a big step that can intimidate your child.
When my child made this move, he had many questions about the process. I didn’t have the answers for him…
Education resources
Transition Your Child into Middle School
This is a transition you will have to prepare in advance, so you’ll be able to address your child’s concerns. Gathering information about the transition will help your child have a less unnerving experience.
1. Check the School’s Website
The school’s website was one of the greatest resources we found for my son’s move to middle school. You might be surprised to know just how much information the website will share. Reviewing the site will help you learn more about class schedules. You can also find out about additional supplies your child may need.
The website will help you stay apprised of upcoming events as the school year progresses. The website may also provide a copy of the school’s handbook. This will be especially useful because it will provide you with the school’s policies.
2. Discuss the Changes in the School Day
The changes in the school day can leave your child feeling overwhelmed. You can help by preparing for the new experience in advance. For instance, my son was surprised that there was no more midday recess. Another big change to point out to your child is the rotating classrooms and the shorter periods for each class.
It’s important to ensure your son or daughter understands that they will be responsible for getting to each class on time. This means keeping track of the periods and knowing where each class is on campus.
3. Prepare for More Homework
Another important aspect of transitioning to middle school is understanding that more will be expected of your child. While the increased quantity of homework may be surprising to you as a parent, you must support the school’s teachers. This means encouraging your child to do the work.
You can help by providing a distraction-free space for your son or daughter to do their homework. This may mean taking away their phone and setting up a quiet space for doing their work. The area should not be near a television, radio, or other sources of entertainment.
4. Teach Time Management Skills
In addition to homework, there will be other responsibilities your child will have to meet. They may be responsible for walking the family dog or doing household chores, or they may choose to join a sports team at school. This means their afternoons will be full. They will have to make the time to do all these things and complete their schoolwork. It helped my son set up a schedule to learn to manage his time wisely. Creating a visual schedule, such as on a dry-erase board, and designating blocks of time for each task can help your child meet all of his or her obligations.
These tips will hopefully help you take the mystery out of the next phase in your child’s education. While your child will have to make this transition independently, gathering useful information will help your child better adjust to this change. Before you know it, your child will have made middle school his new home away from home.
