Tips for Starting Middle School
Time Management, Organization and Study Skills for Teens
May 25, 2007
As elementary schools near the end of another year, middle schools are gearing up for the fall semester and the challenge of welcoming new students. The transition to middle school has become the focus of substantial research over the last three decades. The physical and emotional changes of adolescence coupled with the dramatic shift in schooling philosophy and structure results in a transition period fraught with questions and anxiety for parents and students alike. The most recent body of evidence suggests that students experiencing the smoothest transition to middle school emerge from their school’s orientation program with a strong foundation in three specific areas: organization, social skills and academic awareness. Inquire about your school’s orientation program and their plan for addressing the following three areas.
Orientation Focus #1: Get Organized. Stay Organized.
Creating effective organizational systems poses one of the greatest challenges for students leaving elementary school. Students who learn how to manage the flow of information and materials from school to home experience higher levels of academic achievement during the first year of middle school. The challenge for most students is finding a system that gives them access to their school supplies and papers in a timely manner. Although most orientation programs assist students with strategies for organizing lockers and binders, perhaps an even greater challenge waits for them at home. Creating a study center at home provides middle schoolers with the final piece of their organizational system. When papers leave a student’s backpack and binder they should be moved into some type of filing system.
- Hanging files and a standard egg crate typically meet the needs of most students. The key to the success of any organizational system is consistent use.
- Each week any papers, not currently in use at school, should be removed from the backpack and binder and transferred to the file crate.
- As the end of the first semester approaches students will need access to past assignments as they begin to study for their exams.
- With a limited amount of time and patience middle schoolers will appreciate having quick access to the information they need to study effectively.
Orientation Focus #2: Stay Connected. Build New Friendships.
With a school population far greater than most elementary schools, the middle school campus can seem daunting to new arrivals in the opening weeks of the fall semester. The ability to find new friends and stay connected with their current peer group dramatically affects a new student’s ability to succeed in their first year of middle school. Often, students leave elementary school with an established peer group, who suddenly disappear in the mass of bodies moving around the middle school campus.
- Meeting new friends and establishing positive relationships has become an integral part of the transition process to middle school. Effective orientation programs dedicate a considerable amount of time to team building activities.
- Through the joint effort of older students and school personnel, new middle schoolers are guided through a series of activities designed to bring new faces together in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.
- Students begin the year excited about new friendships and with greater confidence in their ability to develop a growing network of positive peer relationships.
Orientation Focus #3: Get Ahead. Stay Ahead.
The transition from elementary school and the expectations of a single teacher in a single classroom to multiple classrooms and teachers often leaves students overwhelmed as they try to sort out assignments and teacher expectations.
- During orientation students typically receive agenda planners followed by specific strategies and guidance from teachers about how to chart assignment due dates and project deadlines.
- After recording due dates in their planners, students are encouraged to think ahead and take action to complete assignments prior to the scheduled deadlines.
- Creating weekly goals and action statements is one way to stay on track for completing class work on time. Waiting until the night before the due date to complete assignments often results in frustration and stress for students and parents.
- The combination of effectively organizing due dates and working ahead on assignments eases the transition to middle school and the increasing workload.
As the fall semester begins to become more visible, review the focus points above. Prior to your school’s orientation program talk with other families about their plan for easing the transition to middle school. With a solid foundation for success in place prior to the start of the school year, your child will be well on the way to a wonderful year in middle school.
Read more about the transition to middle school here.
