The Hidden Challenges of Transitioning from Elementary to Middle School

For many families, middle school marks a transition from dependence to independence. Parents become less involved in their students' schooling, leaving students responsible for managing their time.

While it's important for students to build responsibility and independence, the transition from elementary to middle school can feel overwhelming. Middle-schoolers are confronted with new school buildings, new classmates, new teachers, new procedures and new expectations. They need parents' support to navigate these changes successfully.

Moreover, middle school is a critical time in students' academic trajectories. The math and language skills built in middle school determine students' eligibility for advanced high school coursework. Additionally, middle-schoolers who build strong study skills are better positioned for success in high school and college.  

Day-to-Day Changes

Your student's day-to-day experience in middle school will be profoundly different from elementary school. She'll have different teachers for different subjects, her own locker and a larger building to navigate.

Help her prepare by talking about these changes beforehand. Teach her how to use a combination lock and a school email account. The more she knows about these new experiences, the less intimidating they will be.

Here are some ways to help your student adapt to day-to-day changes in middle school:

• Arrange a tour of the school building before her first day. This gives her a frame of reference and calms her nerves.
• Download or draw a map of the school and help her plan her route between classes.
• Discuss how she will organize her notes and assignments from different classes.

Academic Changes

Middle school is much more academically rigorous than elementary school. Students have more homework, more classes and fewer breaks. They start building essential skills for accelerated courses in high school. They also choose their own elective classes.

When it comes to electives, students must choose strategically. A computer science course, for example, is more beneficial than woodshop if your student is college bound. Additionally, many colleges require two years of foreign language study for admission, so starting in middle school is advantageous.

Here are some way to help your student adjust to the academic demands of middle school:

• Create a quiet place at home for your student to work without interruptions, and help him establish a nightly homework routine.
• In a 2004 survey of 8th-graders, many indicated that they wish they had understood the importance of building relationships with teachers when they first started middle school. Let your student practice introducing himself to his teachers, and have a conversation about how and when to ask for help.
• Discuss your student's passions and goals. Help him select the best electives that provide balance between his personal interests and his academic needs. (For example, if one elective is Spanish, the other can be choir.) Encourage him to take advanced courses whenever possible, if appropriate for his skill level.

Social Changes

If your child's school offers a transition program, it likely focuses on the procedural and academic changes between elementary and middle school. However, the social changes are often the most pronounced.

Children entering middle school are going through big emotional, cognitive and physical changes, and those changes often affect their social lives. Their developing social skills make them more aware of other people's thoughts and opinions, and, while that awareness helps them in many situations, it also causes stress.

Many incoming middle-schoolers have anxiety about building new relationships, since they are in class with so many unfamiliar students and teachers. Talk to your child about the best way to make new friends, as well as how to identify toxic friendships and group dynamics.

Here are some ways to help your student prepare for the social challenges of middle school:

• Work together to make a list of the social differences between elementary and middle school. This shows your student what to expect and helps you get a sense of her outlook.
• If your student will be in a building with 8th- and 9th-graders, talk about the different attitudes and interests those older students might have. Speculate about how those students will feel on their first day of high school in a new building.
• Discuss your student's extracurricular interests. What clubs, teams or performance groups could he join to meet likeminded friends?
• Make a list of your student's values. What makes her who she is? What can she say if someone asks her to compromise one of her values? (Make sure this is truly a list of her values, and not your own.)

College Planning in Middle School
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Is your middle-schooler college bound? If so, the time to start planning for college costs and admissions is now. To learn more about how to create a smart financial plan for college, sign up for our free college financial planning seminar led by an expert financial adviser.