What Every Middle School Student Should Know
As a student in middle school, you’ve already made the sometimes difficult transition from elementary school. That move often means traveling away from the local elementary school where you’ve been most of your life. This is a place where all the teachers know you by name and know your parents – where you have gone home and played with many of the same kids from your neighborhood.
Middle schools often represent a much larger school and often larger classrooms where everything, everybody, and even the average day are different. Instead of staying in one class with one teacher, you may be all over the building or campus to several different teachers – navigating your way through crowded hallways to make sure you are not late to your next class.
Maybe you were a star in your old elementary school, but now you’re one of many who are starting over. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it’s a great opportunity to get a fresh start.
Middle school is often the place where students blossom. Some friends who were very shy and quiet may begin to find their voice. Students experience growth spurts, changes in their physical appearance and personal development. It is also the place where students begin to develop a greater interest in career possibilities. After all, the reality of college is only a few years away – and what you do now really does count.
Here are a few tips to help you to navigate the waters of middle school:
*Organization, organization, organization – It is critical that you become as organized as possible. Your binder should have a clear system for managing class notes and assignment sheets, and a place for announcements that come home from school. Many students use a planning journal to write down homework assignments and dates for special events.
In middle school there are a lot more papers, books, homework, and scheduling that you will have to track. Use color-coding and make copies of important schedules or class assignments that you can post at home so you’ll have a back up copy.
Middle school teachers place more responsibility on students to be prepared for class. Avoid making excuses and go out of your way to stay on top of your game. The same excuses in elementary school won’t fly in middle school – so if the dog eats your homework, redo the assignment.
*Take advantage of opportunities – This is the time to join clubs, participate in activities, and learn to play new instruments. Don’t worry about whether you’ve never tried it before. Don’t hold back because you just may learn something about yourself that you didn’t know.
Another way to help transition to middle school is to become active and get involved. Find out what activities and teams are available and do so early so you don’t miss any tryouts. Participating in activities helps you to make new friends and develop a support system that can help you navigate the next few years of school. Active participation is also a great way to overcome shyness and to get to know teachers faster.
*Begin your career exploration – Look for opportunities to learn more about different careers. Choose to write papers on careers that may interest you. It offers a chance to learn more about a field that may be of interest. Ask questions when speakers visit your school. You may even be able to ask your teachers if guest speakers can be invited who work in fields that you think you would like to pursue.
*Plan ahead – Did you know that your preparation for college really begins now? Even though you are in middle school you are laying a foundation for future success. Courses such as math, science, and English are preparing a solid foundation in which future courses will be built upon. Make sure that you are getting the fundamentals now so that when you begin to take more advanced courses you can draw from what you learned in middle school.
*Ask questions – Another tip and one of the most important ones that students must adhere to is to be willing to ask questions. Remember there is a good chance that at some point you may get confused or overwhelmed by assignments or projects. Your parents and teachers all had to go through the same thing years ago, so don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask questions. There are teachers, office staff, and others at the school that are more than willing to provide you with the information that you need.