|
The middle school years
span the sixth, seventh and eighth grades and represent a passage from
childhood to young adulthood. The middle school years are an important
learning time for students to develop life skills they will use throughout
their academic career.
When
your child enters middle school, he or she may need to:
-
Get used to a larger school (usually) with
more students.
-
Adjust to different teachers for each subject
and possibly less one-on-one attention.
Many
common concerns of students in the transition process to middle school
are:
-
Getting to class on time
-
Bringing books and supplies to class
-
Keeping up with assignments
-
Opening lockers
-
Finding lockers
-
Remembering which class to go to next
-
Crowded halls!
This is also a time
when your child will be entering early adolescence. Peers and fitting in
may become important issues in your child’s everyday life, or he may try
to become more independent.
Some
challenges your child may face when becoming an adolescent are:
-
Cliques
-
Dealing with older children
-
Possible social immaturity or lack of basic
skills
-
Coping with adolescent physical development
-
More peer pressure
-
Developmental differences between boys and
girls
As your child enters
middle school, it is important to keep the lines of communication open.
Children can be sensitive at this time, so set up a private time when you
and your child can talk about school, friends and sex.
You may be looking
for information about social or sexual development that you can use at
home. The
Pathfinder Family Center (PFC) has numerous materials that
include pictures and videos for you to use. Call them at 1-800-245-5840
or visit them on their web site. If your son or daughter doesn’t want to
talk about social or sexual issues, let them know that it’s okay, and you
will be there for them when they are ready. In the meantime, you can give
them some other materials to look at.
For more information,
check out the Transition
web site maintained by the ND Department of Public Instruction.
|
