July 28, 2003

From Elementary To Middle School

Is Your Child Prepared For The Transition?

Blue Grass, IA - Transitioning from elementary to middle (intermediate) school is an exciting time in a 5th or 6th grader's life. He or she is heading off to a new school with old and new friends, harder classes, and new teachers. You, as a parent, may be wondering how well your child may make the transition from elementary to middle school.

This fall, Mary McCluskey will be starting 6th grade at Walcott Middle School. Contrary to what some parents may think, McCluskey is not scared about starting middle school. "Remembering my locker combination is the only thing I'm worried about," McCluskey says. Why is this soon-to-be 6th grader so calm and cool about middle school?

"A child's ability to adjust to middle school depends on the individual child," says Teri Hughes-Paulline, a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) at Psychology Associates in Davenport. "Elementary schools play a part in preparing your child for middle school by taking them on a tour of the middle school and having them talk with soon-to-be middle school peers about what it is like." However, parents also have a role in helping children transition from elementary to middle school. Hughes-Paulline recommends talking with your child about what they might face during their first week of middle school. "A good time to talk with your child is when preparing for registration," says Hughes-Paulline. "If you don't know the answer to your child's question or have questions of your own, you can ask them together at registration."

When preparing for registration, Psychology Associates suggests discussing the following topics with your child:

• How to find the right classroom
• Opening lockers
• Getting involved in student activities
• Organization
• Study habits

If your child does experience a hard time during the first week of middle school, take time to talk with your child. Listen, support, and reassure your child that he or she will get the hang of things.

"Networking with other parents is another way to help your child," says Hughes-Paulline. "Make time at night so your child can get together with old friends and you can talk with other parents about what your children are going through."

Mitchell Miller of Bettendorf is going to be an eighth grader in the fall at Bettendorf Middle School. Miller reflects about what it was like to be a 6th grader and says that his elementary school also prepared him for middle school so he wasn't worried about making the transition.

"The only thing I worried about was finding my way to the different classes," says Miller. "But that wasn't a big deal. I asked people, and I soon found out where to go."

One of the questions on a parent's mind is who should my child talk to if he or she needs help. If your child runs into a problem, Miller recommends talking to the school counselor or the principal.

As for making new friends, Miller says that there are a lot of different people in your classes so you get to know people easily. "Middle School is not as bad as what people say it is," he adds.

Mary McCluskey says she's prepared, " I have several friends who are a year older than me and they've told me what things are like at the school." She says she is excited about starting her classes. "The most exciting part about going to middle school is all the new things I'm going to learn," she adds.& "My favorite subjects are Math and Science." And as far as her locker combination, she'll receive it during registration and says she'll have time to memorize it before the first day of school.

For more information on preparing your child for transitioning for middle school visit the Genesis Health System Web site, www.genesishealth.com or contact Teri Hughes-Paulline, LISW at Psychology Associates, 563-355-2577.