Ah yes, the protective cocoon of elementary school, with lots of support in place to protect students in their earliest formative years. For parents of elementary school students, that protective bubble is comforting. Then comes the transition to middle school, where things change — sometimes drastically. Districts across Northeast Ohio handle that transition differently. Preparation for those changes can begin now, even many months until your student transitions to a new school. Here are seven things local parents said they did — or wished they did — to prepare their children before attending middle school.
1. Help child take ownership of classwork and teacher communication. Ashley Walker, of Solon, says she encouraged and often forced her fourth grader, Steven, to be the first one to contact his teacher for missed work when he was absent. Does your child have a class issue? Encourage your student to discuss with his or her teacher or other support staff. Walker says she was supportive and helped follow up, but in fourth grade, it became her son’s responsibility to get the ball rolling as a means for self-advocacy.
2. Work on organization. Valli Porter, also of Solon, told us that if she had it to do all over again, she’d work with her daughter, Arleigh, on her organization skills while she was still in elementary school. Her daughter always has been a strong student, but this duo was surprised by how hard the transition to middle school was given the added responsibility the student faced such as taking supplies to class, remembering the right thing from her locker now and for her class in two hours, and charging her Chromebook. Porter suggested others work on making lists, what students need and when, packing the night before and more. “Middle school exposed how much she relied on that small, forgiving elementary school environment,” Porter says.
3. See the school. Most districts will provide a “meet the school” type event in the weeks and months leading up to the transition. School officials we spoke to emphasized the importance of this event, not because students will remember every nook and cranny of their new school but being in the school helps debunk any preconceived notions students might have about it being too big, or confusing, or scary. By seeing the school, and that it largely looks like their elementary school, one student concern can be mitigated.
4. Learn about different and enhanced academic standards. In middle school, students have more teachers — each of whom has different rules and customs. Projects intensify, with longer-term, more complicated work loads. Parents and students can learn more about the type of work expected, and typical middle school teacher expectations, by asking other parents in their network or neighborhood who have gone through the transition already. Additionally, clear communication and direct questions of teachers and school administrative staff early in the year can help drive clarity of these new, deeper expectations.
5. Practice independent learning. Raise your hand if you have jumped in to help with your elementary school student’s homework at the first sign of trouble or confusion. Given the more difficult work and standards mentioned, the temptation may still exist to jump in to help, but guidance from educators suggests students are better off completing the work by themselves — and seeking assistance when necessary, either from their teachers or other sources. One modern solution parents and students are exploring is to use AI for help with homework, which can offer guidance while still encouraging independent problem-solving.
6. Investigate/explore other activities available in middle school. Your son is a soccer and baseball devotee? Your daughter is on the fast track to 20 hours a week at the gymnastics gym? Middle school is a good time for those interests to potentially expand and broaden. Band, choir, robotics and more now become options for your student, and they can test and learn what other activities in which they may be interested.
7. Establish boundaries and rules, but also new privileges. For all the reasons described above, new boundaries and rules may be in order. Given the intensified academic expectations and responsibilities, a more formal homework or post-school-day schedule may provide the additional structure your student needs to succeed. Providing ways to practice independence and adding rewards may be appropriate to keep your student engaged and enthusiastic about these changes.
