Easing the Transition to High School

The shift from middle school to high school can be a big one. There are more students in the building, more classes to choose from, more independence and accountability expected, and more difficult coursework. While your child may be excited to finally be in high school, they may be nervous as well.

As the new school year draws near, now is the time to start preparing your child for this transition so they have a better idea of what to expect and can navigate this new environment.

Visit the school. Many districts offer tours and orientations for incoming freshmen to help them acclimate to a new building. Attend these events so your child can find their locker, classrooms, lunchroom, gym, library, and other areas before the first day. Look at a map of the building and their schedule together and help them find their route from one class to the next.

Review their courses. What classes will your child be taking in ninth grade? Are there any subjects that are new and unfamiliar? Are there any that are a continuation of a previous course where they can brush up on what they learned last year? A tutor can help your child reinforce foundational concepts and begin exposing them to new content. Having this support in place can boost students’ confidence.

Make friends. Encourage your child to reach out to other students and see if they have any classes together. It can be comforting to know ahead of time that they’ll see at least a few familiar faces. Don’t forget about students who may be on their sports, dance, or other recreational teams who may not have been at their middle school but who will be at their high school. Older students can also be a great resource because they already know their way around and can make your child feel more at ease.

Balance extracurriculars. High school courses may be more demanding than what your child is used to, so it can take them time to adjust. Be strategic about what extracurricular activities they participate in so they don’t feel too overwhelmed and have enough time for homework, projects, and studying. They may want to take a season off and restart once they’ve settled into their new routine.

Maintain open communication. Have regular conversations with your child about things they are looking forward to and things that may be worrying them. Work together to put strategies in place to deal with some of these challenges. Make sure they know that they can come to you or another trusted adult if they are having problems, or if they just want to talk.

Build effective habits. Set your child up for greater success by making sure they have all of the tools they need for school. This includes things like a planner, separate notebooks and folders for each class, plenty of pencils and highlighters, a calculator, and anything else the school requires. Help them get organized and create a schedule to manage their time between academics, other commitments, and free time.

Crafting Scholars can help students transition to high school through a wide range of programs focused on executive functioning, note taking, study skills, test prep, writing mechanics, and more, in addition to traditional subject area content. Set your child up with the one-on-one support they need to be more successful and boost their confidence. Contact Crafting Scholars to reserve their spot!

Originally published at https://craftingscholars.com on July 16, 2024.