School transition plan - From Elementary to Middle School
The transition from elementary to middle school, for many students, tends to be a time filled with anxiety and confusion. Most of these students are transitioning to a different school building, seeing teachers they have never met, and depending on their district, they could be parting ways with their friends and going to separate middle schools. To these students, the new world of middle school possesses many unknowns and they are not quite sure of what to expect.
In addition to the physical transition from elementary to middle school, these students may even experience personal transitions. Students at this age are often beginning to go through puberty, which can bring on many new challenges. They are beginning to explore their identity and compare themselves to their peers. If their transition from elementary to middle school is rocky, this could have a negative impact their personal journey as well.
School Counselors have the ability to play a huge role in the lives' of their students who are transitioning from elementary to middle school. First and foremost, they should have a transition plan in place to help ease these elementary school students into their future middle school selves. Elementary school counselors and Middle School counselors can collaborate with one another to create a transition plan to prepare these students for the next few years of their educational journey. They can help tame the anxiety these students are likely feeling by planning a field trip to a middle school; this could give them a chance to meet the teachers, and tour the school so they can get a feel for the building and its environment. The students could have the chance to practice opening the lockers and ask other questions. Another helpful aspect would be to pair the future middle schoolers with an older middle school students. This would give them a chance to have a peer mentor and a potential friend once they arrive at the middle school.
Furthermore, the Elementary school counselor could talk with the fifth grade teachers and encourage them to start talking with their classes about how middle school would be different than elementary in terms of the work load. Lastly, the Elementary school counselor and the Middle school counselor could plan a family information night. This would help ensure that the parents know what is going on and what the elementary to middle school transition would look like. The counselors can give the parents tips on how to help and address any concerns the students or parents may have.
In addition to the physical transition from elementary to middle school, these students may even experience personal transitions. Students at this age are often beginning to go through puberty, which can bring on many new challenges. They are beginning to explore their identity and compare themselves to their peers. If their transition from elementary to middle school is rocky, this could have a negative impact their personal journey as well.
School Counselors have the ability to play a huge role in the lives' of their students who are transitioning from elementary to middle school. First and foremost, they should have a transition plan in place to help ease these elementary school students into their future middle school selves. Elementary school counselors and Middle School counselors can collaborate with one another to create a transition plan to prepare these students for the next few years of their educational journey. They can help tame the anxiety these students are likely feeling by planning a field trip to a middle school; this could give them a chance to meet the teachers, and tour the school so they can get a feel for the building and its environment. The students could have the chance to practice opening the lockers and ask other questions. Another helpful aspect would be to pair the future middle schoolers with an older middle school students. This would give them a chance to have a peer mentor and a potential friend once they arrive at the middle school.
Furthermore, the Elementary school counselor could talk with the fifth grade teachers and encourage them to start talking with their classes about how middle school would be different than elementary in terms of the work load. Lastly, the Elementary school counselor and the Middle school counselor could plan a family information night. This would help ensure that the parents know what is going on and what the elementary to middle school transition would look like. The counselors can give the parents tips on how to help and address any concerns the students or parents may have.