Moving from elementary to middle school can be tricky for both students and parents to navigate. While many childrens might be eager to forge ahead into young adulthood, others may still be a little timid about what’s in store. Whichever camp your child falls into, they might be grappling with more than they’re letting on.
As a parent, there’s plenty you can do to help ease the transition and support your child through this crucial milestone. However, first, you’ll need to understand how middle school differs from primary school and what changes your child might expect going forward.
The Middle School Experience
Whether your child goes to an international American, or British school in Dubai, they’ll likely encounter the following changes as they transition from elementary to middle school:
1. Academic Demands
Middle school curriculums are generally more rigorous than primary schools, with a heavier workload and higher expectations for independent learning.
They’re designed to drive a smooth transition from elementary education by fostering a consistent development of research and inquiry skills. This helps build student capacity for self-directed learning and prepares them to thrive in high school.
2. More Extracurricular Activities
As your child progresses to middle school, they’ll also have a broader range of after-school activities to choose from, including:
- Sports (basketball, football, tennis, table tennis and badminton)
- Theatre and drama clubs
- Overnight camps
- Student government
- Music and dance classes
- Enrichment programs (debate clubs, quiz teams, etc.)
These activities will benefit your child in several ways. They can enjoy a little more independence, explore their interests, and develop new skills outside the classroom, all while learning how to manage their time better and work within a team.
Additionally, they’ll be able to make new friends and expand their social circle beyond their classmates.
3. New Teachers
In primary school, students usually have one or two instructors who teach all the subjects. In middle school, however, your child will have several teachers for different subjects.
This means students will have to adapt to working with several teachers whose teaching styles and expectations may vary. They’ll also have to get accustomed to moving between classrooms without a teacher assistant’s help for some subjects like art, music or physical education.
4. Increased Responsibility
Middle schoolers are expected to take on more responsibility for their education, including managing homework, keeping track of assignments, and getting to class on time.
At this point in their education, they’ll need to develop better organisational skills and self-discipline to comfortably keep up with the requirements of middle school.
Tips for Guiding Your Child From Primary to Middle School
Here are five ways you can support your child through this transition:
1. Attend Back-to-School Night and PTA Meetings
There’s no doubt that children tend to perform better in school when their parents are actively involved. At the start of the school year, going to back-to-school night is an excellent way to get to know your child’s teachers and learn more about the academic expectations and routine of middle school.
Additionally, regularly attending PTA meetings throughout the year will allow you to keep tabs on your child’s progress and discuss any concerns you might have.
While at the school, you can also explore the layout of the school building and grounds. Knowing the location of important places like their class, main office, cafeteria, gym and auditorium can help you connect with your child when they talk to you about how their day went at school.
2. Visit the School Website
Besides having pertinent information about your child’s admission, like school fees and age placement guide, school websites can be an invaluable resource for parents. Either through a dedicated parents portal or displayed right on the website pages, most schools will have the following information available:
- School year calendar
- Contact information for school staff
- Event dates, such as class field trips, graduation day, etc.
- Exams and quiz schedules
- Details for registration and timetables of after-school activities
- Grades and homework assignments
- Resources and extra worksheets to help your child with their studies
With this information, you can know what’s going on at school at all times and help your child organise their schedule and stay on top of their studies, deadlines and extracurriculars.
3. Encourage Regular Attendance
Missing a day in primary school was probably not a big deal. However, in middle school, it’s much easier for students to fall behind due to an absence. Still, if they’re experiencing symptoms of an illness, it’s best to keep them home and let them rest.
On the other hand, if your child is hesitant about going to schoolwhen they’re feeling perfectly fine, there might be more going on. Talk to them to find out what’s causing them to feel anxious. A few reasons why children might be reluctant to go to school are social problems, tough assignments or even bullying.
If this is a consistent occurrence, it would help to get to the bottom of what’s troubling them and enlist the help of school counsellors, administrators and teachers if needed to address their concerns.
4. Provide Help in Developing Organisational Skills
As mentioned, middle school will probably be the first time your child has to juggle different homework assignments from multiple teachers as well as extracurricular activities. Here, you can help them learn proper time management, prioritisation and organisational skills.
For instance, you can help them arrange class projects and assignments into binders or folders with due dates and progress trackers. You can also encourage them to use a planner or a calendar for non-academic activities, such as sports practices, music lessons or theatre rehearsals.
5. Ask About School
While it might be hard for you to remain completely connected to your child as they develop new interests and expand their social circle, you must show them that you’re still their go-to person for love, guidance and support.
Regularly ask them how their day at school went. When they know you’re interested in their day-to-day academic, social and personal experiences, they’ll be more likely to come to you when they need help or have something they want to share.
How you talk and listen to them can also impact how well they respond. So, be sure to listen carefully, avoid multitasking while you talk, and be understanding and positive.
Help Your Child Take the Leap
Middle school is an exciting time in your child’s life. It’s when they develop a sense of autonomy and individuality and take on more responsibility for their education and personal growth.
Remember, the key to guiding them through this transition is open communication, involvement in their academic journey and being a positive role model. With your help, your child will have a smooth and successful transition from primary to middle school.
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