Transition Activities from Middle School to High School

An important milestone in a teen's education is entering high school. However, an alarming number of these freshman students eventually drop out. In some cases, these students never learn how to cope with the new system. Transition activities are a vital way for parents and educators to help ensure that middle schoolers are adequately prepared for high school.

Teacher Support

A key difference between middle and high schools is size. The average high school population is far bigger than in a middle school, and the number of students per classroom can be almost double. The class design is more bureaucratic, too, with the focus shifting from the individual student to the overall group. Educators recommend that high schools form small learning communities of students, specifically designed for ease of transition. Teachers are assigned to these small units to monitor student progress at a more individual level and to serve as a resource for any struggling students.

Parental Assistance

Middle school students are naturally eager to know what high school subjects are like. However, this may not be addressed adequately in middle schools, which can lead to confusion as students choose their classes. Parents can assist their children by joining them in high school information sessions. These sessions usually explain the details of enrollment, typical curriculum choices and sample classes in a student-friendly setting.

Social Aspects

For young teens, developing new friendships and starting social interactions are priorities. High school comes with a lot of social pressure from other students and may leave an unprepared student feeling that he must fend for himself. Some high schools initiate social activities, such as meet-and-greets, to develop a support system for middle school students as soon as they enter high school. This involves interacting with upperclassmen and fellow students through regular meetings, email conversations and even getting together for casual fun activities.

Career Preparation

Some students see high school as an important preparatory step to choosing a college and subsequent career. Because of this, high schools offer various activities to help students choose college preparatory classes as well as career exploration activities. One popular example is career shadowing, where students are partnered with an expert from a specific industry and often spend a day at work with that person. The school follows up by informing the student of the details of that chosen career path, including applicable advanced classes that the student can take to prepare.

References

• National High School Center: Toward Ensuring a Smooth Transition Into High School
• National High School Center: Easing the Transition to High School -- Research and Best Practices Designed to Support High School Learning
• Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Transition from Middle School into High School

Resources

• National High School Center: Middle to High School Transition