{"id":740,"date":"2022-12-21T14:41:58","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T14:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/capefearchristianacademy.org\/?p=740"},"modified":"2022-12-21T15:24:02","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T15:24:02","slug":"moving-up-and-on-to-middle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/capefearchristianacademy.org\/moving-up-and-on-to-middle\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving Up And On To Middle"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The transition from elementary to middle school is the most significant change in K\u201312 schoolings. Students are moving from a room with 1 teacher and maybe 20ish classmates to multiple teachers with different teaching styles, new peers in various classes, and higher expectations of individual responsibility. <\/span><\/p>

In order to understand why this transition is so pivotal, we must understand the way the brain processes information for learning as it develops. In the elementary years, the learning tasks are centered around memorization for academics and social skills. Because the brain is so occupied with creating these patterns and routines there is relatively little room for the more rigorous concepts in middle school. Essentially the elementary years are in preparation for the rigors of middle school. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The transition from elementary to the middle along with the continual maturing of the brain allows for a higher emphasis to be placed on inferential thinking and a lessened focus on the routine memory work. Chemical changes and new neuron pathways support the short and long-term memory needed for success in middle school<\/u><\/a>.
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In short, by middle school, your child’s brain will be ready to tackle material on a deeper level. On average these students are ready for middle, but it can not be assumed that all are ready for new challenges, and as such teachers must be vigilant to ensure the deeper content is communicated in an effective and engaging manner for the students. <\/span><\/p>

There are 3 main areas of concern for parents and students with the middle school transition: academic success, logical concerns, and social acceptance. Here we dive in on the academic concerns, but be sure to check out our piece on how to navigate the social hurdles of middle school in our May article. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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For your student, thinking of middle school can have a series of concerns running on repeat in their head. Will the classes be too challenging? Will there be an excessive amount of homework? Are the teachers tough on grading? What happens if they turn in work late? <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Rest assured it is quite normal for your student to have some growing pains as they transition from elementary to middle school and their grades may drop with the move to middle school. They are learning to navigate a whole new world complete with emerging hormones, physical changes, social standing, and add to that an entirely new set of academic expectations and it should not be surprising that their grades may dip. However, most students with support, flip the dip and find their groove. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Some tips to help ease academic concerns:<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf your child appears to be overwhelmed, reassure them that they will be able to handle the new challenges with time and practice.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHelp your student to develop time management skills. Create a schedule for study time, breaks, chores, and so on.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWork with your student to develop an organizational system, such as a planner or a backpack with plenty of storage. Anxiety can be greatly reduced by feeling prepared with supplies and materials.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRefrain from overreacting to grades. Making sure your child understands how to meet the demands of the new school is critical in the first few weeks.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStay aware of your child's schoolwork. CFCA utilizes Gradelink so that parents can see their child's progress in a class at any time.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAllow your student to work independently while still providing them with enough support to give them confidence.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEncourage them to discuss problems and solutions with teachers on their own, but be prepared to step in and assist if necessary.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFinally, the best way to assist your child with this transition is to maintain a positive attitude toward middle school. When they express concerns or frustrations about their academic performance, empathize with them. Assure them that they will grow more at ease and confident over time. Remind your child that the school and teachers want them to succeed and that they have what it takes to succeed.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Many students new to middle school are fearful of talking to their teachers. They worry that their teachers may view them as \u201cdumb\u201d or that with a bad grade they will see them as a bad student. Studies show that having a strong support system in place at the home will help students to overcome these hurdles. As a parent, supporting your student and modeling positive attitudes toward the school and teachers will lead to confident students that trust their teachers and become invested in their own success. The most successful students have their parents alongside offering support although it is a delicate balancing act as a parent to support, but not step in to fight their battles. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    \u00a0Becoming a successful middle school student both neurologically and socially does not happen on the first day. Instead, this is a gradual process with a learning curve.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Here we offer some perspectives and advice from those in the field to help ease this pivotal shift: a teacher, a seasoned parent or two, and a few current middle school students to help ease the transition. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Challenges noted and experienced: <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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