Life is a challenge for students making the transition from fifth grade to sixth. It’s a new school environment which makes it exciting! Students are ready for a change; many are optimistic about the upcoming future opportunities to make new friends, engage in school clubs, and participate in sports. As much as teachers are excited about the new bunch of students; they are also sensitive to their thoughts and emotions when grappling with unfamiliar life experiences.

Middle School Challenges

In a perfect world, each student will get an individual needs assessment upon entering a school building; assessing their mental well-being, family needs, and providing resources based on immediate support but this is far from the case. We know once in school sixth-grade students have their own set of challenges and concerns from undressing in front of other peers during PE, to making friends, while maintaining a healthy social life necessary for development. Eleven-year-old children moving into middle school must have their needs and emotional concerns recognized in order to function in class and be productive.

The Quick Move and Transition

Moving from 5th grade into middle school is a more intense change than moving from 4th to 5th grade, it is highly recommended that school administrators provide guidance and supportive programs to help struggling students assimilate into their new educational and social setting. Students who struggle to make a smooth transition are more likely to fall behind, succumb to peer pressure, and struggle academically.

Going into a new setting, middle school students are nervous; working to find their place in school and their classroom. Less time is spent celebrating their arrival, onboarding parents in getting to know teachers, and the campus. When I first went to take my daughter to school it was similar to a factory; we were lined up and pointed to our next point on the poorly printed map. I had hoped they would be a little more like elementary school in which teachers spend more time getting to know students and their families. Middle schools need a change; what if we allowed graduating 5th graders to visit their new middle school during the summer and get to know some of the other students and the teachers; then they wouldn’t feel so nervous when the actual school year started.

What Were the Students Worried About?

Students had various concerns; which ranged from not having enough time to go to their lockers, rushing to eat lunch in between periods, and changing clothes in front of others. Wang, A, (2019) stated that many students dislike undressing in front of their peers during gym time. It was rated especially high among female students. This is understandable since the age of a female student entering middle school is also when they experience puberty. “Changing in front of other 6th grade girls was not as nerve-wracking, changing in front of more developed 7th and 8th-grade girls” was the main reason for their apprehension.

In the study, bullying from older students and difficult subjects were some of the greatest concerns to sixth graders. In every demographics, the number 1 fear was encountering bullying from older students (Middle School Ages). However, students who underwent programs and visited the campus during the summer were less likely to be bullied. In fact, the schools with transitioning programs were less likely to have bullies in every grade.

References:

Middle School Ages. Retrieved from https://www.togetheragainstbullying.org/tab/

Wangg, A., (2019, January 10) Nervous about starting middle school? What parents and students should know. Retrieved from https://www.oregonlive.com/

Top Five Bullying facts: [Image] https://visual.ly/community/Infographics/human-rights/top-5-facts-about-bullying