Ways to Help Your Child Enter Middle School

• Start talking about the differences between elementary and middle school early-and with honesty.
• Give your child more responsibilities for decision-making tasks at home as preparation for increased deadlines in middle school.
• Supplement schoolwork with additional reading and writing projects at home in readiness for lengthier school assignments.
• Talk about the fun in changing rooms and teachers several times a day.  Explain that each class is a seperate subject.
• Help your child to understand that students have to adapt to different teachers, not the other way around.
• Attend all new school orientations.  Get to know your child's teachers.  Make the transition seem like an adventure and a step forward in your youngster's education.
• Discuss the fact that your child is moving from being the "top dog" to the bottom of the ladder- preparation makes it easier.
• Practice-Practice-Practice!  The combination lock is one of the biggest sixth grade hurdles.
• Your enthusiasm and support can help make this big change in your child's school life a positive one.