NAVIGATING THE NAVIGATING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL

TRANSITIONTRANSITION

Ginny GleasonGinny Gleason

Brevard Public SchoolsBrevard Public Schools

What was your What was your first day of Middle first day of Middle School School

like? like?

The Middle The Middle School School

Transition…..Transition….. Can resemble the first Can resemble the first day of kindergarten for day of kindergarten for

many studentsmany students..

Things to Things to ConsiderConsider……

The Stage of Development: The Stage of Development:

AdolescenceAdolescence

What is an Adolescent?What is an Adolescent?

• AdolescentsAdolescents are young people who are young people who straddle the fence between childhood straddle the fence between childhood and adulthood. They have one foot and adulthood. They have one foot secured in childhood and one foot secured in childhood and one foot moving into the world of adulthood.moving into the world of adulthood.

• AdolescenceAdolescence is a unique period of the is a unique period of the human life span. In fact, no other human life span. In fact, no other developmental period, with the developmental period, with the possible exception of infancy, is possible exception of infancy, is characterized by so many complex characterized by so many complex changes.changes.

Changes include: Changes include: PhysicalPhysical• Very fast physical growth.Very fast physical growth.

Boys can grow between 12 to 13 Boys can grow between 12 to 13

inches. inches.

Girls can grow between 8 to 10 inches.Girls can grow between 8 to 10 inches.

• Hormonal changes which can contribute Hormonal changes which can contribute

to the development of acne, body odor.to the development of acne, body odor.

• Development of facial hair.Development of facial hair.

• Changes in body proportions.Changes in body proportions.

Emotional and Social Emotional and Social DevelopmentDevelopment• Keep in mind each adolescent is an Keep in mind each adolescent is an

individual with a unique personality individual with a unique personality and special interests, likes and and special interests, likes and dislikes. dislikes.

• The following are some normal The following are some normal feelings and behaviors of the feelings and behaviors of the middle school and early high school middle school and early high school adolescent.adolescent.

IndependenceIndependence• Struggle with their sense of identity.Struggle with their sense of identity.

• Feeling awkward or strange about one’s self and one's bodyFeeling awkward or strange about one’s self and one's body

• Focus on self, alternating between high expectations and Focus on self, alternating between high expectations and

poor self-esteempoor self-esteem

• MOODINESSMOODINESS

• Realization that parents are not perfectRealization that parents are not perfect

• Less overt affection shown to parents, with occasional Less overt affection shown to parents, with occasional

rudeness.rudeness.

• Complains that parents interfere with independenceComplains that parents interfere with independence

• Tendency to return to childish behavior, particularly when Tendency to return to childish behavior, particularly when

under stress.under stress.

Cognitive ChangesCognitive Changes

• Your adolescent is more interested in Your adolescent is more interested in the present, with limited thoughts of the present, with limited thoughts of the future.the future.

• Your adolescent’s intellectual interests Your adolescent’s intellectual interests expand and gain in importance.expand and gain in importance.

• They have a greater ability to do work They have a greater ability to do work

( physical, mental, emotional)( physical, mental, emotional)

Self AwarenessSelf Awareness

• Display shyness, blushing, and modestyDisplay shyness, blushing, and modesty

• Girls develop physically sooner than boysGirls develop physically sooner than boys

• Increased interest in the opposite sexIncreased interest in the opposite sex

• Concerns regarding physical appearanceConcerns regarding physical appearance

• Frequently changing relationshipsFrequently changing relationships

• Worries about being normal Worries about being normal

ValuesValues

• Becoming aware of role models and Becoming aware of role models and seeking role models.seeking role models.

• Increased ability to think abstractlyIncreased ability to think abstractly

• Experimentation with sex, drugs Experimentation with sex, drugs and alcohol.and alcohol.

NOW IS THE NOW IS THE TIME…………TIME…………

THE THE MIDDLE MIDDLE

SCHOOL SCHOOL

TRANSITIONTRANSITION

Keep in mind……..Keep in mind……..

The transition from elementary to The transition from elementary to middle school can be a time of mixed middle school can be a time of mixed emotions.emotions.

It can be a great opportunity for new It can be a great opportunity for new beginnings…beginnings…New TeachersNew TeachersNew FriendsNew FriendsNew SchoolNew School

TheseThese changes can be changes can be exciting for some and exciting for some and

frightening forfrightening for others.others.

Identifying Student Identifying Student ConcernsConcerns

A study by A study by DiemertDiemert (1992) found (1992) found

that half of the concerns that half of the concerns

addressed by both boys and girls addressed by both boys and girls

in the transition to Middle in the transition to Middle School School

were social issues.were social issues.

Student Concern Student Concern SurveySurvey

PARENT PARENT TRANSITIONTRANSITION

Your Elementary child who once depended Your Elementary child who once depended on you for everything is now starting to on you for everything is now starting to

pull away.pull away.

Your adolescent may now be Your adolescent may now be experimenting with, clothing, hairstyles, experimenting with, clothing, hairstyles, music choices, slang and even friends.music choices, slang and even friends.

Adolescents are much more interested in Adolescents are much more interested in pleasing their peers and less concerned pleasing their peers and less concerned with pleasing the adults in their lives.with pleasing the adults in their lives.

Middle School may be one of Middle School may be one of

the toughest transitions the toughest transitions

during childhood, for both during childhood, for both

parentsparents and adolescents. and adolescents.

Some families will glide through Some families will glide through

unaffected, but for others, this unaffected, but for others, this

is a challenging journey.is a challenging journey.

Things to Things to remember………remember………

The most important thing to remember The most important thing to remember during this time of transition is during this time of transition is

DON”T CUT YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLER DON”T CUT YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLER LOOSE JUSTLOOSE JUST YET.YET.

They may not be ready for the They may not be ready for the independence we giveindependence we give them, and they them, and they

need you to help them with this need you to help them with this transition.transition.

The Parents RoleThe Parents Role

• Stay involved!Stay involved!

• Get informedGet informed

• Ask questionsAsk questions

• ListenListen

• ReconnectReconnect

• RespectRespect

• Don’t Give UpDon’t Give Up

WORDS OF WISDOM WORDS OF WISDOM FROM YOUR FROM YOUR ADOLESCENTADOLESCENT

Don’t start asking me a hundred Don’t start asking me a hundred questions about my day the second I questions about my day the second I come home. Give me some time to come home. Give me some time to

decompress.decompress.

Try not to make every comment a Try not to make every comment a lecture about Lifelecture about Life..

Pay attention to my LIFE . Not just Pay attention to my LIFE . Not just when I get in TROUBLE!when I get in TROUBLE!

Be careful with words. Words can Be careful with words. Words can wound and leave scars that last a wound and leave scars that last a

lifetime.. lifetime..

DonDon’’t be a hypocrite. Dont be a hypocrite. Don’’t t tell me not to cuss, then go tell me not to cuss, then go

and cuss when youand cuss when you’’re re angry.angry.

Instead of dropping me off Instead of dropping me off at basketball practice, come at basketball practice, come

and watch me.and watch me.

Mom, never, ever tell your friendMom, never, ever tell your friend’’s s son that I like him.son that I like him.

Trust me with more Trust me with more responsibilities and responsibilities and

realize if I mess up on realize if I mess up on something itsomething it’’s my job to s my job to

fix it.fix it.

Hold My Hand Hold My Hand When The Big When The Big

Waves Waves Come……Come……