Need help on a transition unit for 5th graders moving to middle school!!!!

[Christie Williams]

Everyone please give me a "top ten" list of what I need to teach my fifth graders to prepare them for middle school.

 

I teach the computer lab and will be creating a website that deals with the transition.  However, I need to know what is important to middle school teachers.....

 

Please help!

[Mary Henton]

Great question, Christie! Could you clarify a bit? Are you looking for the "top ten" in terms of
- General middle school life?
- Academics?
- A particular subject?
- Relationships?
- All of the above?

[Jessica Fries-Gaither]

Hi Christie,
First of all, it's great that you are thinking about how to best prepare your students for this transition. It's a scary (yet exciting) prospect for them, and having time to talk about issues and situations is really important. I taught self-contained sixth grade in Anchorage, AK, and spent quite a bit of time getting them ready to move from the small K-6 school they'd attended for seven years to a large middle school.

Without knowing what particular subject you're interested in, here are some of the things that I did that seemed to work well - covering many of the bases.

*I took time to have some class discussions about their perceptions of middle school - what they had heard from older brothers and sisters, friends, etc. My students ate lunch in my classroom, so we typically had these during lunch. Listening to their ideas and fears helped me know what to address.

*I had a small class (25 max) in a small school, and the students had lockers in the hallway, so we moved all their books out there for the last quarter. We'd practice going out and getting the right book and supplies for each subject, and taking the right books home at night for assignments. It sounds trivial, but students always told me that they really appreciated this one.

*I brought in some combination locks and we practiced opening and closing them. When I taught in middle school, the first few days were chaos as most of the incoming students couldn't get their lockers open.

*I implemented a binder and planner system throughout the entire school year so students had an organizational system down pat before moving on. They kept all graded papers until the end of the quarter, and we took time to organize and clean out their binders together. They also used pockets for assignments, parent letters, etc. Each student also had a school-provided month-to-month calendar. Every week throughout the year, we'd talk about upcoming assignments, staying organized, and goal setting. Students learned how to use the calendar as a planning tool to keep them on track with multiple classes and due dates (as well as athletics, etc).

*I was originally a middle school teacher, so I often talked to students about what teachers would require of them and what coursework would be like. If you don't have that personal experience, try to connect with some of the teachers at the middle school your students attend. Find out what the school culture is, and think about how it is similar to that of your school.

*I integrated a peer pressure unit towards the end of the year which involved discussions and role playing of various situations students might encounter in a larger school with early adolescents. My classes were very close-knit and my students often had little concept of these types of situations (which was wonderful for me!), so I wanted to help them problem solve in advance. We also did some work around the topic of friendship, and reflected on how friendships might grow, change, or even end in a new school setting.

*I invited former students back for a pizza party after school with me (and some years, my current class as well, depending on scheduling). It was a time to get feedback on what I could better do to prepare them for the transition.

*Our middle schools hosted visitation days for incoming students, and those were also very helpful.

*I tried to provide tips for success for my students at teachable moments. For example, we talked about making sure that they knew someone in each of their classes that they could call for homework assignments if they were absent. We also talked a lot about the need to be a proactive, responsible student who could advocate for him or herself for assignments, etc.

*And finally, I made sure I prepared them academically for what they'd be expected to do in middle school. Again, I used my personal knowledge, but talking with middle school teachers and guidance counselors would be helpful as well. Also take some time to look at the middle school curriculum and make sure you've laid the proper foundation for your students to be successful.

I hope these help! Best of luck! It was hectic, but really one of my favorite times of the year. And then getting to see students come back after a week or two in middle school, feeling like it was old hat, was also very rewarding.

Jessica

[Mary Henton]

Back again, Christie,

I don't have a "top ten," but I DO have some resources for you! NMSA has a number of great resources about transitioning from elementary to middle school. Here are a few to get you going:

- On Target: Transitioning to Middle School. This is a collection of 9 PDFs about transitioning, including, "A Transition Program Based on Identified Student and Parent Concerns," and "Facilitating Student Transitions into Middle School." The list at the end of this second article includes some things that might be in a "top ten."

- I've uploaded a PDF from the May 2009 Middle E-Connections (NMSA's member, electronic newsletter): "Plan a Smooth Transition."

- "The Elementary to Middle School Transition: Five Helpful Hints for ...," is a recent Web exclusive item on NMSA's site.

- "From Survive to Thrive: The Importance of Transition," the lead article in the February, 2008 Middle Ground, was written by the co-founders of The Boomerang Project.

- "Ask the Students: Transitions That Target Student Needs" describes one school's approach to transition that involves input directly from the students. This article was in the April, 2006 Middle Ground. It's a "Member's Access" article, but it's uploaded here in PDF.

Hope this helps!

M

[Christie Williams]

I am looking for all of the above..... I want to create a website that the students can use to prepare them for middle school. Sorry for taking so long to reply back.

Mary Henton said:

Great question, Christie! Could you clarify a bit? Are you looking for the "top ten" in terms of
- General middle school life?
- Academics?
- A particular subject?
- Relationships?
- All of the above?

[Christie Williams]

Thanks Jessica! This is great! Exactly the start that I need. I have never taught in middle school so I am trying to utilize the web to get other educator's opinions.

Jessica Fries-Gaither said:

Hi Christie,
First of all, it's great that you are thinking about how to best prepare your students for this transition. It's a scary (yet exciting) prospect for them, and having time to talk about issues and situations is really important. I taught self-contained sixth grade in Anchorage, AK, and spent quite a bit of time getting them ready to move from the small K-6 school they'd attended for seven years to a large middle school.

Without knowing what particular subject you're interested in, here are some of the things that I did that seemed to work well - covering many of the bases.

*I took time to have some class discussions about their perceptions of middle school - what they had heard from older brothers and sisters, friends, etc. My students ate lunch in my classroom, so we typically had these during lunch. Listening to their ideas and fears helped me know what to address.

*I had a small class (25 max) in a small school, and the students had lockers in the hallway, so we moved all their books out there for the last quarter. We'd practice going out and getting the right book and supplies for each subject, and taking the right books home at night for assignments. It sounds trivial, but students always told me that they really appreciated this one.

*I brought in some combination locks and we practiced opening and closing them. When I taught in middle school, the first few days were chaos as most of the incoming students couldn't get their lockers open.

*I implemented a binder and planner system throughout the entire school year so students had an organizational system down pat before moving on. They kept all graded papers until the end of the quarter, and we took time to organize and clean out their binders together. They also used pockets for assignments, parent letters, etc. Each student also had a school-provided month-to-month calendar. Every week throughout the year, we'd talk about upcoming assignments, staying organized, and goal setting. Students learned how to use the calendar as a planning tool to keep them on track with multiple classes and due dates (as well as athletics, etc).

*I was originally a middle school teacher, so I often talked to students about what teachers would require of them and what coursework would be like. If you don't have that personal experience, try to connect with some of the teachers at the middle school your students attend. Find out what the school culture is, and think about how it is similar to that of your school.

*I integrated a peer pressure unit towards the end of the year which involved discussions and role playing of various situations students might encounter in a larger school with early adolescents. My classes were very close-knit and my students often had little concept of these types of situations (which was wonderful for me!), so I wanted to help them problem solve in advance. We also did some work around the topic of friendship, and reflected on how friendships might grow, change, or even end in a new school setting.

*I invited former students back for a pizza party after school with me (and some years, my current class as well, depending on scheduling). It was a time to get feedback on what I could better do to prepare them for the transition.

*Our middle schools hosted visitation days for incoming students, and those were also very helpful.

*I tried to provide tips for success for my students at teachable moments. For example, we talked about making sure that they knew someone in each of their classes that they could call for homework assignments if they were absent. We also talked a lot about the need to be a proactive, responsible student who could advocate for him or herself for assignments, etc.

*And finally, I made sure I prepared them academically for what they'd be expected to do in middle school. Again, I used my personal knowledge, but talking with middle school teachers and guidance counselors would be helpful as well. Also take some time to look at the middle school curriculum and make sure you've laid the proper foundation for your students to be successful.

I hope these help! Best of luck! It was hectic, but really one of my favorite times of the year. And then getting to see students come back after a week or two in middle school, feeling like it was old hat, was also very rewarding.

Jessica

[Christie Williams]

Mary,
Thanks a bunch! I am so excited about the references. I was hesitant about posting on here and now I am so glad that I joined. I think this will be a great resource to pull together professional ideas and helpful resources.

Mary Henton said:

Back again, Christie,

I don't have a "top ten," but I DO have some resources for you! NMSA has a number of great resources about transitioning from elementary to middle school. Here are a few to get you going:

- On Target: Transitioning to Middle School. This is a collection of 9 PDFs about transitioning, including, "A Transition Program Based on Identified Student and Parent Concerns," and "Facilitating Student Transitions into Middle School." The list at the end of this second article includes some things that might be in a "top ten."

- I've uploaded a PDF from the May 2009 Middle E-Connections (NMSA's member, electronic newsletter): "Plan a Smooth Transition."

- "The Elementary to Middle School Transition: Five Helpful Hints for ...," is a recent Web exclusive item on NMSA's site.

- "From Survive to Thrive: The Importance of Transition," the lead article in the February, 2008 Middle Ground, was written by the co-founders of The Boomerang Project.

- "Ask the Students: Transitions That Target Student Needs" describes one school's approach to transition that involves input directly from the students. This article was in the April, 2006 Middle Ground. It's a "Member's Access" article, but it's uploaded here in PDF.

Hope this helps!

M

[Mary Henton]

Glad you feel this way! More importantly, I'm glad that you feel you've got some resources and ideas to help you prepare your students for their transition to middle school.

Christie Williams said:

Mary,
Thanks a bunch! I am so excited about the references. I was hesitant about posting on here and now I am so glad that I joined. I think this will be a great resource to pull together professional ideas and helpful resources.

Mary Henton said:

Back again, Christie,

I don't have a "top ten," but I DO have some resources for you! NMSA has a number of great resources about transitioning from elementary to middle school. Here are a few to get you going:

- On Target: Transitioning to Middle School. This is a collection of 9 PDFs about transitioning, including, "A Transition Program Based on Identified Student and Parent Concerns," and "Facilitating Student Transitions into Middle School." The list at the end of this second article includes some things that might be in a "top ten."

- I've uploaded a PDF from the May 2009 Middle E-Connections (NMSA's member, electronic newsletter): "Plan a Smooth Transition."

- "The Elementary to Middle School Transition: Five Helpful Hints for ...," is a recent Web exclusive item on NMSA's site.

- "From Survive to Thrive: The Importance of Transition," the lead article in the February, 2008 Middle Ground, was written by the co-founders of The Boomerang Project.

- "Ask the Students: Transitions That Target Student Needs" describes one school's approach to transition that involves input directly from the students. This article was in the April, 2006 Middle Ground. It's a "Member's Access" article, but it's uploaded here in PDF.

Hope this helps!

M

[Christie Williams]

Mary,
I would really love your opinion on my site as I begin creating it. It is only in the beginning stages now, but when I get it up and rolling, I would love for you to tell me what you think.
Have a great day!
CW

[Tom Jenkins]

Hello,

From a Technology Teacher's perspective....

1. How to log in
2. How to log in
3. How to log in
9. How to log in
10. How to log in

You get the point ;) Even though I jest about it, 5th graders logging in correctly is a huge step in our district. I make sure that we talk about the value of making their password secure, but at the same time easy to remember. I'm not sure how permissions are set in your district, but in ours the kids are locked out after 3 attempts. Be careful of things being case sensitive, etc.

Also, we allow our students email for school use at this level. So obviously we go to great lengths when it comes to not only how to use it, but safety and etiquette as well.

Productivity software. The basics of crafting documents and presentations. When I teach something like Open Office, I always like to not only link the lesson requirements, but also provide links to the software (especailly if its free) and online tutorials so that the students have an additional resource.

I found that the other stuff is fun, but these three are key to providing them the basic tools to survive in our middle school.

Take Care,
Tom

[Christie Williams]

Tom,
I understand your Technology "woes". I teach computer lab for PreK-5th and "logging in" is a big deal! We actually start at first grade teaching them how to log in. However, I still have some who leave our building and just don't get it.

I think we are doing a good job at teaching the issues that you have addressed. However, we don't have student email, but we have group accounts that we use. I have really tried to stress netiquette and safety. Sometimes I just don't think they understand the severity of the issue. I have also tried to teach them about being careful what the put online because it is "forever". These are two computer issues that they can't grasp.

Thanks for the comments!!!!

[Rebecca Lawson]

Christie,

Thank you so much for this question! Your students are fortunate that you are thinking like this.

Before offering my comments, I'd like to compliment Jessica, Mary, and Tom for their input. WOW!!

Jessica, your students were so fortunate! As I was thinking about the issues that concern middle schoolers, you addressed every one!! You provided one of the most important components of a developmentally responsive middle school - an "advisory" program for your students. How I wish more schools, especially middle schools, addressed this need.

Mary, what a wealth of information you provided!! Fantastic!

...and Tom, you are so right in your technology comments. While our students didn't login (one common login for the lab), your comments about knowing basic computer skills is right on target. Everyone - administrators, the public, etc - seem to assume all kids know how to be productive on computers these days. That is not the case. In fact, in the last few years it seems more kids are not being systematically taught how to format documents, copy and paste, cut and paste (and the difference between the two), how to accurately use spell check, etc. The digital divide is alive and well between those who have the latest and greatest and the kids who have no technology at all at home.
In addition to these basic skills, it would be helpful for the students to know how to cite sources when doing research and how to type the citations. If your district or middle school has an adopted format, it would be especially helpful if you used the format they will be expected to use next year. (The district where I spent many years has a format used throughout the district.)

The topics Jessica mentioned are extremely important. Organization is a big challenge for students. This means organization of personal materials - like notebooks- and organization that helps one get the right items from the locker, take home the correct materials, etc.

Do all of your students go to the same middle school? If not, does your district insure that all middle schools have the same programs and offerings? How far are you from the middle school, and would it be easy for you and your fifth graders to visit?

Several years ago my 6th grade advisory group created a presentation for the rising 5th graders. I was the computer teacher and the web master for the school at the time, so we posted the presentation on the school website. We brainstormed knowledge the current sixth graders thought the younger students should know. Pairs of students took each topic and created a PowerPoint presentation about it, complete with pictures of the school. The individual presentations were linked through a non-linear Table of Contents so students and parents could access the topics that interested them.

If your students can travel to the middle school, this might be a project you and your students would enjoy. Of course, they could create a PhotoStory with the info. Or they could create glogs. http://www.glogster.com ... or the education arm of glogster http://edu.glogster.com

Last year my students and I experimented with edu.glogster. This part of glogster allows teachers to register for free accounts for students. These are in a protected area not open to the public. There are some exceptionally creative glogs for school and education on the web.

Students could also interview middle school students and create podcasts or flip videos to post on the web. (Be careful of district policy on posting pictures of students - get appropriate permissions - use only first names - or made up names, etc.)

Since you have group email accounts, have you considered partnering with the computer teacher at the middle school and allowing your students to collaborate with middle school students on these issues? It has been several years since I was able to do online collaboration, but it is a wonderful way to broaden the horizons of students. If your students would be allowed to have accounts, ePals is a wonderful - and FREE - resource. http://www.epals.com

As far as topics to be covered, the number one thing kids worry about is the combination locks. (Yes, really!) I can't tell you how many crying children I have encountered because they could not get their locks open.

They also really worry about getting lost in a big school. Reassure them that middle school teachers understand how hard it is to find the way at the beginning of school. We make allowances for lost/late students for a few days.

You might like to include a note from a middle school teacher and/or principal letting the students know they will be helped.

Does your middle school have teams? If so, students will have little to worry about getting lost. Their teams will take care of them. One topic for the website could be teams.

Elective/Exploratory wheel, etc - Students and parents do not understand how these work. Every school/district is different. Be sure to explain the process. (ex. In our district, there was an exploratory wheel for sixth graders. They got to experience all the electives. In 7th and 8th graders, the students chose electives. All students had to take PE/health for a semester every year of middle school)

Sports/intramurals available for sixth graders.

Lunch - How does that work at the middle school? What if I bring my lunch? Where will I eat? .. etc.

Special activities - plays, newspaper, yearbook, robotics, etc. that will be available to 6th graders.

Special projects done by teams - Ex Invention Convention, science fair, international fair, etc.

Again, this is a great question! In fact, I think it would be really neat for us to have a part of the site dedicated to this topic.

Good luck! I look forward to hearing from you and seeing your work.

Rebecca
South Carolina

[Karolee Smiley]

Christie, I want to commend your efforts to assist in the transition process.

As a 7th grade teacher in a 7-8 school, I can see the need to articulation between our schools. There are sometimes unique needs at each site. Where Tom's school has the "log in" concern, my school has the "last name" issue. Students seem to have the habit of just putting their first name on papers, which doesn't work with a 160 students on my rolls, many of which have the same first name. When I spoke to my son's 6th grade teacher about his putting a first name and number on papers (Daniel #28), she responded with "Don't you use id numbers in secondary school? We are trying to get them used to having a number." They heard that kids need to memorize a student id number but misinterpret its use at school. This is what happens without direct communication. My district is unique in that we had separate elementary and secondary districts, so we didn't have any connection. We are finally unified, but still have a ways to go in articulation.

One of the things I want to establish is a teacher visitation to the elementary schools. We have had the 6th graders visit our school, but its a bit scary for them. I think it would be helpful for the junior high teachers to visit the incoming kids on their turf, where they are comfortable. They can meet the teachers before hand, so we aren't as intimidating. As the transitioning out teacher, do you think that would be useful to the kids? I wonder if your middle school teachers would be willing to visit your students and talk about the basics of middle school success. You won't know if you don't ask.