Welcome to the Ultimate Student Guide on your first day of middle school! I’m Jo, and I’ll be your guide through the year. I’ve been a student teacher for 6 years now, and have seen the highs and lows of this journey. Here are some tips that I wish someone had told me when I was all nervous and unsure!
What To Bring to The First Day of Middle School?
The first day of middle school can be an exciting time for students and their families, but it also can be a stressful one.
If you’re not sure what you need to bring to the first day of middle school, here are some things to consider:
School supplies. Go shopping with your parents early, before the school year starts and buy anything that is on your school supplies list that you don’t already have – including uniforms.
Food – A healthy lunch for the first day is a must. It’s a good idea to pack a few snacks too, especially if you take public transport home in the afternoon.
Organise The Materials That You Need for Day One of Middle School
Check your class schedule to see what classes you have each day – If there are any materials that you need for class, bring them with you so that they’re available during class time. You can also leave these materials at home if it turns out that they’re not needed or useful in class.
Try On Your Uniform Before the First Day
Before you head to school for the first time, try on your uniform. Make sure that it fits you properly and that it looks good. If you have any questions or concerns, talk with your parents about them at home before you go to school the next day.
Print Out Your Class Schedule and Plan How to Get to Classes. If you are taking the bus, make sure you know when the bus arrives and what route it takes. You can also plan where you will park your car when arriving at school.
If you have questions about how to get to classes, talk with your teacher or parent about it before going to school.
Have A Plan for The Year / Have Some Goals?
Planning and goal setting is a very important part of middle school. In order to get a good start in your new school, you need to have a plan for the year, but also set some goals for yourself. During the first couple of weeks of school, ask your teacher or guidance counsellor what they would like you to focus on during this time. This will help your teacher know where they can help you and will give you some ideas about what you could achieve this year.
What Classes Should I Sign Up for In Middle School?
Before you can decide what courses to take in middle school, you should think about the subjects that interest you and find out what they’re like. For example, if you like art or music and would like to study in a class that uses these subjects, you’ll need to ask your teacher if there’s one available.
Be Ready for Group Work in Middle School
Middle schoolers are more likely to be encouraged to work together in group projects. This is because middle school teachers often want students to learn how to collaborate with others, solve problems and think critically. Group projects allow you to practice these skills while working with your friends.
In Middle School there’s a good chance that your class will be split up into groups and given specific tasks: maybe one person will be in charge of research and another person will be responsible for writing up an outline while another student writes the paper itself. Or maybe all three people will each do one part of the paper — making sure it’s grammatically correct, making sure it has enough facts and figures to back up its arguments, etc.
Group work can be fun! But it can also be stressful if you’re not used to working with other people on projects or if you’re shy about sharing ideas with other people. Be prepared for a mix of personalities in your group and try approach the challenge with a friendly and open mind!
Be Ready for More Responsibility in Middle School
You’ll have to get used to being away from your parents, and being responsible for yourself during the school day. You’ll be expected to keep track of your homework and assignments, and organize your time so you can get everything done. You might even have some choices to make — like deciding which classes to take or how much time to spend on homework each night.
Be ready for homework on weekends and during summer vacation. Middle school teachers expect students to keep up with classwork on weekends and during summer vacation just like they would during regular school hours. The same goes for teachers who assign papers or projects outside of class time; they expect students to do work when they’re not in class so that they can help them if they get stuck somewhere along the way.
Focus on getting along with your classmates. It might not seem important now, but in high school, it’s all about who your friends are. Try to keep up with old friends from elementary school — they’ll be more likely to help you out as you get older if they know that you’re still friends with them!
Try Harder in The Classes You Hate
You may not have been excited about math or science when you were younger, but it’s important that you do well in those subjects now because they’re considered “gateway” courses. They’re required for most high school courses and SAT tests. And good grades will look good on college applications.
Focus On Getting Along with Your Classmates.
It might not seem important now, but in high school, it’s all about who your friends are. Try to keep up with old friends from elementary school — they’ll be more likely to help you out as you get older if they know that you’re still friends with them!
Here Are A Few More Tips to Help You Make This Transition a Positive Experience:
- Explore your new environment. Find out where the restrooms and cafeteria are located, locate your classes and get comfortable with the layout of the school building before it gets too crazy at lunchtime or after school.
- Meet new people. You’ll probably have a few classes with students you know from elementary school but most of your classmates won’t be familiar faces — so go ahead and introduce yourself!
- Get involved in extracurricular activities. Whether it’s sports, music or theatre, joining clubs and organizations is a great way to meet new friends who share similar interests and talents.
- Make plans for after school activities that interest you — whether it’s playing sports at recess or practicing piano after dinner — so you don’t just sit around waiting for it to end each day.
- Ask questions! If something confuses you or doesn’t seem right, don’t wait until tomorrow — ask an adult about it right away
Hopefully, this guide has provided some valuable insights on the middle school years. It can be an emotional time, to say the least. Be sure to take care of your academic needs and communicate with your parents regularly. Also be mindful of your friends. Middle school can be tough sometimes, but you’ll be better prepared for it by making connections and attending extracurricular activities today. You’re already halfway there!
I hope you enjoyed reading these ideas. I have more tips on the way, so stay tuned. Please feel free to comment on any article.