Moving up to high school is a difficult transition for some students. Children do not really care for change. High school feels very intimidating for some students. Help them adjust to grade 9 and get prepared to excel in high school with the following tips.
Assign Team Work Activities
Help students make new friends by having the class work in groups or with a partner for certain projects. Encourage students to make new friends as they start high school rather than just hanging around with their same friends from earlier grades. Give students other opportunities to work in groups as well; offer extra credit for participating in 1 group volunteer effort per marking period.
Encourage Them to Join Activities
Alert students that getting involved in school and community activities is important because it will help them build new friendships. Being active in school or community volunteer work will also look great on resumes and college applications. Inform them that colleges often expect students to have volunteer work on their list of high school activities. Scholarships often require volunteer work too. Help grade 9 students understand that they should take advantage of a wide range of activities to find out what really interests them. They should try new activities as they start high school; one never knows where a hobby may lead, sometimes it even helps a student decide to pick a career that relates to a certain activity.
Talk about G.P.A.s
Encourage students to work hard in grade 9 to have a strong grade point average (G.P.A.). Alert grade 9 students that when they apply to college their four-year high school transcript of grades will be examined. Explain the importance of obtaining consistently good grades if one hopes to be accepted to a competitive college. Inform them that most colleges expect applicants to have achieved at least a “B” G.P.A. in high school.
Build Self Confidence
Assign writing assignments that help students analyze their goals for life and write about their strengths. Help students understand via their writing that everyone is unique and has special skills and strengths. It is also helpful to have students work with a partner as the year advances and have the partner write a list of the other student’s best qualities. Helping students to focus on their positive traits helps them see their unique abilities.
Talk to Guidance
Finally, talk to the Guidance department if a student does not seem to be adjusting well to high school. It is easier for classroom teachers to notice this than Guidance, who do not see the student as frequently. Reach out and get help for students who seem withdrawn or upset at the transition to high school.
To find other tips to help students deal with change go to the American Pscyological Association at www.apa.org.
