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18 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • August 2023 As parents, we love watching our children grow from new experiences, and our hearts swell with pride at their achievements. We encourage them to explore the world with confidence as we support and guide them through every aspect of their childhood. Parent- ing is truly a joy at every age and phase! However, if you are the parent of a rising sixth grader, you and your child are about to embark on a major transitional period that is both exciting and challenging. Let's explore some of the most common challenges a new middle schooler faces and ways parents can bet- ter prepare and support their rising star through each one of them. Dana Clark, school counselor at Fredericksburg Academy, shared with us what caused many of their current sixth graders to feel stressed or uncomfortable when entering middle school. Switch- ing classes, running late to classes the first day, the level of inde- pendence, and not having a dedicated snack time were some of the complaints she heard directly from these students. Clark suggests "finding ways this summer to model, role-play and practice planning skills, time management skills, organizational skills, cognitive flexibility and self-monitoring skills." She shared these ideas: • Planning. In summer reading have them identify the main idea vs. minor details, break down a recipe and make it with them. • Time Management. Follow a timeline to finish chores on a deadline, ask them to estimate how long something will take: "How long will grocery shopping take us?" WRITTEN BY RHIANNON ELLIS Why is Entering the Sixth Grade Such a Huge Adjustment? According to Psychology Today, there are a number of reasons why new middle schoolers find enter- ing sixth grade so overwhelming. Typically, middle schools are much larger facilities than elementary schools. The sheer size of the building can be scary for the new student to navigate, especially while switching classes—something they have never done before! Not only are they switching rooms for each subject, but they are also switching teachers and fellow classmates. This can be both a pro and a con. In elementary school, if a student disliked their teacher, they were stuck with them all day, every day for the duration of the school year. The same is true with classmates. In middle school, it's more a win-some- lose-some situation; there will be some teachers/ classes they enjoy and others they don't. Perhaps one of the toughest adjustments in the elementary-to-middle school transition is going from the top of the totem pole in fifth grade to the very bottom in sixth. This alone can increase anxiety and decrease confidence. Survival Tips for the Middle School Transition How Can Parents Help Prepare Their Student for These Common Adjustments?