7 Ways School Counselors Can PREPARE Students to Transition to High School or Middle School.

R – Recognize that this is stressful. As counselors we know that change can be stressful for everyone. Help ease students’ anxiety using the following steps:

1.) Assure them that it is perfectly ok to feel anxious, excited, and probably both. By the way, this is called dialectical thinking. Shout-out to Lauren Jewett for teaching us that term during this podcast episode!
2.) Allow students to voice their concerns. Sometimes just talking about their fears can help ease anxiety.
3.) Help students see they are not alone. Once students realize that they are all in this transitioning process together, that alone can lower anxiety levels.
4.) Be open and honest with students when addressing their concerns. Acknowledge their fears and use positive phrases to accompany them. For example, you could say, “You’re right, it may be harder work, but you are ready,” or “Yes, it is a bigger school; however, that can mean you will have more opportunities and more people to meet.”

E – Empower students with the knowledge needed for the next level. As a high school counselor, I was astonished that many students had no prior experience concerning credits, transcripts, grade point averages, etc. Furthermore, these middle school students were already earning high school credit, but were unaware as to how it could help them in the future.
1.) Make sure you introduce these terms to students as early as elementary.
2.) Delve into these subjects by middle school to help students make informed decisions concerning classes, four-year plans, and available opportunities.
3.) Additionally, we must never assume that someone else will get to this later. Do it before transitioning starts.
4.) Define credits, transcripts, grade point averages, and class choices that might help them understand a helpful high school path for them.

P – Parents need our help. Parents should play a vital role in the transitioning process but often feel at a loss about helping their child. We, as school counselors, can offer parents our expertise.
1.) Keep parents in the loop via emails, Twitter, or other social media outlets.
2.) In addition, consider having a parent night or offering parent training webinars.
3.) Add a FAQ about transitioning on your website.
4.) Offer ideas on ways that parents can help their child deal with stress.

A – Advocate. Yes, students need to know how to self-advocate. Generally, as students transition from elementary to middle or middle to high school, they have more students and people in their lives to interact with. Consequently, not everyone that comes in contact with our students has their best interest at heart. For this reason, students need to know who to go to for help and who they can talk to when they feel threatened or need a helping hand.
1.) Consider having a safety seminar for upcoming students.
2.) Make a list of who students can talk to at their new school.
3.) Educate students about increasing online dangers. As many students will be away from school during the summer, it is important to make them aware of risks, as well as who they can contact for help.

R – Ready students with a lesson. For example, Do a whole group lesson on transitioning to middle school or transitioning to high school. This is often one of the last classes we do with our students before they transition out. Whether you are using a PowerPoint about transitioning to high school or middle school transitioning activities, cover topics such as organization, peer pressure, signs of depression, and bullying. On a related note, we like to use a fun, engaging lesson Called Are you Yeti for Middle School and a lesson full of a play on words using “donuts” called Donut Worry, a dozen transitioning to High School pointers. Make it count!

E– explore clubs, activities. Please encourage students to get involved in extracurricular activities at the school they are transitioning to the next grade level. Above all, as counselors, we know that students involved in clubs, sports, and volunteer work are more likely to stay in school, seek higher education opportunities, and have less depression.
1.) Talk to the counselors at the next level. Generally, counselors are ready and willing to help by making a list of all possible clubs and activities available to students.
2.) If feasible, have club sponsors, coaches, band director, volunteer spokespeople speak to students. For example, they could share how to apply, what grade level can participate, and what activities they do as a club or organization.
3.) Another idea is to ask for a short ‘advertisement’ for their club or sport to show students to generate interest.  Moreover, students love using videos to create commercials. Also, students love showing off their graphic design skills by creating posters.