Middle school provides a shock to many students. From a new campus and classmates to a greater need for self-reliance, many students find themselves unprepared for the responsibilities and study skills that accompany this independence.
Middle School Mean Self-Directed, Not Teacher-Led Learning
The biggest challenge many middle school students face is adapting to a world now under more of their own control. Teachers no longer guide them through the halls to make certain they arrive at their next class, prepared with all the correct materials. While these are great steps toward independence – in education and life – they require a greater sense of self-motivation and concentration. And while teachers in these grade levels often straddle roles between hands-on and hands-off guidance, their goal remains pushing students toward greater independence.
Focus and concentration skills are key to a successful transition. That sounds easy enough, but even many adults struggle with these proficiencies today. Multitasking seems to be the prized skill. However, successful multitasking, must come from the ability to effectively focus attention when needed. If students fail to learn academic concentration techniques early, they fall behind when pressed to juggle multiple tasks.
Independent study also requires top-notch reading skills. As days of teachers reading lessons out loud quickly disappear, students find themselves responsible for introducing, comprehending and recalling material away from the classroom. Students still struggling with reading speed or comprehension fall behind not simply in Language Arts but all subjects, including science, technology and languages, where independent understanding and practice is often key.
If you want to guarantee your child’s successful middle school transition, consider investing in their study skills enrichment. Lumen Learning has helped hundreds of student master transitional skills that set them up for not only academic success, but also life.
