Taking the Fright Out of Transitioning to Middle School

The transition to middle school can be a scary one for any student and parent, let alone for a child with a disability.

It’s not too late to tidy up some loose ends to make this transition as smooth as possible:

• Find out who will be your child’s support staff and ask them to be sure to communicate and provide support to all teachers he/she will come in contact with during the school day.
• Write a social story that includes as many photographs of the new school and student as possible. A trip to the school to get some shots would be a fabulous edition to the story.
• Visit the school as much as possible over the summer, before anyone else is there, as well as during orientation when the halls will be more crowded, but you’re there still to support them.
• Obtain your child’s schedule BEFORE orientation and walk the schedule in empty hallways. Find the library, cafeteria, bathrooms, assigned bus area and most importantly, the break or calm area designated for the student.
• Take a look at the school’s website, and yearbook if possible, to familiarize the student with the staff and other students.
• Practice scenarios where the student might need help and give him/her scripts to use during these times. Middle school is sure to be stressful enough, but when you can’t find the words to express your frustration, the stress is heightened even more. Be sure that the student knows who their designated safe person is.
• The student needs to understand that they will be interacting with 6 or more teachers (for many but not all students). Each teacher could have a different level of expectation. A social story on flexibility might be a great addition to their daily agenda that they will be expected to use every day.
• Take your student shopping for a binder that works for them. Don’t assume that your child will think that your way is best. Certainly guide them, but allow them to choose something that they will be willing to use to keep their classwork and homework as organized as possible.
• Be sure that ALL assistive technology that the student used in elementary school has transferred to the middle school (Ipads, word processing devices, special chairs, writing utensils, etc)
• Create a “Day in the Life” of your child (a one page synopsis) of who they are and what they need, to provide to every teacher and therapist that they will come in contact with in the new school. Include your cell and email address so that they can contact you without pulling your child’s file.
• Ask if your school has Peer Counselors or Mentors to buddy your child up with for socialization as well as academic help and support. In middle school it is MUCH more acceptable to peers to be helped by another student than by a paraprofessional.
• Especially if your child will be in a special education classroom, ask what curriculum is being used and why. Review the curriculum and ensure that it is one that you feel can meet his/her needs. If it’s not, question its use.
• Review your child’s IEP to be sure that all supports that they need are identified and written. If it isn’t written, it doesn’t exist.