We Can Do This Together

A team approach to transitioning from elementary school to middle school

What if I forget my locker combination? What’s it like having so many teachers? Will I see my friends? What if I get lost? How do I find my bus? When students transition from elementary to middle school, they have many questions about what it will be like and how to navigate their day. Through research, conversations, and experience, we know that the more we can prepare students with knowledge and experiences to help address their questions, the more comfortable they’ll feel. WHERE WE STARTED Students in our school district are used to transitioning from building to building. With four separate elementary buildings configured by grade level (K-1, 2, 3, and 4-5), changing schools for our students is nothing new. However, the change from elementary school to middle school is still significantly different for both our students and their parents. Like most schools, we prepared our students for the middle school transition in various ways:

• Teaming structure in grades 4-5, for students to experience “teams” for the first time (K-3 students are in self-contained classrooms, while 4-5 students are on a team of 2 teachers.) • Presentations by the elementary school counselor in each 5th grade homeroom, to share with students about the middle school and answer their questions • Meetings between middle school counselor and elementary teachers to learn about students’ needs including academic and social support • Meetings between middle school special education teachers and elementary special education teachers to learn about students’ needs and strengths • Tours of the middle school, led by the middle school counselor, for each elementary homeroom • Parent Orientation Night, led by the middle school, to welcome incoming families, introduce middle school concepts, and address common questions. THE WHY While the practices we had in place were beneficial, we knew we needed to do even more for our students. To focus our transition planning, we spent time in deliberate conversations with students, familes, and staff. ELEMENTARY STUDENTS At the elementary school, we met with small groups of 5th graders to understand their questions, worries, and anticipations. TOP FIVE WORRIES

1. What if I forget my locker combination? 2. What if we get lost or are late to a class? 3. How do we keep track of homework from so many teachers? 4. At lunch, where do we sit? Is the food good? Do we have recess? 5. Do we get to choose any of our specials classes? MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS At the middle school, we met with Student Council and our Advisory Groups to learn their advice and words of wisdom for incoming 6th grade students. Additionally, we asked them what they wish they had known when they first entered the middle school. TOP FIVE WORDS OF WISDOM

1. The teachers are really nice, and they will teach you how to use the resources here. 2. There is more independence—which is scary, but better. 3. You will learn how to navigate your schedule and find your way around the building in a day or two. 4. You won’t have as much homework as you’d think, but keep a to-do list that is organized. 5. You will still get to see your old friends. It’s also important to get to know new people. TEACHERS We met with teachers at both buildings to understand their questions and uncertainties about the structure and students’ experiences in the opposite building. BY KIMBERLY COCKLEY, PH.D., AND MICHAEL J. SEDLAK

TOP FIVE WONDERINGS

1. What does the schedule look like for our students? 2. How do students keep organized with so many teachers (e.g., supplies, lockers, homework)? 3. How do specials and electives work? 4. How do students navigate through the halls? 5. Is homework aligned between buildings? Is there too much? Too little? PARENTS We met 5th grade parents to learn their questions and worries about the middle school and how we could support them. TOP FIVE WORRIES

1. How do I support my child with grades for the first time, when they have only ever had Standards Based Grading? 2. Do kids feel “lost” when there are so many students in such a big building? 3. Should I monitor my child’s homework and classwork completion or let them figure it out on their own? 4. Are 8th graders in the halls with 6th graders? Are they nice? 5. Are 6th grade teachers understanding if students are late to class in the beginning of the year? To further research the transition experience of middle school students, we read numerous articles. Two of our favorite articles were “Transitioning Young Adolescents from Elementary to Middle School” (Gilewski and Nunn, AMLE, 2016) and “Movin’ Up to the Middle” (Wormeli, Educational Leadership, 2011). From our research, we began to gather ideas that would help address the questions we’d been hearing from students, parents, and staff. WHERE WE ARE NOW With this depth of information, we developed enhancements to our transition plan to help address questions and to improve the overall experience for our students and their families. These enhancements are still in place today, as part of our overall goal of meeting students’ needs and helping them feel comfortable in our middle school. MIDDLE SCHOOL SHOWCASE In the spring, the middle school welcomes all 5th grade students and teachers to the Middle School Showcase. This visit to the middle school helps our rising 6th graders learn about their electives options, through performances and presentations by electives teachers and students. While at the middle school, the 5th graders also take part in student-led tours of the school, participate in a student-facilitated question/answer panel, and learn from the 6th grade counselor and principal about topics of interest, based on the students’ input. LIFE AT HMS VIDEOS A team of staff and students designed a two-part video, titled “Life at HMS,” that was directed and recorded by middle school students. These engaging videos center on the questions posed by elementary students and the advice shared by middle school students. Part 1 is shown in elementary classroom presentations by the school counselor, while part 2 is shown at the middle school during the showcase event. STAFF SHADOW DAYS One fundamental focus was understanding the experiences of our students at both buildings, to help our staff make connections vertically. Shadow Days were organized for 5th and 6th grade teacher representatives to learn about a day in the life of students from the alternate building, and to share what they learned with their colleagues. The teachers shadowed a student for the full day, focusing on what the students experienced throughout their day. These teachers then met with the guidance and administration teams from both buildings to discuss their experiences, from a student-centered lens, in an effort to continuously improve the transition process. PARENT ORIENTATION NIGHT At the Parent Orientation Night, the content of the presentation is tailored to specifically address the questions parents shared with us. We also now include a section called “Words of Wisdom” based on the results of a survey given to current 6th grade students. The survey is designed to understand students’ transition to the middle school, how they’ve grown during their 6th grade year, and what advice they would like to share with incoming 6th grade parents. This “Words of Wisdom” section is one of the highlights at the Parent Orientation Night! ALL ABOUT HMS Throughout our conversations with students, parents, and teachers, we consistently received questions about terms and titles used at the middle school (e.g., “What is Advisory?” or “What does FOCUS stand for?”). In place of our typical school profile section on our middle school website, we chose to create an “All About HMS” document. In it, we describe aspects of the middle school that are central to our school structure and philosophy yet may be new ideas and terms for others. A link to the “All About HMS” document is also included 29 fall 2019 “Through research, conversations, and experience, we know that the more we can prepare students with knowledge and experiences to help address their questions, the more comfortable they’ll feel.”

OPEN BUILDING In August, before the first day of school, our middle school holds open building hours for several days. This flexible time allows students to visit the school, with parents or friends, to walk through their daily schedule, to locate and set up their locker, and to begin to feel at home in the building. Middle school student volunteers, wearing brightly colored Event Staff shirts, are available in the hallways to help guide students who have questions or need directions and to actively demonstrate our culture of care and support.

6TH GRADE ORIENTATION For the first two days of 6th grade, our students are welcomed to the middle school through a two-day orientation. Our 6th grade teaching teams facilitate a combination of relationship-building activities and middle school introductory activities, including many how-to’s (e.g., joining Google Classrooms, navigating the lunchroom, using and caring for a 1:1 device, checking out books in the media center, visiting the Guidance Office, tracking assignments through Google Calendar.) These initial days provide our new students with an immediate sense of comfort and camaraderie.

As educators, we regularly reflect on our students’ experiences and

how best to support them, and we will continue enhancing the transition process based on the needs of our students, parents, and staff. Our hope is that we’ve attended to students’ questions and worries, so that they can begin middle school with a sense of excitement and hope. So, if you’re visiting our elementary school and observe 5th graders intently practicing combinations on a bank of lockers with practice locks, or if you see students walking into the middle school with their friends before school even starts, you’ll know this is all part of a larger, intentional plan to help each student feel supported and at ease when they enter the middle school.

Dr. Kimberly Cockley is the principal of Hudson Middle School in Hudson, Ohio. She earned a Ph.D. in K-12 Leadership from Kent State University, focusing her research on middle level leadership. Her goal is always to help teachers and staff meet the needs of all students. She loves what she does and is sincerely grateful to work with students every day. You can contact the author via email at cockleyk@hudson.edu and Twitter at @DrKimCockley.

Michael J. Sedlak is the principal of East Woods Elementary School in Hudson, Ohio. Building relationships has been a focus of his career starting as a middle school Reading and Language Arts teacher. After 3 years as assistant principal of Chardon High School, and 2 years as assistant principal of Hudson Middle School, Sedlak was named principal at East Woods. His focus on the importance of building strong relationships will continue to be a priority each and every day. You can contact the author via email at sedlakm@ hudson.edu and Twitter at @MJSedlak.

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2019 FALL REGIONAL MEETINGS

Meet other administrators in your area for food, networking, and discussions about the issues you face on the job. It’s a great way to recharge and learn about the successes and ini� a� ves at other schools, and best of all, it’s completely free!

You are welcome at any zone mee� ng, regardless of where you live or work, and nonmembers are welcome, so bring a friend.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

ZONE ONE Oct. 16, 9:00 am�Noon OSU Endeavor Center 1862 Shyville Rd. Piketon, OH 45661

ZONE THREE Sept. 10, 4:30�6:30 pm Bravo! Cucina Italiana 2731 Fair eld Commons Blvd. Beavercreek, OH 45431 ZONE TH Sept. 10, 4:30� Bravo! Cucina 2731 Faireld Com Beavercreek, OH

ZONE FOUR/FIVE Oct. 3, 4:30�6:30 pm SamB’s 163 S. Main St. Bowling Green, OH 43402

ZONE SIX Oct. 16, 4:30�6:30 pm Market Garden Brewery 1947 West 25th St. Cleveland, OH 44113

ZONE TWO Sept. 26, 5:00�7:00 pm Old Spaghe� Factory 6320 S. Gilmore Rd. Fair eld, OH 45014

ZONE SEVEN Oct. 10, 5:00�7:00 pm Buff alo Wild Wings 176 E. Main St. Kent, OH 44240

ZONE SIX/EIGHT Oct. 23, 4:30�6:30 pm Samantha’s Restaurant 4954 Portage St. NW North Canton, OH 44720

ZONE NINE Oct. 23, 4:30�6:30 pm Theo’s Restaurant 632 Wheeling Ave. Cambridge, OH 43725

ZONE TEN Sept. 19, 4:30�6:30 pm Roosters 1500 Stonecreek Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147 -ANDOct. 2, 4:30 �6:30 pm Eddie George Grille 775 Yard St., #100 Columbus, OH 43212