Think back to your first day of high school. Can you remember how you felt? Were you nervous? Scared? Excited? Did you feel overwhelmed and out of your element? Did you feel like you fit in? Did you feel like you would be successful?
The transition from high school to elementary school is a challenging one. This can be even more challenging for students coming to school from small, remote elementary schools. Additionally, some students may face further changes when then arrive at a School District run high school from a band run First Nations elementary school. At least, this was my perception was well as that of my teaching colleagues. I chose to investigate the reality of people who have experienced such a transition with the intention of learning how high schools can set their incoming students up for success.
While I initially intended this to be a thesis study, I am in the midst of converting it to become a project. Life presented me with an opportunity to begin my career as a Vice Principal at a new school. While this has been a wonderful learning opportunity, and has brought to life many of the discussions from our educational leadership courses, it has been a challenge for my Masters thesis work. I have noticed the challenges that our grade 8 (the youngest grade at our high school) group present. Efforts that go beyond the traditional grade 7 high school visits are required to help smooth out the social, emotional and academic transitions that this transition requires. With new flexibility in our scheduling for next year thanks to COVID-19, I am in the process of helping to design a new schedule that provides greater wrap around support for our newest students. The aim is to help them be successful in their new environment. We want out students to be:
- Self-advocating
- Supported
- Belonging
- Loved
- Valued
- Understood
- Connected
- Growing (not just physically)
- Respected
- Comfortable
- Confident
To achieve this, our school will have a dedicated group of educators working with our grade 8 cohort. They will take part in psychoeducational activities for staff helping to understand what social/emotional needs teenagers have when they are in new and stressful environments. Teachers for the grade 8 cohort will set out clear and consistent expectations that exist across all classes. There will be opportunities for staff to get to know the incoming students on a personal level. Events will be organized around activities and interests based outside the traditional school system. Staff will have facilitated conversations with new students to achieve personal connection, and develop a plan of what each student needs to be successful.
Hi Ben,
Sounds like a very exciting program to be involved in. I’m so glad you’ll be developing something to support this program as your thesis project. I supervised a student who did a study with a group of teachers involved in a Grade 8 program (which sounds a ibt similar to what you describe here) in Nanaimo. If you are interested the link is here: https://viurrspace.ca/handle/10613/8674. My question is: What do you think you’ll create for your project? Has your school implemented the new program yet and will you be able to reflect on what you’ve tried to improve it for the next time around?
What a great project! I look forward to see what works for the students. Relationship is definitely a must for students especially those transitioning from elementary school to high school. One idea that was presented in my district was that one staff member maintained contact with the student to ease transition. I am curious what you mean by “facilitated conversations”?
That is great you are going to implement those activities. Will the consistent and clear expectations just be worked on in the first day or two? Will it go for at least the first week? Having worked in a First Nations school, the curriculum is the furthest thing thing I am concerned with in that first week. I focus on the first week to begin building the trust and relationships that are so key, the curriculum will come.
This is amazing work you are doing and so important to the academic sucess of your students. From your research, what do you believe elementary schools could do more of é improve to help ease the transition into high school?
A very important topic!! I have often thought that too much focus is placed on the students to adapt to the new High school environment. I teach in a high school and I feel that we (high schools) ought to learn from what many of the elementary schools are doing, as this will not only help with the transition into high school but likely improve the quality of teaching/learning taking place in high schools.
I’d be interested to read your project once you are complete.
Hi Ben,
This is a topic of great interest in my current role and I hope that I might be able to ready your work.
I am especially interested in the “how” of establishing norms across the classrooms. I have found that today has further illuminated the importance of creating shared structures with our students that break down the barriers that many face when they are unable to access the “hidden curriculum” (ie: social communication, collaboration, relationship building).
All the best!
Quincy