Tips to help students adjust to a new school

MADISON – Students typically attend multiple schools over the course of their academic careers. Preschool, elementary school, middle school, and high school are all normal pitstops on students’ academic journeys. Moving to a new school can pose a challenge for students. Whether they are beginning a new school at the start of a school year, or switching schools mid-year, the transition may be marked by a variety of emotions. The following tips can help students adjust to a new school.

· Discuss stress and uncertainty with kids. Parents can be honest with children and note that not every scenario is simple. Uncertainty is a part of life, and feelings that arise because of it can be acknowledged. Parents can demonstrate that it’s alright to feel stressed about the uncertainty of a new school and unsettled about changes that are coming. But ultimately everyone will work together as a family to help ease the transition.

· Familiarize oneself with the new school. Learning about and touring a new school can assuage a lot of the fears a student may have. School campus tours and opportunities to shadow students can help them feel more comfortable on the first day.

· Connect with other students. If possible, students should try to meet up with some of their potential peers. Some schools host meetand- greet events where incoming students can hang out with others in a friendly environment. Seeing one or two familiar faces the first day of school can help students who are apprehensive.

· Focus on what can be controlled. One of the best ways that adults can help students feel more positive about a new school is by focusing their attention on what they can control, says Pearson. Gathering familiar supplies, setting up a schedule or enrolling in a favorite subject or extracurricular activity are some ways students can exert control to boost their confidence.

· Work with the teacher. Parents can meet with a student’s teacher or teachers about what they can do to foster a smooth transition, particularly if their child is coming into the school in the middle of the school year.

· Show an interest in the school. Parents should be active participants in their children’s educations. That means attending school functions that celebrate students and joining parent-teacher organizations. Asking about new courses or extracurricular activities also can help students who may begin to mirror the enthusiasm their parents are showing.

Adjusting to a new school takes some time, but it is not an insurmountable task.