Helping Your Teen Transition

to High School
Sam Weissler
Agenda
❖ The High School Transition ❖ Communicating with your teen
➢ Social and Developmental ➢ Praising effort
changes ➢ Celebrating mistakes
➢ Structural change ❖ Establishing positive routines!
➢ Increased academic rigor ➢ Sleep
❖ Changing body/brain ➢ Homework
➢ Hormonal effects ➢ Organization & Study Skills
➢ Brain growth ➢ Extracurriculars
The Facts

❖ Student achievement declines between middle and high school

❖ Behavioral referrals increase in 9th grade

❖ More students fail 9th grade than any other grade level

❖ Failing 9th grade leads to a greater chance of dropping out of school

❖ Social issues become even more important to students in high school

❖ Attendance is a better indicator of success in high school than 8th grade test

scores
Transition Planning
❖ Providing 8th grade students & parents/guardians information and resources
to make the transition from 8th to 9th as smooth as possible
➢ Psychological, academic, & social

Steps to Take

1. Get Information
2. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
3. Collaborate and Communicate
The High School Transition
❖ Not just a change in grade level
❖ Student concerns fall under 3 categories
➢ Social
■ Increased independence, desire to fit in, social hierarchies
■ Can lead to: low self-esteem, anxiety, increase in risky behaviors
➢ Structural
■ Bigger building, higher expectations, less structure, fewer personal
relationships with teachers
➢ Academic
■ Increased rigor and workload + inadequate preparation = decrease in
grades
Social Preparation: The Adolescent Brain
❖ The parts of the brain involved
in self control, decision-making,
and social behavior are still very
underdeveloped
❖ Increased opportunity for
growth and social learning
❖ Increased likelihood of
engaging in risky behaviors
The Adolescent Brain - What can we do?
Monitor behavior in groups when possible. Regulate the environment, not the
student

Encourage extracurricular activities

Allow your student the opportunity to make choices (and mistakes)

Communicate with your teen!

Communication

❖ Praise effort rather than ability

❖ Celebrate mistakes as opportunities for growth & learning

❖ Set goals

❖ Ask questions
Structural Preparation

❖ Take a tour of the school

❖ Attend 9th grade open house, make sure you know and understand all school

policies
➢ Can be found in the student handbook which will be distributed to students and also available
online

❖ Get to know your teachers

❖ Establish positive routines

Establish Positive Routines!

❖ Sleep (and technology limits)

❖ Homework

❖ Organization/Study Skills

❖ Encourage extracurricular activities

❖ Establish routines over the summer so students are used to them by the time

school starts
Academic Preparation

❖ Expect homework every day

❖ Ask for help when you need it

❖ Set goals and plan ahead

❖ Make good use of your summer

❖ Establish positive routines