One of the highlights of my first year at West Rowan Middle School was helping organize a collaborative opportunity between our sixth grade teachers and the fifth grade teachers at our feeder schools. This was the...

Every fall, right before the start of school, students from preschool through college attend some sort of school orientation. Orientations provide an overview of what to expect in a new school, including all the...

"What if my child doesn’t know anyone?" "What if he gets lost?" "Who will help her open her locker?" These comments are typical of anxious parents whose child is preparing to transition into middle school. At...

As Brandon walked into the counselor suite he seemed a bit nervous. He had been a freshman at Bellaire High School for nine weeks, and he was still finding his way. His pants were stained and his t-shirt and light...

Students’ middle school experience plays a key role in their success in high school and beyond—we know that. But less well-known is how an innovative strategy called vertical teaming can help young...

The transition to or from middle school can be smooth for some, but those of us who serve in a middle school know just how stressful these moves can be for a large percentage of our students. Students worry about...

The middle-to-high-school transition is fraught with stressful challenges. Principal among them is the change in school environments. Many students move from middle schools organized into interdisciplinary teams of...

Fear of the unknown—or fear based on a false belief—is one barrier fifth graders and their parents face as they make the transition to middle school. When this barrier is removed, students can embrace the...

It is difficult for me to look at an autumn leaf and not think about Greek mythology. There is an undeniable connection between the rich reds, auburns, ambers, and crimsons of fall and the ancient gods and goddesses....

Once seen as the domain of school counselors, college readiness is now a shared responsibility among all educators, as well as family members, youth workers, and students themselves. It’s not surprising then,...