Discuss the challenges adolescents face during the transition from elementary and middle school to junior high school.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary. The transition to middle, junior high, or high school generally involves a shift from a smaller neighborhood elementary school to a larger, more impersonal setting with more students and different teachers for different classes. These changes may not fit the developmental needs of early adolescents. For example, adolescents express a desire for increased autonomy, yet teachers in junior high typically allow less student input and exert more control than teachers in elementary school (Tobbell, 2003). The transition to the new school setting is often accompanied by a decline in grades and participation in school activities. Students may also experience a drop in self-esteem and an increase in stress (Rudolph &Flynn, 2007). The transition from elementary school appears to be more difficult for girls than boys. Girls are more likely to be undergoing puberty and to earn the attention of boys in higher grades, whereas younger boys are not likely to be of interest to older girls. Girls experience major life changes, and children who experience many life changes at once find it more difficult to adjust (Tobbell, 2003). But the transition need not be that stressful (Rudolph et al., 2001). Elementary and middle schools can help ease the transition. Some middle schools create a more intimate, caring atmosphere by establishing smaller schools within the school building. Others have "bridge programs" during the summer that introduce students to the new school culture and strengthen their academic skills.