How do we prepare 6th graders for middle school while still in an elementary school? Our elementary school still has 6th graders and our new, first year science teacher is trying to figure out the best ways to prepare them for middle school while still being housed in an elementary school. Ideas/comments/suggestions? I'm the 5th grade science teacher so I'm trying to help her out where I can.
I teach 5th, but they go to middle school for 6th. I focus a lot on responsibility and organization. I use a timer for independent work time so they can start managing their time. I do not let them come in at recess and finish work, as they won't have that option in middle school. I teach them how to store papers in their folders. We have many, many conversations about time management and how to help themselves. When they encounter a problem, like forgetting to bring back a signed paper, I help them devise ways they can remember for the next day. I try to teach them to be good problem solvers instead of fixing their problems for them.
I teach middle school and most of our students go to this one particular high school that is in the next building. From a curriculum perspective, I try to get in touch with science teachers from the high school to find out what they value in their students and I use that information to prepare my students by incorporating it as much as possible in my curriculum. E.g. The high school would like students to be able to write a scientific report that is concise and to the point with certain word limits for certain parts of the report. So I get my students to write in this way to give them practice.