MONROE - Sixth grade can be overwhelming.
Students grow accustomed to their elementary schools. They've learned where the library and cafeteria are located, they've shared classrooms and playgrounds with the same friends for six years and the principal who greeted them at the front door when they entered kindergarten could easily have been the same person who wished them well on their last day of school in June.
When sixth-graders look at the middle school it might strike them as an imposing structure. They might wonder how they would ever be able to find their way from one room to the next.
There have probably been a few students who spent sleepless nights before making the transition from elementary school to middle school.
Three Monroe Middle School teachers decided to make the transition from elementary school to middle school a little less intimidating.
"Jump Start Sixth Grade" allowed incoming students to get a chance to tour the building, learn how to plan their days and realize that sixth grade might not be too bad after all.
Emily Meyers, one of the new sixth-graders, said she was nervous about a new school and a new grade.
"I was worried about coming to sixth grade," she said. "This makes it easier."
Students were shown how to turn the locks on their lockers, and the teachers explained to them how to read their class schedules.
The students each received a letter from last year's class that contained advice for how to be successful in sixth-grade. Some of the advice they received was to write things down and to get their lockers organized at the beginning of the day.
Meyers was a little afraid of the prospect of middle school in June, but she isn't scared any more.
"I'm looking forward to the beginning of the year," she said.
Sixth grade teacher Carol Soden and fellow teachers Marlea Johnson and Karla Van Smith spent the entire day with about 100 of the 170 students who will enter the middle school for the first time Sept. 1.
"This really helps out," Soden said.
For all of the students, they enter middle school with classmates they've never met. Monroe has four elementary schools so about two-thirds of the students are new to each other.
The day gave them a chance to meet some of their new classmates.
"There's a lot of pressure on the students when they come to the middle school," Soden said. "They have lockers and locks for the first time. Even to know where they have to go for class can be a challenge."
Students grow accustomed to their elementary schools. They've learned where the library and cafeteria are located, they've shared classrooms and playgrounds with the same friends for six years and the principal who greeted them at the front door when they entered kindergarten could easily have been the same person who wished them well on their last day of school in June.
When sixth-graders look at the middle school it might strike them as an imposing structure. They might wonder how they would ever be able to find their way from one room to the next.
There have probably been a few students who spent sleepless nights before making the transition from elementary school to middle school.
Three Monroe Middle School teachers decided to make the transition from elementary school to middle school a little less intimidating.
"Jump Start Sixth Grade" allowed incoming students to get a chance to tour the building, learn how to plan their days and realize that sixth grade might not be too bad after all.
Emily Meyers, one of the new sixth-graders, said she was nervous about a new school and a new grade.
"I was worried about coming to sixth grade," she said. "This makes it easier."
Students were shown how to turn the locks on their lockers, and the teachers explained to them how to read their class schedules.
The students each received a letter from last year's class that contained advice for how to be successful in sixth-grade. Some of the advice they received was to write things down and to get their lockers organized at the beginning of the day.
Meyers was a little afraid of the prospect of middle school in June, but she isn't scared any more.
"I'm looking forward to the beginning of the year," she said.
Sixth grade teacher Carol Soden and fellow teachers Marlea Johnson and Karla Van Smith spent the entire day with about 100 of the 170 students who will enter the middle school for the first time Sept. 1.
"This really helps out," Soden said.
For all of the students, they enter middle school with classmates they've never met. Monroe has four elementary schools so about two-thirds of the students are new to each other.
The day gave them a chance to meet some of their new classmates.
"There's a lot of pressure on the students when they come to the middle school," Soden said. "They have lockers and locks for the first time. Even to know where they have to go for class can be a challenge."