Helping Your Child Make Successful Transitions: Middle to High School

Tips for Helping Your Child Transition from Middle to High School

1. Attend planning meetings for choosing high school courses with your child.
2. Ask your child about her goals for high school and after high school. Listen.
3. Help your child set high and realistic goals.
4. Tell your child about your hopes for his future.
5. Ask the school for information and a school handbook prior to the beginning of the year. This should be provided in your home language. Read this information and talk about it with your child.
6. Check out the school Web site.
7. Ask about opportunities for students to shadow a high school student.
8. Attend orientations and open house events.
9. Visit the school building with your child before the school year begins to help her become familiar with the new building.
10. Talk with your child about what clubs, teams or other activities he can join at school. 
11. Encourage your child to develop relationships with other students with similar interests.
12. Talk with other parents and students about their experiences in this school.
13. Ask open-ended questions like, "How's it going?" or “What have you been learning?”
14. Make comments like, "You seem upset.  What happened?" Then listen. 
15. Expect your child’s transition to be successful. Remember the adjustment will take time. Your positive outlook can help your child; let him know you are confident in his ability to do well.