Middle School: The Time of Change
An article containing advice for middle school students looking for a productive and effective education.
A Time of Change
Middle School is a time of change and internal growth for each and every student. This time of change concerns learning about oneself, the world, and the peers surrounding them. Furthermore, students must be conscientious and aware of their lessons, homework, and studies as in 8th grade, as multiple classes end up on high school transcripts. This is important considering that these classes and grades that are produced may affect a college’s decision in accepting a student. In the following article, one can learn of the benefits that a student should possess for college advantages and personal success.
Exams and Finals
The typical advice that teachers give to students in preparation for exams is to study and pay attention. This is correct, yet proceeds into more detail that all students should take note of. For example, in order for preparation upon the day of the test, students should create study guides, make flashcards, request extra practice worksheets, be attentive in classes, and offer input to classroom discussion and seminars. Effective study habits not only come from the material and sources, but from allowing oneself to take breaks or work with a peer for multiple answers and perspectives. Meanwhile, finals concern a more expansive and broad spectrum of units from a school year. Breaking up studying into multiple days and sections helps organize time and can be used as an effective method even for unit tests about a singular topic. To summarize, the main takeaway is that time management is key in middle school.
Projects
In middle school, students complete numerous projects in each class that may make a large impact in their grades. These projects may be a group project or completely independent. With this in mind, choices in work setting, group members, and project topic are extremely important. As students, it’s important to make responsible decisions in these fields. Working with an incompatible or uncooperative partner can make the brainstorming and researching process far more difficult than it needs to be. Students should keep in mind to prioritize personal working conditions if it makes productivity as easy as possible.
Homework/Classwork
It goes without saying that one should always have their homework and class work that was unfinished from the prior day of school, finished before the next class. If not, this is a very easy way to lose points and lower a grade point average. Homework and classwork material will almost always be found on a unit test or in a question on a final. Considering this, it’s essential to put in a maximum effort and to have it completed before the deadline. In addition, some helpful tips for assignments such as these are going to after school academy to understand a question or topic that is confusing. Also, if a lesson doesn’t make sense, students should take time to research and study the material so it doesn’t cause any more problems than it already is.
Extracurricular Activities
Academics are not the only priority for being a contented and well rounded student. Applying oneself for sports, clubs after school, band, chorus, orchestra, theater, and advanced art teaches students life time skills, and can help with one’s experiment for what hobbies they may have, as well as what their interests are in life. Not only do these extracurricular activities teach students aspects in a more personal and skill oriented field, but these activities go on transcripts that can persuade a college or university whether or not to look further into the acceptance of a student to their school. Choosing to advance in extracurricular activities as well as academics will expand a students life skills, qualities, and open up new opportunities for their future studies.
Strategies from The Students
Only one perspective has been offered concerning middle school advice and how to excel. To have a varied source of advice and data, multiple 8th graders have been interviewed on what helped them proceed through middle school. Many responded with quotes about study habits and work mindset. For example, this is what Natalie Bass (8th grade) finds most helpful when studying, “A strategy for studying that I find really helpful is making a study guide because it’s good practice to read and summarize the most important things to remember for exams and tests. I also find going back and highlighting, annotating, and rereading parts of textbooks good when trying to remember important facts and details.” Meanwhile, a quote from another 8th grader named Ella Santerre offers advice focusing on classwork, “I believe that 7th and 6th graders should try their best on everything but also try and improve their work ethic because it not only helps them get things done but is good practice for highschool and college.” Both quotes portray that hard work is required, and dedication is necessary in middle school. While also reflecting that study habits vary for each student but should all require practice and focus on class notes and assignments.
Effects of Middle School Education
Middle school can be hard to adjust to after summer vacation each year. New teachers, classrooms, curriculum, and for 6th graders maybe an entirely different school. Nevertheless, no matter how students adjust, each student will have different study habits and a different work ethic that works best for them. This is why it’s important to no matter what put in maximum effort. Studies show that middle school students that spend about 90-100 minutes studying for their tests achieve higher grades because of working the brain to remember important facts and information. The effects of a productive middle school education can be acceptance to college preparatory schools. These schools tend to have relationships with universities such as Cornell, Duke, Dartmouth, and Columbia that are arguably some of the best schools in the country. In summary, middle school is a time of much importance for all students and if taken seriously, can help pursue one’s dreams in their future.