Imagine walking the halls of a brand-new school. The school is 10 times bigger than you had ever imagined and you can’t find your class as the bell rings.
“The hardest part of seventh grade that I did not expect, was finding all of my classes at the beginning of the year,” said seventh grader Paul R.
This is a common challenge for middle schoolers.
There are many changes for middle school students, both when they start middle school and as they enter the eighth grade.
For seventh graders, teachers are very kind and understanding about helping students get into a positive middle school routine and set the expectations for middle and high school.
“Academically, Math was also a big struggle for me, said Paul, who conceded that it isn’t his best subject. “I’m also getting more homework than I received in the sixth grade.”
Homework is one hurdle that both grades struggle with.
“Eighth grade teachers give out more homework, especially the more advanced high school classes.” Paisley G., an eighth grader says,
The Eighth-graders were very consistent in saying that eighth grade is harder than seventh grade.
“The workload is overall more difficult than seventh grade, and the teachers are a little less easygoing than the teachers in seventh, especially about things like deadlines and due dates,” said Charlotte G.
The difficulty level increases for 8th grade because teachers are preparing students for high school, where they will be responsible for getting their work in on time with minimal coaching.
Seventh graders, in contrast, have just had a difficult transition and are learning lots of new self-management skills.
Overall, middle school is a good transition between elementary and high school, providing a buffer between childhood and more adult responsibilities.
