Be Successful in Middle School

If you're new to junior high and and want to make a good impression to teachers and peers, focusing on what really matters can help you succeed.

Steps

Staying Organized

  1. Learn your locker combination. Having a locker can be a big change. You need to learn your locker combination and remember it. You don't want to end up being late to class all the time because you struggle to get your locker open. Write down your locker combination in a folder or on your phone if you are allowed to keep it with you. This way you will always have the combination, even if your forget it. [1]
  2. Keep your locker tidy. You should be able to find any assignments or materials that you need for class quickly so you can make it to class on time. Regularly clear out old papers so that you don't have more in your locker than what you actually need.
  3. Use your student planner. Make sure you know when your tests are coming up and when big assignments are going to be due.[2] It is your responsibility to make sure you have your work done on time and are prepared for any exams. Your middle school teachers will expect you to.
  4. Keep a copy of your schedule on you all the time. You will eventually learn your way around your middle school, but it's important to keep a copy of your schedule on you until you master your daily routine. Middle schools are often larger that elementary school and following your schedule can be confusing at first.

Getting Involved

  1. Find an activity that's right for you. Consider your interests, abilities and the available free time you have first, then decide which activities suit you best.[3] For example, if you want to make a difference in your middle school, consider student government. If you like running you can join the cross-country team. There are more opportunities than ever to try new things in middle school, so take advantage of them.
  2. Join a sport.[4] Some sports are open, such as cross-country and swimming, so there can be as many people on a team as want to join. Some teams that can only have a certain number of players still need team managers that can support the team while they work on improving their skills.
  3. Join an academic club. Academic clubs are a great way to learn more while making friends and having fun. There are clubs for science, art, music, history, math and more. You will get to spend time with teachers that know a lot about the subjects they teach and other students that share your interests.
  4. Attend school functions. Middle schools will have school dances, shows and other events for students to attend and socialize.[5] It's a great opportunity to make new friends and to showcase your talents.
  5. Stay connected with your friends. Make plans with your friends to meet up with them during lunch time. The cafeteria is a good time to socialize, so make sure you let your friends know you plan to spend your lunch with them before the lunch period. This way you can save them a seat, or they can save one from you. Being with friends makes lunch much more enjoyable than sitting with strangers or eating alone.

Getting Good Grades

  1. Do your homework. You will typically get 1-2 hours of homework each day in middle school.[6] Do your homework first while the instructions or lessons are fresh in your mind. Always do your assignments before going out to play or watching television.
  2. Go to every class. Be on time. Teachers will keep track of your attendance and whether or not you were at the class on time, or not. If you are late or absent without being excused, it can negatively affect your grades.
  3. Take good notes. Learn and use a good note taking strategy.[7] Write down key points from your class lectures and discussions. Listen for indications from your teacher when information is likely to appear on your future quizzes or exams. You can review your notes at home to quickly go over the topics and lessons you covered. Even if you feel like you know all the material, learning to take good notes now will be a major asset when you go on to high school and college.
  4. Be healthy. If your body feels good then so do you. Take up sports and physical activities, but don't overdo it or starve yourself, do what feels right to you. The goal isn't to have a 'perfect body' but rather to be on top of your health and take care of yourself. Also, the junk food that kids eat isn't good and should be replaced by healthy substitutes whenever possible.
  5. Get enough sleep. It is important to go to school well-rested and ready to learn. If you are tired from being up too late the previous night, you will have a difficult time focusing and retaining the information being presented to you in class. Make sure you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night to be ready for the next day.
  6. Seek help early in the semester. If you are having trouble understanding the lessons in one of your classes, ask your teacher for help before you fall too far behind. The more material you have to catch up on, the harder it will be to be successful.
    • Take advantage of drop-in tutoring centers. Middle schools have a free tutoring resource that any students can use to get up to speed on their studies. The tutoring center can help if you are struggling with a subject, or if you are just looking for some help to get the best grade in the class.

Tips

  • Don't worry. You have a long way to go until college; if you make a few mistakes in middle school, you can make it up in high school. This doesn't mean don't try, it just means, don't despair if you take on misstep. There's time to change paths and succeed!
  • Do your best. Don't try your best, do it. Realize that although you have a life outside of school. that's not the purpose of your education. You have been given the ability to learn, one that many children don't. Although it may seem impossible, spend more time focusing on education, rather than the kids at school and other teen type things.
  • Be drama free! Rise above the drama and gossip, and work on your own personal development instead.
  • Be wise by choosing to turn the TV off and getting to work. The few mistakes you might make in middle school can be fixed along the way to college.

Related Articles

  • Be Yourself (and Be Proud of It) in Middle School
  • Be Mature in Middle School
  • Make the Best out of Middle School
  • Prepare Yourself for Middle School
  • Be Successful at School

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.brighthubeducation.com/parenting-middle-schoolers/3173-ten-tips-for-a-successful-start-to-middle-school/
  2. ↑ http://collegetools.berkeley.edu/documents/cat_113-119/Organizational_Skills_Handout.pdf
  3. ↑ http://m.kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/involved_school.html
  4. ↑ http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/more-school-involvement/success-tips-middle-school-principal
  5. ↑ https://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/1141-tips-and-ideas-for-middle-school-events
  6. ↑ http://www.bkwcsd.k12.ny.us/Guidance/SuccessinMS.cfm
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1nHtq10HD4&app=desktop
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