It’s a pivotal transition in students’ lives.
Why Middle School? It prepares students to “manage” high school: helping students grow more self-sufficient • control their time • get/stay organized • weigh daily decisions • choose “productive” study places • develop more mature learning tactics • plan for meeting deadlines • keep up” with readings (when no one checks).
Researchers now believe that a student’s freshmen year of high school acts as a predictor of success for freshman year of college.
Consider how “structurally” high school mirrors college. Many more students • a far larger building • each student follows an individual schedule • different teachers • different teaching styles • more long-term assignments • frequent independent study/readings as “homework” (easy to procrastinate and fall behind).
High school is your practice field for college. Use it to become a College Smart® student. Freshmen year in college requires all the skills listed above but in a far more independent and faster-moving setting. As a college freshman, you’ll know what to do to succeed.
Plus, students have much more freedom in using their time. You’ll learn how to avoid the “time trap” in making everyday decisions.