Tips for the Transition From 8th Grade to 9th Grade

How to Smoothly Transition from 8th to 9th Grade

Avoid Absences

In general, absences from school should be avoided as much as possible, but this is especially true for 8th grade students. Ninth grade is generally considered to be the first year of high school and marks the beginning of the path to college. Therefore, the lessons and standards in the 9th grade become more complex and are based on material students should have learned in the 8th grade. When students have a lot of absences, they may miss out on vital lessons and assignments, which can cause them to fall behind in the 8th grade and have problems keeping up with the work in 9th grade.

Give Extra Assignments

In 9th grade, students will often have to complete more work than they did in previous years. You can help your child prepare for this by having him or her complete extra assignments and projects. Not only will this extra work help your child review, but it will also prepare your 8th grader for the heavier workload he or she will have in 9th grade.

Help Your Child Study

In addition to the extra work they'll face in the 9th grade, students also tend to take additional quizzes and tests in high school. To be successful, they'll need to take responsibility for their learning and study on their own time. However, since schools don't usually teach kids how to study, your child may need your help to develop the proper skills and discipline needed to study effectively. Help by creating a study schedule and finding the strategies that work best for him or her.

Work on Scheduling and Prioritizing

Many children transitioning from the 8th grade to the 9th grade need help scheduling and prioritizing everything they'll be required to do in and out of school. In addition to more assignments, homework and projects, a lot of students will also become involved with various extracurricular activities, clubs and sports. Therefore, to help your child stay on top of his or her grades and additional responsibilities and commitments, you may need to help your 8th grader create and maintain a daily or weekly planner.