I think, (and I hope to be right), that the change from Primary to Secondary It is a headache for many parents, to the uncertainty of letting a child of 11, 12 or 13 (if he has repeated a previous course) change his educational center to interact with adolescents and face different methodologies than he was used to; the resistance to the natural growth of the children is added, with all that that implies.
In the concerted or private centers, the schoolchildren stay until the end of ESO (and even the Baccalaureate), not so in Public Education, but also adaptations and changes in study dynamics and social relations are required.
It is not the first time we address the issue in this blog, and as then, I continue to think (many parents do) that the children are small for such an important change: adolescence begins a little later, and in this sense you can find more logical the system of studies that kept us in Primary until 14. But it is not a matter now of hitting anything, but of giving clues to help children Children who are going to start ESO's first course. School failure scares us, that they receive 'bad influences' too, however it can be a good opportunity to strengthen their independence, and to support the achievements they will achieve, The difficulties ?, we can anticipate or help solve them, all in due course, it is of little use to imagine all kinds of negative situations.
Transit is not only difficult for parents but also for them, and as the Institutes know, they adapt spaces, organize classes properly, and take special care with first-year students. For those who step on the 'insti' for the first time as students, it is a challenge to assume greater demands, different learning (sometimes even more experimental), as it is also managing a little more freedom.
The role of education professionals
If bad habits of study from Primary are highlighted as one of the causes of school failure; It should also be noted the lack of coordination between Primary and IES schools.
It would be desirable for third-grade teaching teams to combine criteria with the professors of the Institutes to which they are attached, and it may even be the level of demand is raised from fifth grade (They are still small, but it is important that they start studying techniques, and that - although they may still have plenty of time to play - they learn to organize themselves well).
The sixth graders must know (and not only for the Open Door Day at the IES) how the center they will go to work, what subjects they will study, and what equipment they will have at their disposal; It would also be good if they met their teachers in the following course, and became familiar with ESO's first cycle blog, to follow the news, and move into a world that you will soon know.
What do parents paint in all this?
If the child goes to school alone, I will no longer see the other parents at the door of the school, we will not go to birthdays like when they were little, and our children are required autonomy studying, where on the game board we get? It turns out that we still have a lot to do (luckily, these children grow up very fast): Family communication and respect become very important, and the monitoring of academic objectives to be met as well. In addition, we will not stop holding meetings with the tutor of the class, or interviewing the principal if problems arise that are difficult to solve.
Maintain a family communication not based on judgments but on listening, in which everyone has a prominent role but no one believes better than the others, it is a very difficult task, but also a stimulating challenge, and sometimes parents must give up achieving concrete and short-term goals, in exchange for satisfactory growth of the children
I want to say with that that it would not make sense to get involved in a suspended subject (before he was such a good student!), Or in those new friends so rare, if in general our son is being more responsible and autonomous, and counts on us for problems important
When studying, we provide the comfort of a space prepared at home, and we motivate them by highlighting achievements and looking for ways to overcome problems (without blaming). It is still important that they sleep well, and eat in a balanced and healthy way, paying attention to breakfast.
The workhorse
For me they are the habits of study: 14-year-old boys who go to bed at 2 in the morning studying for the next day's exam, fathers and mothers who are still 'far above' homework. The balance seems unattainable, but it is desirable look for it as if it were a treasure: to pass exams, spend time on homework, and have fun with friends, there is a formula: knowing how to study and organize thoroughly, anticipating the time that last minute setbacks will take away. And we ... we should no longer help them so directly, although yes be aware, and available.
Here we explained a method that can be valid in Secondary, the convenience of getting used to this or others, is proportional to the tranquility that is obtained by 'having it all' (or almost) under control. When facing exams it is advisable to keep anxiety at bay, do we remember these guidelines?
Lastly, remember that bullying (a very recurring theme in Peques y Más), occurs more intensely during the Secondary years, although it is possible to find it among children from third grade; therefore, and since we cannot 'follow' our children closely (they are no longer of age for that), let's be attentive to any change in behavior or habits, that it is not possible to contextualize.
And perhaps another crucial issue is the Rational use of technologies (ie in favor of the person and healthy relationships, not the other way around), in which the boys and girls also participate, at the risk (if they do not) of losing the freedom granted by their new smartphone, or of being offline in the room.
Images | hepingting, Brad Flickinger, USAG- Humphreys On Peques and More | Time of exams: do you know how to take care of your children's diet so that they improve their physical and intellectual performance? How to give stability to children before a change of school, A flexible and respectful school adaptation would avoid many problems for children and families
