They're back! Another group of sassy seventh-graders, ready to impart advice and wisdom to wondering readers.
These students are a part of Betsy Heath's language arts class at Rundlett Middle School, and Betsy was nice enough to collect responses and generally act as Tween supervisor again this year. (Thanks, Betsy – you're the best!)
Last year's group were known for honest answers and an excellent sense of humor, and we're looking forward to more of the same this year.
If you have a question to pose to the group, e-mails news@theconcordinsider.com (subject line: Tweens) and we'll be sure to pass it along.
Nate Hollins
Well, switching from elementary school to middle school was hard at first, but it got easier as it went on. I think that the hardest thing was finding my way around the school because it has so many wings and hallways. It was very confusing. I don’t think that I had ever seen a school so big. But eventually, it got a lot easier.
Harpreet Kaur
In middle school you have different teachers for different classes. In elementary school you have one teacher for most of your main classes. That is the toughest thing to adjust to.
In middle school you have related classes called “exploratories” for classes like gym and art, but different teachers every year. Adjusting to different teachers is hard but very important.
Lexie Perlow
When I first got to middle school, I was absolutely terrified by it. It was as if I was a fish entering a colossal, unfamiliar ocean. As I went along, I learned that everything wasn’t as bad as it seemed. Well, except lunch. In sixth grade we had lunch really early and I found I wasn’t really hungry. Now, in seventh grade, I feel myself yearn for food through all my classes.
Once you get used to it, though, it doesn’t bother you as much. It’s just another obstacle to overcome in life!
Rowan Ferrier
I think the toughest thing about adjusting to middle school from elementary school is all the schools merge into one. So you have to deal with having many kids around you and you have to find your way around a really big school compared to your old one.
I found it difficult to be around so many new people and it made me feel uncomfortable. But after the first month, I found Rundlett was a nice place to spend my school days.
Hannah Linquata
The toughest thing for me about adjusting to middle school was getting used to lunch. On the first day I was amazed at how many kids were in the lunchroom. I was expecting a few more than in fifth grade, but there were tons more! Back at my elementary school we had a 15-minute lunch and then recess. Now, I have a 30-minute lunch and NO recess. Lunch here has taken some getting used to.
Natalie Duncan
When you go to middle school, it’s a new place, somewhere you haven’t yet gotten to know. Many students have read a book that makes middle school sound like medieval torture. Most people find it hard just getting around, but who wouldn’t? None of the sixth-graders have gone to school at RMS before. We expect all of them to need a little help getting around. Another big difference is having so many teachers. This is sort of confusing at first, but soon enough everybody loves it. Middle school is way more fun than younger people assume. You get so much freedom. When you go to middle school, do not worry; just enjoy your time there and make lots of friends.
Matt Dube
What was the toughest thing about adjusting from elementary school to middle school? I would have to say that the hard thing is going from class to class because some time you might forget what class you have next and go to the wrong class with the wrong stuff. Then you have to go to your lockers and be late for your class and have to explain why you are late. That is not fun and you might get into trouble, which no one likes. This is what I thought was the hardest thing to adjust to.
Ben Heifetz
Congratulations! You are about to enter the wonderful world of middle school from the easy, bland elementary. Many people don’t want to go because they fear that they will get lost, but that never happens if you ask questions. I think asking questions is the hardest thing. Most people are afraid to ask questions because they are shy. Either way, have fun and ask questions!
Brian Galvin
Some of the toughest things you have to get used to when adjusting to middle school is swearing. I hear swears a lot when teachers are not around. Another thing is the responsibility and switching rooms every 45 minutes and remembering to bring everything to class. You can get a detention for not bringing your stuff to class or a bad grade. We have SSR (sustained silent reading), but we call it, “Shut up, sit down and read.”
Emily Hewey
Once you get into middle school, lots of things change. Some are good and some bad. Some are easy and some tough. It doesn’t really matter about the easy things, because you adjust to them pretty quickly. But the tough things are pretty hard.
In elementary school you have one teacher for every class. Also, you know most of the kids in your grade. But once you get into middle school, you know about 100 of the 1,000 kids there.
Adjusting to middle school can be hard. There are lots of things to adjust to. You should get used to the fact that you have to do your homework. In elementary school, you don’t have detentions. But in middle school, you can get an automatic detention. But, if you adjust to the changes, middle school won’t be hard.
