yourself a break.
Don’t beat yourself up over
every little mistake. Instead, celebrate what you did right, and accept
and understand what you did wrong. Then move on, knowing that you
did the best you could do.
Be levelheaded.
Worrying sucks up your energy.
Don’t let thoughts about
what could go wrong eat away at your precious time, or you’ll be left
with nothing to show for it—except
a bellyful of butterflies. Focus on
what good things could happen:
I might get an A! If you have to
consider the negative “what-ifs,”
follow up each one with a positive
“what-if.” Give yourself five minutes;
then
get on with things.
Be open-minded.
Much of your time in middle school is spent getting tested, graded, and
evaluated. Teacher comments, class critics, and even input from parents
can sometimes hurt. Try to take each comment one at a time and see
if you can use the advice that’s given.
Don’t take it personally or
get discouraged.
Remind yourself:
Don’t worry—
you’ll be just fine.
Soon enough,
YOU
could be giving
advice to someone else who is scared
about starting middle school, just like
you were.
I’m a good person.
My math skills just
need a little work.
new school
Dear American Girl,
I’m going to middle school next year,
but I’m not sure I’m ready for all the
responsibility yet. What if I forget
which classroom to go to, or if I get
to class late and get detention?
Kate
What to look for:
t
your locker
t
your homeroom
t
your classrooms
t
girls’ bathrooms
t
cafeteria (lunchroom)
t
nurse’s office
t
counselor’s office
t
main office
t
gym and locker room
t
drinking fountains
As soon as you get your schedule and a school map, locate each of your
classrooms on the map and trace the route you’ll take from room to
room. Then make sure you stash your map in your backpack or tape it
inside your locker.
If you have the opportunity to “walk through” your schedule before
the first day of school, by all means do it! If your school doesn’t allow
this, it’s not a big deal. No one will expect you to know your way around
right away.
getting around
Chances are, your middle school will be bigger than your elementary
school. Just think of it as room to grow. You’ll be navigating the halls
like a pro in no time.
Lost and found
t
Classroom numbers
typically start with the number of the
floor they are on. For example, room 101 is on the first floor and
room 201 is on the second floor.
t
Drinking fountains
are almost always located near the
bathrooms.
t
Stairways
are usually at the ends of halls. Look for exit signs.
t
Use visual landmarks
to help remember which way to go.
“Take a left at the trophy case, pass the room with the hamsters . . .”
One way
Hallways can get pretty crowded between classes. Try to stick to your
right to stay with the flow of traffic—like on a freeway!
Afraid you’ll be late?
Don’t panic. Just walk as quickly as you can. Don’t stop to talk—instead,
ask your friend to walk with you as you chat. Plan a stop at your locker
only when it’s on your way. That means that you might have to carry
more than one class’s books with you at a time. If you need more time
than is allowed between classes to go to the bathroom or pick up some-
thing at the office, ask a teacher for permission or a hall pass.
Home sweet homeroom
You may be assigned to go to a room first thing every morning and
at the end of every day. There your homeroom teacher will take
attendance and you’ll listen to announcements. When the bell rings,
it’s off to your first class!
In some middle schools, you might not switch for every class during the
first year you’re there. Instead, you’ll have a homeroom teacher for your
core classes, much like you did in elementary school. If your district
does