Going into middle school is never easy. In elementary school, there was nap time, the homework was easy and students could go home early. Then grade 6 hits; all of a sudden there are letters in mathematics, everyone around you is a new face and the classes just seem like it became ten times as hard!
However, as difficult as going into 6th grade is, it isn’t all that bad if students already have a few skills and talents up their sleeves. In fact, with developing life skills such as organizational skills and time management abilities, it could be a breeze. To elaborate, here are 4 skills every student needs to know when going into middle school, and how it helps them into the future!
1. Organizational Skills
A common but essential skill every student should have picked up when they’re entering 6th grade is organizational skills. Even from preschool, students are assigned timetables and class periods for each day. They’re also given homework which must be handed in the next lesson. By following the tasks given and listening to their teachers, students would develop the ability to plan and prepare for the next day.
By 6th grade, students should be able to manage and organize their time properly. For example, bringing the correct assignments and textbooks for each day, putting aside time to study and do their homework, but also know how to balance their time for enjoyment such as playing games and spending time with their family.
The best thing about internalizing and mastering organizational skills early is that it will carry over way into the future. Especially when students are adults, these organizational and time management skills will lay the foundation for their bright futures.
Related: Organize Your Digital Life
2. Independence
Coming together hand-in-hand with learning organizational skills is learning to be independent. After 6 or more years of going to school almost every day, students should have a decent grasp of how to be independent. That doesn’t mean they should be working and paying taxes though! It means by 6th grade, students should already know how to wake up, brush their teeth and get ready for school by themselves. They should know how to catch the bus in the morning, manage their weekly allowances, clean their room on their own accord, etc.
By learning to be independent at an early age, when graduation comes along, students will be more than ready to soar into the big world on their own. Independence is one of the most beneficial skills a student going into the 6th grade should develop, as it shapes them into outstanding individuals from the get-go!
3. Critical Thinking
An often overlooked (or undermentioned) skill that most students entering the 6th grade should start developing is critical thinking skills. Students shouldn’t just absorb what is taught in the classroom but also learn to question and understand it. Going into the 6th grade, teachers will start encouraging peer discussions even more, pushing students to speak their minds and share their opinions.
With critical thinking, students do not just blindly memorize the syllabus, but they truly internalize what is being presented. Aside from the obvious benefits it provides the students in the classroom, it also helps students make wiser life decisions. For example, in the 6th grade, students are much more exposed to new experiences, such as being invited to a house party. When students are able to critically think, instead of giving in to peer pressure, they would reflect upon if going to the party would be a good idea, and if it was really what they wanted, etc.
By being able to think for themselves and analyze the situation, students going into the 6th grade will be able to make much more mature and responsible decisions for themselves. This ability to make informed decisions will also carry on into their adult lives, and benefit their careers immensely.
Related: 10 Books to Encourage Your Rising 7th Grader to Read More
4. Basic Mental Arithmetic’s
Since preschool, students are taught to count, from an introduction to numbers to gradually more advanced lessons like addition and subtraction, or multiplication and division. Mathematics work is encouraged to be done without the help of a calculator. This is to teach students how to mentally calculate basic arithmetic’s. Thus by 6th grade, students should already have a firm grasp on being able to calculate in their heads.
This is an incredibly helpful skill to have as it makes daily transactions and managing allowances much easier for students. Mental arithmetic’s allows students to be able to calculate how much they can spend on food, toys and games, and how much money they’ll have left over for snacks and ice cream.
Being able to do basic mental arithmetic’s is also an invaluable skill if consistently trained, as students are able to hone in on their financial management and future planning once they’re older. If mathematics isn’t your child’s strong suit, maybe a tutor can help! Learn more about School is Easy by contacting one of our Area Directors.
