Articulation Agreements with Elementary Schools
Articulation agreements with area elementary schools help to ensure that incoming middle grades students have achieved grade-level standards, recognize the rigor expected in middle school, and understand the social, academic, and citizenship skills needed for success in middle school.
Structured discussions between teachers at the elementary and middle grades level are crucial to the success of student transitions. For example, subject-matter teachers review the academic and study skills necessary for elementary students to successfully do middle grades work. Such discussions also help to minimize the use of scare tactics such as threats uttered by elementary teachers: “Those middle school teachers won't let you do things over,” or “You'd better shape up, or you'll never make it in middle school!”1
Some young adolescents experience anxiety disorders that increase with a move to a new school. Effective transition programs help youths to feel comfortable with the new school setting and introduce them to peer helpers and older friends who welcome them and help when they are lost.2
The following sections outline many aspects of articulation agreements that help to ensure smooth transitions to middle school.
In the Spotlight
Granite Oaks Middle School, Rocklin Unified School District, a California Middle Grades Partnership Network School
Members of this high-achieving middle school faculty place a priority on articulation with incoming sixth graders. Principals from feeder schools meet with the Granite Oaks principal to discuss articulation. One of the agreements is to host an after-school sixth-grade math academy at Granite Oaks to prepare incoming sixth graders. Elementary schools advertise the program and recruit students who need help. Summer school intervention funds help pay for the part-time math teachers who run the program.
Toby Johnson Middle School, Elk Grove Unified School District, a 2006 Schools to Watch™-Taking Center Stage Model School
Through its Jump Start program, Toby Johnson Middle School conducts outreach to sixth graders in feeder schools to promote a seamless transition to seventh grade. All incoming students receive an invitation (in their sixth grade feeder elementary school) to come to the week-long Jump Start program in August. Members of the Toby Johnson student leadership team greet the students, help them find their classes (a shortened schedule), and answer questions about middle school. The leadership team members receive training during a leadership class in the previous year. During that course, they developed a PowerPoint slide show to demystify middle school.
Granite Oaks DataQuest School Profile
Granite Oaks Middle School (Outside Source)
California Middle Grades Partnership Network School
Toby Johnson DataQuest School Profile
Toby Johnson Middle School (Outside Source)
Schools to Watch™-Taking Center Stage Model School—Visitor's Guide: Toby Johnson MIddle School (PDF; Outside Source)
Schools to Watch™-Taking Center Stage
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The importance of easing transitions for young adolescents
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Course articulation
Footnotes
1Judith Baenen, “Using the Next Grade as a Threat, “
Middle E-Connections, March 2006.
2Jane Brody, “
Help for the Child Who Says No to School” (Outside Source),
New York Times, August 29, 2006.