The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and movie tackle the subject of changing from one grade to another in a big way. As Greg moves into middle school, we see the development of his hilarious ideas of how to be cool.

Real life isn’t like the movies…so when it’s your turn to move from primary grades to junior to intermediate, you may find some of the changes going on a bit hard to deal with.  What kinds of changes?

Moving from primary grades to junior classes can sometimes involve leaving the primary hallways of your school and mixing with kids who are a lot older. Maybe you are going to have your own locker.  The good news is that the friends you had in primary school are still the ones in your class now.  When friends stay the same, it is easy to accept new routines.  You will have new things to learn and new field trips to look forward to, and maybe even new privileges in the computer lab or library!

Moving from junior classes to intermediate classes sometimes involves changing schools, so try to go on a tour of the new school and stick with good friends.  If your junior grades had you switching from one teacher to another for each subject, this change may not be so big, but if you have always had the same teacher for all your subjects, you may find it VERY different having to travel to math or science from a home room, and you might worry about finding classrooms and being on time.  Figure out where everything is located beforehand and you’ll feel a lot better.

There is also a big change in deadlines for assignments. A lot of big projects are given to students to work on at home and the due date is a long time away. Teachers do not give as many reminders about these assignments, so it is important to make good notes on a calendar and try to manage your time. Parents are involved less, too, as you get older, but for big projects, try to include them so they can help keep you on target!

For any grade or school switch, it is always important to be calm about the change. Remember that the first day of something new is always hardest, and the second day is always better.  Making new and more friends is exciting, and keeping old friends and routines can help you feel secure.  Joining clubs and teams can help make you feel like a part of the school or grade level.  Adjustments are sometimes needed if something isn’t working for you, but you will soon feel secure in your new environment and notice all the fresh possibilities!