Patrick Akos - Promoting a Successful Transition to Middle School

Promoting a Successful Transition to Middle School

Patrick Akos

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

J. Allen Queen

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Christopher Lineberry

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

First published 2005 by Eye On Education

Published 2013 by Routledge

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Akos, Patrick.

Promoting a successful transition to middle school / Patrick

Akos, J. Allen Queen, Christopher Lineberry.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 1-930556-98-5

1. Middle school educationUnited States. 2. Articulation (Education)United States. 3. Student adjustmentUnited States. 4. Academic achievementUnited States. I. Queen, J. Allen. II. Lineberry, Christopher. III. Title.

LB1623.5.A424 2005

373.236dc22

2004030215

ISBN: 978-1-930556-98-0 (pbk)

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Dedication and Acknowledgements

For my beautiful wife, amazing daughters, terrific colleagues, and family and friends, your unconditional support will forever be appreciated. Special thanks to those school counseling graduate students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for your help and your dedication to learning and helping students thrive.

Patrick

To my wife of 32 years, I would never have made the transition to college without your support and belief in me. Thanks to all of my doctoral students that assisted directly or indirectly with this project, may your transition to the doctorate be most successful

Allen

To my son, Caleb, and to my parents and siblings, thanks, for never giving up on me and supporting all of my efforts to better myself professionally. To my friends, Ron, Christa, Brian and Michelle, without your support and assistance my dreams would remain just that, dreams. Thank you.

Chris

Patrick Akos is an Assistant Professor of School Counseling in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Recognized as the American School Counselor Associations 2004 Counselor Educator of the Year, he teaches introduction to the school counseling, group work in K-12 schools, career development and educational planning, and clinical practice. Dr. Akoss research focuses on school transitions, middle school counseling, and Developmental Advocacy. Currently, his research continues on how school personnel can promote successful transitions between elementary, middle, and high school (and the assorted configurations found in school districts) and how school counselors can intervene and advocate for optimal development for early adolescents. More information can be located at: http://www.unc.edu/depts/ed/med_sch_counseling/faculty.html.

An educator for 10 years, Chris Lineberry received his undergraduate and masters degrees both from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where currently he is pursuing his doctorate in educational leadership. Chris has been an assistant principal in a middle school in an urban setting with 80% of students at or below the poverty level, an administrator in a magnet school of the arts in a large metropolitan district for grade levels 6-12, and a principal in a Pre-K through 8th grade school in the rolling hills of Richfield, North Carolina in the Stanly County School System. Chris and his son Caleb both reside in Locust, North Carolina.

J. Allen Queen is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has been a classroom teacher, principal, college administrator and university professor. He has been a consultant to over 160 schools and districts in 36 states and 3 foreign countries in the areas of classroom discipline, student transitions, block scheduling and time management. Dr. Queen has written over 24 books and 75 articles including books on karate for children. In addition to books, Allen has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including ABC World News Now. Dr. Queen enjoys working with teachers and principals of block scheduling, student transitions and time and stress management. Allen has also worked with numerous universities, businesses, and government organizations in time and stress management. Dr. Queen was a major consultant for several years to the Justice Department in Washington as a presenter of the Attorney Generals Selective Seminars.

Table of Contents

It is evident that educators are aware of the importance of school transitions by the way each school seems to find an event to welcome new arrivals. Elementary schools have Beginners Days for entering kindergartners and their parents each spring. Middle schools welcome field trips of rising sixth graders. High schools conduct open houses and registration nights for rising ninth graders. Many colleges and universities welcome new freshmen with a special seminar during the summer or a few days before the sophomores, juniors, and seniors return. And all educational institutionsbe they daycare centers, elementary, middle, high schools, or universitiesmark the transition of their graduates with pomp and circumstance. Students, parents, and staff celebrate with pride, smiles, and tears over leaving the past and fears about the future. Schools cannot function effectively without planning these ceremonial tributes to transition. The school community would not allow it. Although parents and educators may have the best of intentions, some students get lost forever in transition.