Tackling Tough Transitions

As defined by Merriam-Webster, a transition is “the process or period of changing from one state, stage, place, or condition to another.” Throughout a given day, children in classrooms across the globe make many micro-transitions. Smooth transitions are the framework of a productive day for children and adults alike. 

As this school year comes to a close, it is interesting to take a look at the many larger transitions happening around us. Our youngest students are making their way from the Early Childhood Division to Lower School. They will acquire many new skills, academically and socially, along the way. Handwritten alphabet letters and words become sentences and paragraphs. Learning to read evolves into reading to learn.

Simultaneously, our Lower School students are entering Middle School, where many new, amazing extracurricular activities await them to broaden their horizons and stimulate their curiosities. And, finally, our eighth graders are graduating, leaving the familiar bubble of Independence to embark on new adventures in a larger bubble, high school. 

During times of transition, a few simple reminders can make a big difference for both children and adults alike.

• Don’t Leap - New situations allow our brains to adapt and re-focus. It’s important to make that happen slowly and purposefully.

• Expect Awkward Moments - Although it might be tempting to assume you are going to fit right in, you should give yourself grace for the times you might slip up, do something wrong, or not know your way around — literally and figuratively.

• Find Your People - All new situations give us the opportunity to connect with new people. Consider this a time to get to know someone new, learn from them, and perhaps find something new that you like because of them.

• Give it Time - Interestingly, this is just as important for a Kindergartner as it is for an eighth grader or an adult. Things won’t instantly seem wonderful in your new situation. If you seem unhappy at first, take a breath. Let things settle. Live in it for a little while. 
• Keep Connected - Although transitions naturally mean that you will be surrounded by new people, places, and things, it is important to keep a bridge to things in your past. Stay connected to friends from your previous class or school while still making new friends in your new environment. 

Believe it or not, an Independence education prepares students from day one for all of life's major transitions. Maybe an Early Childhood or Kindergarten teacher sings a song to settle the class before it is time to clean up or pack up for home. In Lower School, teachers help students transition from class to class by teaching them to proactively pack up the books they will need. In PE, warm-ups and dynamic stretching prepare students to transition into the physical lesson of the day.

Transitions might be tough, but they are an integral part of learning and growing. Without them, we would all be stuck on the carousel of life. Fortunately, our students have years of experience in making smooth transitions.  

To everyone, anywhere, who is in the middle of moving from one chapter of life to the next - you’ve got this!