Second school transition • Primary to secondary school (T2)

A period of great changes!

Soutenir son enfant qui entre au secondaire

Some major challenges

Considering all the changes children go through as they become teenagers, the transition into secondary school is an additional challenge to overcome. They are faced with multiple situations where they must adapt physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and in school.

This new world they are coming into is not always consistent with their psychological needs.
For instance, they need to improve their self-confidence, while the evaluation methods focus more on performance and comparison.

This period is so important that it can sometimes be the triggering factor of the dropping out process in some students.

Ideas for taking action

Early actions
The activities that support a harmonious school transition begin at least 12 months before starting secondary school, maybe even a few years before.

Ideas for taking action for the school

Organizing psychosocial activities in addition to ensuring an educational continuity between primary school and secondary school
Increasing the number and length of primary school students’ visits in secondary school institutions
Organizing side activities for students who have school difficulties
Organizing tutoring programs and personalized follow-ups in secondary 1
Familiarizing students with teaching methods used at the secondary level

Ideas for taking action at home

Taking part in the open day at the secondary school
Going to the orientation day with your child
Reading over the school’s rules of living
Visualizing a typical school day
Talking about the coming changes and focusing on the positive

Ideas for taking action in the community

Including, in the programming of community organizations for teenagers, activities whose objective is to:
- Talk about school transition with the students, listen to them and reassure them
- Work on the development of social abilities and conflict resolution
- Support students, including over the summer, and to keep contact after school has started
Organizing school transition camps
Organizing, with local schools, activities that bring together primary school and secondary school students

For more information, read the visual created by Réseau Réussite Montréal, or their page about the second school transition.
Download the infographic