FAMILIES ON THE MOVE: TRANSITION STUDENTS AT-RISK

By Linda K. Lueckenhoff for the American School Counselor Association

They walk down the hall in search of their classroom. Each wears a backpack filled with pencils, notebooks and other supplies. But that is not the only baggage students bring to school with them each day.

All across America, schools are back in session, a reunion of familiar faces in familiar places. For a growing number of students, however, this means starting out in yet another school, with no familiar faces in sight. They are the "new kids" -- students who have moved for a number of reasons. It could be a change in parents' employment or marital status, or foster placement. Students might have moved to be near a medical facility, or to be close to an incarcerated family member. Or, they could be switching from a private or home-schooled environment to the public schools.

Whatever the reason, the students have been uprooted from friends, neighbors, extended family, and familiar teachers and counselors. That extended support system may seem light years away. From the students' perspectives, they may see a wall of strange faces and feel very alone. It is up to the educators and the parents to do our best to aid in making the transition as smooth as possible.

Potential Problems

Students who move to a new school face a variety of problems and concerns. Some fear the unknown: Will I fit in? Will the other kids like me? Will anyone want to be my friend? Am I smart enough? Older students may be reluctant to leave their group of friends, their job, or their boyfriend or girlfriend. Others have concerns about graduation credits. All could have strong feelings about leaving the familiar home, neighborhood, friends, classmates, and teachers.

The twin fears of failure and rejection can be very strong in transfer students. Some may withdraw and resist efforts made by others to include them. Students who transfer frequently might insulate themselves from others, not allowing themselves to warm up to teachers or classmates because they are certain they will have to uproot and move on soon. Others might give up, deciding that failing due to lack of effort is emotionally safer than trying their best and not making the grade. Students not accepted into the popular crowd might join a group prone to undesirable behavior. Those who do not develop a sense of success and belonging are at risk of becoming dropouts.

Differences in academic standards, state requirements, and accreditation can complicate the transition. Students transferring from a non-accredited setting may be required to take exams to determine grade placement. States might require different numbers of credits in subjects such as math or English for high school students. Grading scales vary widely from one school district to another, which may result in lower grades than those the students are accustomed to receiving.

What Can Parents Do?

Parents who are moving are often going through an emotional and stressful time, as well. It is easy to become preoccupied with finding a job and a place to live, making arrangements for the move, etc. Parents are also dealing with their own feelings about relocating, and leaving friends and relatives behind. With so many things to do, sometimes the children's feelings can get overlooked.

Parents should discuss the move with their child or children. The child's age will make some difference in their concerns. Young children will be worried about taking their toys along, and whether there will be other kids to play with. Teens will be concerned about leaving friends behind, and about "fitting in" socially at a new school.

If possible, parents should take their child along when visiting the community. Make arrangements to tour the school, and possibly meet the teachers. Ask the school for a copy of their student and parent handbooks, grading scale, and information about programs such as after-school childcare, tutoring, community sports programs, and scouting. If your child has special needs -- which would require the schools to provide special education services, remedial assistance, or counseling -- ask for the name of a contact and get in touch with that person. If the move is to a distant area, locate websites for schools in the area where the family will be moving. These efforts will provide a wealth of information about the schools and community in the new area.

After moving to the community, become active in the school and in other related events. Attend "meet the teacher" nights, parent/teacher conferences, and parent organization meetings. Develop good communication with the school, and especially your child’s teachers. Get into the habit of checking your child's homework and corrected papers on a regular basis to keep up with what they are doing in school and demonstrate your interest. Even older children need to know you are interested in their progress. Though they are less likely to voluntarily share, they generally appreciate the concern. Read newsletters, notes and bulletins the school sends home. Read teacher comments written on corrected work, and contact the teacher if there are questions or concerns.

What Can The School Do?

Faculty and staff can do many things to make all students feel like their school environment is a safe and friendly place to learn. Administrators, teachers, counselors, secretaries, aides, cooks, nurses, custodians and bus drivers can all participate in helping students feel a sense of welcome and belonging. Greeting students with a smile, making eye contact, noticing them in various ways gives them a sense of being valued -- of fitting in. Individual comments can do wonders to enhance a student’s self-esteem: "You lost a tooth!" "I like your new haircut." "You had a great idea yesterday." "I noticed how you helped that student who dropped his pencil box."

Teachers and counselors can implement plans to make students feel welcome and included. Assigning a classmate as a "buddy" so a new student can find his/her way is an effective practice. Pairing the student with a peer to answer questions, assist with rules, and help them find the office, cafeteria, restroom, etc. gives them an opportunity to "fit in" from the start. Establishing good rapport with the parents and encouraging good communication between home and school can develop a partnership that benefits the student.

Some schools implement school-wide programs for welcoming new students. They may be as simple as providing a welcome packet of school supplies, or as involved as taking digital photos of new faces to include on a newcomers bulletin board. Older students might find it helpful to participate in group sessions with the school counselor to discuss their feelings about changing schools.

In smaller schools, new students might feel more noticed, but might find it more difficult to be admitted to a social group. Students entering larger schools may easily go unnoticed or get lost in the crowd, yet some may find it easier to make social alliances. Situations will vary widely.

Teamwork Is The Key

Society is becoming increasingly mobile. For some families, transferring from school to school is just a part of life. Regardless of the length of their stay in a particular community, the home/school partnership is vital to student success. Parents and schools must team up to make education a positive, beneficial experience for all students.

ABOUT LINDA LUEKENHOFF

Linda Lueckenhoff is a school counselor and the Midwestern Regional Vice-President of the American School Counselor Association.