The move from primary to secondary education involves a series of important changes; change of classmates and teachers, performance demands, autonomy in tasks, volume of homework, etc. These variations coincide with the entry into adolescence, a stage in which a physical, intellectual and psychological evolution is latent.
Adapting to ESO affects both students and their family environment. In fact there are many families worried about their children jumping to ESO. It is completely normal for parents to have some misgivings and concerns about their children entering the institute. According to experts, first year of ESO is practically the most important course in secondary education.
The key to face this new stage is to maintain a positive attitude and lots of patience and motivation on both sides; students and families.
What are the main changes in ESO?
The entrance to the institute (IES) supposes for many young people a change of center. In this new educational stage they will have to share their space with older students, who are the youngest. This change is linked to a less control by the team of teachers and consequently to greater freedom and autonomy of the students.
They will also share a classroom with new classmates and new teachers. In general, a tutor and a different teacher for each of the subjects. The Time (from 25 to 30 hours per week) and there is an increase in the number of Subjects. Increases the requirement level And that requires more work and effort to maintain the academic level acquired up to that point.
How can I help my child during the beginning of ESO?
- Talk to him. Communication with adolescents is vital for them to gain autonomy and responsibility. Give your child the security he needs.
- Give it a margin time for him to adjust to his new environment.
- Hold regular interviews with your tutor. This will allow you to know the evolution of your child and be informed of any problems that may have arisen.
- Rate in a positive way the institute and its new teachers.
- Avoid using rewards and punishments associated with the study. Look for solutions to specific situations or bad grades. The sanctions are not effective at these ages.
- Take care of your eating habits. Do not forget the importance of a complete and balanced breakfast that provides the necessary energy to face the school day. If the day is intensive, they will need a snack in the middle of the morning. Avoid industrial pastries and products and beverages with a high sugar content.
- A good rest it is essential to successfully overcome day-to-day challenges. That can be tricky at this stage as preteens tend to delay their time to fall asleep and generally have a hard time getting up early.
How to improve your study habits
- Find a specific and suitable place for the study That is free from distractions, that will favor your level of attention and concentration. Keep in mind that the time you will have to dedicate to your homework is greater than in primary school.
- Teach him to plan his time and duties. One option is to make a study schedule and post it prominently in the study site. The more specific the better. You can also include schedules for extracurricular activities and short breaks.
- Review the different study skills (summaries, diagrams, underlining, etc. It is important that you get used to using them especially when you have to prepare for an exam.
- Motivate him whenever necessary. There are many factors that influence demotivation in boys of these ages; less control, greater volume of personal work, methodology of the new teachers, physical and hormonal changes, new friendships, etc.
- Value their effort although the results are not as expected. This way you will learn that your work has paid off.