In the loud and busy halls of Columbus Elementary, fifth graders wait eagerly for their transition into middle school, confused with a mix of excitement and nerves. With drastic changes, such as multiple classrooms and teachers, independence looms large.

Mr. Light, a fifth-grade teacher at Columbus, emphasizes fostering autonomy rather than mere independence, guiding students through the transition with structured support. He employs strategies like transition music and learning notebooks to empower students to navigate their new environment.

Laura Gonzales, a Grade 5 student, reflects: “I feel happy but also nervous because it is different… I won’t have only 1 teacher.”

As the students embark on this journey, their anticipation is palpable, coupled with a sense of curiosity about the newfound freedom and challenges awaiting them. With supportive guidance from teachers like Mr. Light, they are poised to embrace the transition and thrive in their middle school years.

Mr. Light, a guiding teacher for fifth graders at Columbus, said “Through structured support systems like transition music and learning notebooks, students are empowered to take ownership of their learning journey.”

Laura Gonzales, a fifth-grade student, expresses her complex emotions about the impending transition. Excitement tinged with nervousness permeates her thoughts as she envisions the shift from a single classroom with one teacher to multiple classrooms and teachers.

“I feel that it is going to be fun, but I also think that this is going to be a transition that at first is going to be strange and we are going to be confused, I feel excited for this,” Gonzales said.

Emilia Restrepo and Emilio Arisitzabal, fellow fifth-grade students, offer words of encouragement to peers feeling apprehensive about the transition. They emphasize the potential for excitement and fun in the middle school experience, assuring their friends that the change is fun.

“He shouldn’t be nervous because it will be very fun,” Restrepo said. Emilio Aristizabal supported her fellow friend Emilia saying “That nothing will happen and it will be much more fun.”

Laura Gonzales, a fifth-grade student at Columbus, draws parallels between her current experience and the anticipated middle school journey. Reflecting on the continuity of learning, she finds comfort in the familiarity of her teacher’s guidance, foreseeing similarities between her current educational environment and the upcoming middle school setting.

Gonzales explained her thoughts “They will be similar because at this moment my teacher is teaching us foundational skills and fostering our curiosity, which I believe will continue to be important in middle school” Gonzales, said.

While formal projects about the middle school transition may be lacking, the Columbus School community ensures that students receive invaluable guidance from teachers like Mr. Light. Through collaborative efforts and shared experiences, students embark on a collective journey toward middle school readiness.

“I try to foster autonomy and not independence because independence means that you don’t need anybody, whereas autonomy means that they can do stuff with support,” Light said.