Pathways to Middle School Success Jan 2010
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Pathways to Middle School Success A Fifth Grade Transition Booklet Introducing Career Pathways Congratulations! You’re starting middle school! Middle school is a special place. In middle school you will have the chance to meet new people, develop new skills and interests, and think about your goals for the future. Starting middle school is a big step. You’ll also be given more responsibilities by choosing classes and activities that interest you. These opportunities will help you be more independent and develop skills life-long learners need to make decisions now and in the future. Good luck as you begin this exciting new journey to middle school in the Midland Public Schools! You may be feeling many things as you prepare for middle school. You may be feeling excited about new opportunities ahead of you. It is also natural to feel nervous or even scared about the upcoming changes and new experiences. Remember that, just like your earlier years in elementary school, there are many caring adults who will be there to support you. Talk to your parents, teachers, counselors and/or administrators. They want to help! 1 On your mark! Get Set! Go… To Middle School! Watch your t houghts: They become your words. Watch your words: They become your actions. Watch your actions: They become your habits. Watch your habits: They become your character. Watch your character: It becomes your destiny. -Pirke Avot Firefighters: American firefighters can date their history back to 1648, when four men were appointed as fire wardens in what is now New York. Thirty years later, the first engine company in colonial America was put into service in Boston, Massachusetts. Today both men and women serve in paid and volunteer fire departments. These firefighters respond to an estimated 12 million calls each year – the most famous in recent history being on September 11, 2001. www.firehouse.com “The greatest high you can get in life is “You grow up the day you have your first by helping somebody.” real laugh at yourself.” - Timothy Stackpole, - Ethel Barrymore (1879-1959), Deceased New York City firefighter U.S. Actress 2 Attitude “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past…we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our attitudes.” - by Charles Swindoll “Many people care about you and want the best for you. They know that developing good character will bring greater success and greater joy to you and everyone else. Here are some of their words of The Four R’s of Transition advice: Think before you act. Respect yourself. to Middle School Work hard. Have integrity. Ask for help when you need it. Do your best. Use common sense. Listen. 1. Respect Lead by example. Be safe. Accept responsibility. 2. Relationships Set goals. Challenge yourself. Tell the truth. 3. Reputation 4. Responsibility Believe in yourself. Respect others. Don’t give up. Learn from your mistakes. Choose kindness. Learn!” - Printed with permission of Progress Publications 3 Respect Respect is appreciating dignity along with valuing the contributions, rights, and potential of every person. Value the goodness in people you meet and the beauty in the world around you. A respectful person believes that other people’s ideas, thoughts, and feelings are important. If you treat others with respect, they will, in turn, respect you. Show respect for other people by accepting their differences, treating them with kindness and courtesy, and remembering their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Damaging or taking property that is not yours is disrespectful. Harassing and teasing others are also inappropriate behaviors. Base judgments of others on their actions and character rather than their color, race, heritage, religion, gender, etc. Exhibit self-respect by being proud of your accomplishments, taking care of your body, staying safe, striving for excellence, and developing your confidence. - Printed with permission from Progress Publications, Omaha, NE 68137 Treat others the way you want to be treated. People who are respectful… Admire Honor • treat others the way they would want to be treated. • are polite and courteous. Kind • treat everyone well, even Respect though they may look, act, or believe differently. • solve disagreements by Courte sy peaceful means. Appreciate - Resource: Character Counts! 4 Relationships Relationships are different “connections” we have with people in our lives. “Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher.” – Oprah Winfrey (1954-) Oprah Winfrey overcame a childhood of poverty and abuse to become one of the most famous women in America. She developed her talents for public speaking and acting, helping her become the host of her own talk show, as well as a respected actress. Her show has received many awards, including several Emmys. Oprah’s empathy and honesty have made her a beloved public figure. She’s also the first woman in history to own and produce her own television talk show. www.achievement.org Are you a phony? A quiz** 1. Do you put on an act to make people think you’re cool? Yes No 2. Do you tell people what you think they want to hear even if you don’t mean it? Yes No 3. Will you do almost anything just to be liked? Yes No 4. Do you make up lies to impress people? Yes No 5. Are you being honest on this quiz? Yes No **Taken from Cliques, Phonies, and other Baloney, by Trevor Romain, Free Spirit Publishing “Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together.” - Verna M. Kelly, in Hillary Rodham Clinton’s It Takes a Village Be honorable yourself if you wish to associate with honorable people. - Welsh proverb 5 Reputation Reputation is your character as seen and/or judged by other people, or what other people think of you. The measure of a person’s character is what he would do if he were never found out. - Thomas Macaulay The willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life is the source from which self-respect springs. - Joan Didion What is right is right, even if no one is doing it. What is wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it. - Unknown All paths lead to the same goal: to convey to others what we are. - Pablo Neruda 20 th -century Nobel prize-winning Chilean novelist 6 Doing what you are supposed to do Responsibility when and how you are supposed to do it Responsibility is making good decisions about what you do and say, while taking care of yourself and fulfilling your obligations. A responsible person is dependable and well organized. Responsibility also involved understanding cause and effect and accepting that you are accountable for your actions and your decisions. Be responsible by caring for yourself. This can mean setting goals, finding good role models and supportive friends, and developing healthy habits such as eating healthy foods, brushing your teeth, and getting enough sleep and exercise. You also have responsibilities to other people. These may include chores and homework, being on time to school or lessons, following rules, and reporting your whereabouts and activities to a parent or teacher so he or she doesn’t worry. Remember that every freedom, right, or privilege comes with responsibility to use it wisely. - Printed with permission from Progress Publications . “I think it’s important to remember how much we do, not so that we can stop, but so that we can be encouraged to do more.” - Dr. Maya Angelou Dr. Maya Angelou, a best-selling author and poet who has also worked in theater, film, and television, has paved the way for black women in these respective fields. During the United States Presidential inauguration ceremony in 1993, Angelou, also a civil-rights activist, made history by becoming only the second poet to recite an original piece she wrote specifically for this occasion. Angelou is fluent in a number of languages, including Spanish, French, and Italian, and has become a popular lecturer throughout the world. www.mayaangelou.com “Higher expectations lead to greater accomplishments.” - John Hockenberry John Hockenberry became a “Dateline NBC” correspondent in 1996, after 15 years as a broadcast journalist. Prior to starting his career, he was in an automobile accident which left him in a wheelchair. In spite of his disability, he reported on stories in many foreign countries. He also studied the New York subway system and worked to bring about positive changes for those disabled individuals using this system. Hockenberry, the author of a book about his disability and career, has received many awards for his reporting. www.msnbc.com 7 Self-Management Checklist Rate your self-management skills. After reading each of the statements below, put a check next to the answer that best describes you. Be truthful – no one but you will see your answers.