Research shows the transition to high school is one of the most pivotal experiences in a young person’s life – here are nine tips for helping prepare Year 6 students to make the leap!
1. Create a “navigation challenge” using the buildings in your primary school
Give students a timetable with a few different subjects (Maths, English, Science, PDHPE). Print maps of your primary school and allocate pretend subjects to different classes and buildings. Change one or two of them up – for example, Science is usually in 3L, but on Friday it’s in 5J. Ask them where they will be at a particular time and day, and once they are familiar with it, have them turn their timetable upside down and try to remember without it.
Bonus points: Encourage students to colour-code their timetable according to the subject.
Fun fact – One of the most common concerns raised in our workshops is “What happens if I get lost?” (It’s also one of the things that least concerns them once they actually start Year 7!)
2. Show some vulnerability yourself
Share with them a story about how you felt when you first started primary school. Recall some of the feelings you may have had, and how almost all the things we worry about never actually happen.
Bonus points: Embarrassing stories can lighten the load and show them that everyone – even their teachers – makes mistakes, and that’s ok!
3. Remind them to ask for help 
Four of the most powerful words anyone can say is “Can you help me?” High schools have more possible avenues for help now than ever before – Year Advisers, Student Support Officers, Heads of Well-being, Counsellors, mentoring programs, and more. These people also love to help – give them the opportunity to do what they love!
Bonus points: Ask them for examples of when they think students might need help.
4. Remind them to offer help
Four of the next most powerful words are “How can I help?” The mental and emotional well-being benefits of helping other people cannot be overstated, and it’s also one of the best ways to build new friendships. If they notice someone struggling with homework, or anything for that matter, offer to help!
5. Practice “opti-realism”
Optimism is great, but it can also lead to complacency and a failure to identify obstacles. More effective is “opti-realism” – a conviction that things will turn out ok, and that there will be challenges along the way as well. Aim up, while being prepared.
6. Create a “burning questions” cup
This one is for teachers. Get a cup and some post-it notes. Ask students to write the one question they’re burning to know about high school on a post-it and drop it in the cup. Answer these anonymous questions as best you can, and you can also share them with the high schools your students will be attending to let them know what their concerns may be.
7. End every class with these words: “and get a decent sleep”
Research from the University of Queensland found that the average Australian teenager runs at a three-hour sleep deficit every night. Three hours. Every. Single. Night. No one on the planet is functioning at their best off that. Sleep is by far the single most effective tool to reset and regenerate physical and mental health, so getting students familiar with this as young as possible will do wonders for their resilience, mood, health, engagement and achievement in high school and life beyond.
8. Encourage families to do a “practice run” together.
A lot of anxiety comes from uncertainty and unfamiliarity. If the child is going to be getting public transport to and from school, doing a practice run before the school year starting can help. Getting them in the habit of preparing their books, bags and uniforms the night before can also help prevent last-minute chaos.
9. Do a “six years of gratitude” exercise.
They made it this far. Remind them of that. Now go one step further and invite them to close their eyes and think back to when they started kindergarten. Think of all the things they may have been wondering, worrying, or working on since then. All the challenges they’ve faced and overcome, all the goals – small and big – they’ve achieved along the way. Invite them to thank themselves for this effort and remind them that they will get through high school as well.
Bonus points: Have them write out a “thank you” note to their former selves listing the challenges and accomplishments since kindergarten. Encourage them to read it out if they like!