Building Success in Middle School: 10 Essential Mini-Habits for Students
Most people dread middle school due to the perceived chaotic and misunderstood behavior of preteens or tweens. With this dread, many parents choose to “just get through it the best we can” and miss one of the most important times of human brain development.
Setting up good habits means teaching kids self-discipline, which is an important life skill that will help them deal with challenges and responsibilities as adults. It also gives them more independence.
Why Does Middle School Matter?
The adolescent brain changes rapidly from ages 11-14. Because of this significant change, good or bad habits stick with them as they move into high school. Learning bad habits in middle school means unlearning those bad habits in high school. Unlearning bad habits and growing new ones is time-consuming and difficult for every teenager. As parents, we must start with the end in mind.
Being intentional during this chaotic time develops habits that will stick with them for life. Parents, teachers, and mentors can help them become organized and manage their time effectively. Not only that, but middle school also allows us to teach them how to set goals through sustainable habits, support their social and emotional growth, and improve their time management skills. By nurturing these habits, we are setting them up for success both in their education and in their future lives.
The 10 Essential Habits To Develop In Your Middle Schooler
Here are 10 mini habits that every tweenager can adopt to be successful in school and out of school:
- Practice the PAUSE: Learning how to stop yourself before acting is an ongoing challenge. The sooner you can learn to do this, the more successful you will be at understanding your emotions. This could be an overarching goal for everyone in the entire family, and you could hold each other accountable.
- Start with a morning or nighttime routine: Begin your day with a consistent morning routine that includes activities like stretching, meditation, or reading. This sets a positive tone for the day and helps you feel more focused and energized. If you struggle with a nighttime routine vs. a morning routine, just choose one thing to create a habit first.
- Finish your job: Many kids get themselves into conflict because they simply do not finish their job. This is a big pattern for MANY kids and one of the most common questions I ask can be phrased in different ways:
- Did you finish your job?
- How could you finish your job?
- What do you need to do next to finish your job?
- What has to happen for this to be considered “finishing your job”?
- Improve your listening skills: Develop the habit of actively listening to others during conversations. This means giving your full attention, maintaining eye contact, and asking thoughtful questions. Repeating what the person last said can help you remember if you were asked to do something. Active listening improves communication skills and fosters stronger relationships.
- Read every day: Cultivate the habit of reading for at least 15 minutes every day. Reading expands your knowledge, improves your vocabulary, and enhances your critical thinking skills. Reading also helps us maintain focus. I would require my pre-service teachers, whom I taught in undergrad, to read for 15 minutes a day. It proved to be challenging, but once they started, their time to read grew. Choose books that interest you and explore different genres.
When we instill good mini-habits in middle school when their brain is growing rapidly, students do not have to unlearn bad habits in high school and can focus on improving the strong foundation built in 6-8 grades. – Nik Bowers
- Choosing gratitude before gritchiness: “Gritchy” is a word I developed during my role as a middle school principal. It is a unique word for a unique time. When we focus on the positive before the negative, it makes the negative less effective. The reason I like to try to be gracious first is that it also helps you look for the good instead of the bad.
- Practice time management: Learn to manage your time effectively by using tools like planners or digital calendars. A great time management strategy is to block out your calendar before the week starts. A whole week MAY be too much, so you may want to block out one area or subject and start from there. Break larger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks and allocate specific time slots for each task. This helps you stay organized and reduces procrastination.
- Develop healthy eating habits: Make conscious choices to eat nutritious meals and snacks. Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins in your diet. Proper nutrition fuels your brain and body, enhancing your overall well-being. Choose one healthy habit to add to your eating instead of thinking, “I have to eat healthy all of the time.” That is not maintainable. You could drink more water, eat more protein, and eat a serving of veggies a day, which, are examples of healthy things to do.
- Set three goals a day: Writing down the top three things you must do helps you focus and prioritize in your mind. These goals need to be specific. “Going to school” is required, so that isn’t a goal, but “handing in all homework” is more specific.
- Self-reflection: Develop the habit of reflecting on your day or week. Take time to review your accomplishments, wins, and lessons from your losses and set new goals. This self-reflection helps you learn from your experiences and make adjustments for continuous growth. It also helps you to be self-aware.
Set Small Goals And Celebrate Quick Wins
Celebrate your progress and reward yourself when you successfully practice the habit. This could be as simple as giving yourself a pat on the back, treating yourself with a break, or doing something fun that you normally wouldn’t do,
Remember, consistency is key when building habits. Start small, be patient with yourself, and gradually increase the difficulty or duration of the habits as you progress. Over time, these mini habits will become ingrained in your daily routine and contribute to your overall success in school and beyond.
