"I started middle school this year, and found it surprising how quickly I got used to it. I wondered if this was a result of not being in an elementary school since early 2020, or if I just adjusted quicker than I expected. It made me wonder how other 6th graders have adjusted." -- Isaiah kahn, 6th grade
Mila Boyden (she/her) is in the 6th grade at Oakland School for the Arts and went to Montclair elementary school. “I find it easier to make friends,” Boyden said, when asked about what she likes better about middle school than elementary. “Also, I have more control over my school work.”
I haven’t personally found the first part to be true. I don’t really notice a difference on the social front, aside from there being more people and it’s harder to remember everyone’s name.
When Boyden is asked about what’s worse about middle school than elementary school, she says, “The days are longer, it starts earlier, and I have a lot more classes. I also had less school work [in elementary school].”
I agree with this, although I didn’t notice that much of a change between the workload.
My next interview was with Kai Vejsada (he/him), a 6th grader at Oakland School for the Arts. He went to Thornhill Elementary.
Vejsada says he likes the freedom that comes with middle school, just not the responsibilities that come with it. “You have to keep track of so much stuff!” were his exact words, when asked about what he didn’t like about middle school.
He also really misses recess. I also miss this a lot.
My final interview was with Sam Rosenblum (he/him). He is also a 6th grader at Oakland School for the Arts who went to Chabot.
“I was surprised by how much more freedom we had,” he said. He also misses recess.
Lastly, I asked all my interviewees about how long they took to adjust. They all said about a week, which was about how long it took for me, too.
I haven’t personally found the first part to be true. I don’t really notice a difference on the social front, aside from there being more people and it’s harder to remember everyone’s name.
When Boyden is asked about what’s worse about middle school than elementary school, she says, “The days are longer, it starts earlier, and I have a lot more classes. I also had less school work [in elementary school].”
I agree with this, although I didn’t notice that much of a change between the workload.
My next interview was with Kai Vejsada (he/him), a 6th grader at Oakland School for the Arts. He went to Thornhill Elementary.
Vejsada says he likes the freedom that comes with middle school, just not the responsibilities that come with it. “You have to keep track of so much stuff!” were his exact words, when asked about what he didn’t like about middle school.
He also really misses recess. I also miss this a lot.
My final interview was with Sam Rosenblum (he/him). He is also a 6th grader at Oakland School for the Arts who went to Chabot.
“I was surprised by how much more freedom we had,” he said. He also misses recess.
Lastly, I asked all my interviewees about how long they took to adjust. They all said about a week, which was about how long it took for me, too.
