Making the Transition

Schools and communities across the nation are realizing that the freshman year presents the biggest hurdle in the K-12 journey. Many freshman enter high school without the skills and attitudes that are necessary for success. Talladega High School understands that transitioning from 8th to 9th grade can be both stressful for students and parents. In an effort to ease this process, Central Office, school administrators, and faculty members are looking for ways to help.

Just recently 5 members of THS and a representative from Central Office, traveled to Nashville Tennessee to attend a workshop entitled, "The Freshman Transition Program, Transform Your School From the Bottom Up." This positive presentation stressed that all students must have access to the American Dream. The presentors also encouraged schools to teach students to believe that they can have access and give students the tools to achieve it.

The team divided the sessions (using student planners, the use of team teaching, conferencing with 9th graders and their parents, motivating reluctant learners, connecting with students in the classroom, Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens) among themselves so all areas would be covered. There was much discussion during lunch, at the breaks, on the trip home, and at the school site about how this could be applied at Talladega High School.

Stay tuned for wonderful changes coming to Talladega's incoming 9th graders!