"The difference between middle school and elementary is you have more than one teacher, and they don't care how much homework you get from the other teachers, they just give you more homework. Also, you have more freedom in middle school, but you have to use it wisely. My advice to all you kids out there is to stay focused on your school work. Work first, play later."
--Natalie, 13

"I went to middle school late 'cause I moved from my old country to here. At first I was really scared of what might happen to me, but it turned out great. Everybody was around me saying 'Hi! What's your name?' It was so cool! I felt like I was in heaven. Everyone was nice and kind. I had my own locker, 'cause in my country, we don't have our own locker even though we change rooms, and we don't have recess either."
--Secret!, 13

"How do you make new friends if none of your friends are going to the school that you're going to now?"
--Cassie, 13

"Well, I am going to 7th grade, and I'm kinda scared about meeting new people and teachers, and the work there is probably going to be hard. I need help with all that. Is pre-algebra easier than algebra, or harder?"
--Ashley, 12

"The large difference is that friends may need you more then you need them. Their diaries remain unwritten in because of too much work."
--Amanda, 11

"What's the biggest difference between middle school and elementary besides classes?"
--Ashley, 11

"Since I already passed 6th grade, I kinda already know what's going 2 happen. Elementary school teachers give out less homework. Most middle schools are extremely hard. In middle school, you get the same homeroom for 3 years, and you get 7 classes. Well, Gotz 2 Go, bye."
--Sara, 13

"Ok, the difference is, your friends in elementary school don't want to be your friend in middle school. I know, I'm going to the seventh grade."
--Tiffany, 13

"What if you get lost going to class and you're late? What do you do?"
--Micki, 12

"School supplies!"
--Crystal, 12

"Why do people start drugs in middle school?"
--Sara, 11

"You change classes more than usual, and you have to go around the whole building, and you only have 3 minutes to get to each class, and there are 8 Periods in a day."
--Brianna, 10

"You get to have lockers and change for PE, and you get to choose from a lot of choices for lunch."
--Brittany, 11

"I haven't been in middle school yet, but I am going to this year. I am just going to stick with my buds in the beginning, and then I am going to get to know other people. I think it will be easier for me because I have 4 cousins that will be in the same school as me."
--Felicia, 11

"I think the biggest difference between elementary school and middle school is the people. Some will be mean just because they don't know you. The reason is mostly because they think they are better than you, or they are jealous of you. The best way to handle it is just to ignore it and let it pass. Remember, you are your own person. Don't let anyone change anything about you. And don't let mean people that say lies about you, get to you. If you know they are lies, then it shouldn't matter."
--Sara, 13

"It's gonna be a little scary at first, but you will get used to it. At first the lockers are terrible, but after a while, you will surely get the hang of it. It's really fun because you get to do new stuff. It's great."
--Candi, 11

"Well, the difference is you have harder and different subjects."
--Julie, 12

"I'll be in middle school in two years. I'm really nervous about it because I will have more than one teacher. What can I do to prevent this?"
--Alex

"Well, elementary schools have playgrounds and middle schools don't. But the biggest difference in middle that's different from elementary is that because the school's bigger, there are more kids and the teachers are harder. When girls and boys go to middle school, their feelings for each other change. They will get to a point in their lives when they are going to want to start dating. I know they do it in elementary, but in middle it's kind of a change, because your feelings get out of control. You just have to find a boyfriend or a girlfriend. I should know, 'cause I am the same way. When you do, it's going to be hard, 'cause you have a boyfriend and still have to keep up with your schoolwork. Also, a big difference is that the grades are going to get harder and harder, and there are more tests and homework in middle school than in elementary. But the best things that middle school has that elementary doesn't...are lockers. You won't have to use a backpack to put everything in! But it's stressful when you have to deal with teachers with bad breath!"
--Josalyn, 12

"Hi. The biggest change is switching classes. It is not hard; just know where you are supposed to go."
--Jessica, 12

"What if it's your first boy-girl dance in middle school? How do I get a boy to ask me?"
--Megan, 11

"In middle school, everyone is more aware of what others think about you, so you actually brush your hair!"
--Arrin, 13

"I'm still on vacation, but the school I'm going to will have middle schoolers and high schoolers."
--Angela, 11

"It's a totally big difference between middle school and elementary school, because in elementary you don't have lockers, so it's easier for you. But in middle school, you have to use lockers, and it's a lot harder because you have to waste time cracking your own code if you forget it."
--Lascienegas, 11

"Well see, the thing I thought was different between them was in my elementary school, we had recess, and even if my friends weren't in the same class as me, I would always see them at recess. Well, now in middle school, we don't have recess, and so, like, every friend I had was in a different class, and I couldn't see them like I used to. I was so mad. The way I dealt with it was just to make new friends. Cuz then you will have more of a chance of having your new or old friends in your other classes. And even if you already have one friend in the class, make more, so the next year you can have an even bigger chance to have some friends in your classes. It is also a lot of fun!!"
--Lindsay, 12

"The difference between middle school and elementary is that, in middle school, you have to go to different classes, and in elementary, you only have one class. Also, there are a lot of other things, too."
--Lannea, 11

"Middle school is not all that hard, but it is different than elementary school. There is no recess (not a big deal). You have to have good grades to pass. You can't have a D or an F. If you need help, there are classes you can get help in after school. So do well in school.(="
--Jamie, 12

"I'm the smallest girl in my class, and people have hurt my feelings since 4th grade. I already passed 5th, now I'm in 6th grade."
--Sandra, 11

"This biggest thing in middle school is that you have to switch classes."
--Sarah, 11

"Is middle school just like fifth grade?"
--Goddess, 11

"The biggest difference in middle school is the meanness that some kids have! You may get picked on because of your clothes or how you look, but just let it go through one ear and out the other!"
--Aaron, 11

"The biggest difference I think between middle school and elementary school is that we don't have to walk in lines to get somewhere. And in elementary schools, we have to wait for people to catch-up to us before we can go."
--Tino, 12

"Well, when I went, we had to have a dress code, and that was totally different. Also, you get to meet a lot of new people. In elementary, you don't get to meet that many people. Also, you have a lot more classes and teachers."
--Alyssa, 13

"When I first got into middle school, I was really scared. Of course, I should be because of all the older kids in the building. The good thing is that you're more independent, and you get lockers!!"
--Courtney, 12

"I'm not there yet. I have 1 month to go before I get to middle school. I can't wait! I heard that middle is fun and cool, but I don't know yet. I have a bigger bro that is going on to 8th grade, and he doesn't talk much about school, so I have no idea what it is like. I am going to 7th grade, so I am new to the school. I wonder if we get swirlies and stuff like that? I am one of the popular kids in elementary, so I wonder if I will be at middle school? I hope so. Are the teachers mean at middle school? I hope not. I can't wait to go and experience it. Oh yeah, I know for a fact that elementary school is boring. You have to stare at one teacher all day, and that is boring! I hope middle school isn't boring! That's all, got to fly! Bye!"
--Tayler, 12

"I am really worried about being asked to smoke or something. I took DARE, but how should I react to this question? If my friends smoke, should I still hang out with them?"
--Kayla, 11

"In middle school, the days go by faster than in elementary. I guess it's because you don't just stay in the same class with the same teacher all day. In middle school, you have home-base teachers (he or she might teach math or something else), and then you have another teacher. Pretend your home-base teacher teaches literature, then your other teacher would teach math, but you will love middle school. Trust me!"
--Amber, 12

"You have to be perfect, or some kids will make fun of you. You can deal with it by just being yourself. Don't worry about what everyone says."
--Ashley, 12

"It's me again. I have seen some of your questions. The # 1 thing about middle school is sometimes your friends will change -- not all the time, but sometimes. Don't worry about not fitting in, 'cause that's how I felt at first, and then I remembered someone that was on my baseball team that was in my home-base, and now we're like best friends. But a good idea 4 your different classes: try and hang around some of the people that have the same classes because you don't want to be all by yourself when you change classes. But you can be friends with other people 2."
--Amber, 12

"I am so scared to go to middle school, but I know that there's nothing to worry about because I can make new friends."
--Ashley, 11

"I think that there are more bullies. Why are there more bullies? I see the kids who are new get picked on more."
--Mary, 13

"It is just a bigger school, 'cause they didn't want to cram everyone into one school, so they built more. Just stick with the rules and you'll do fine. There are more teachers, and there are more classes, but that way you'll meet different people and you'll have more friends. There are more people, but think of it as there are just more new kids. Everything will be great. I had fun, you (hopefully) will too."
--Jacqueline, 13

"What supplies do most middle schools make you have?"
--Nikcole, 12

"For ME, the biggest difference between elementary and middle school will be almost everything. I'm going to a school that is K-8th grade. There are only 3 new students in my grade that will be there, and I'm one of them. I only know like 3 people going there, but not even that well. So everyone else will be friends and know each other. The best way to handle it? That information is yet to come…Oh, and did I mention the school was Catholic? You know what that means…yep, uniforms :-(. I believe in expressing myself with what I wear. I know individuality can come in many different forms, but come on, it will take all the fun out of school shopping!"
--Kenna, 11

"I am going into 7th grade, my 2nd year of middle school, & I noticed you get picked on a heck of a lot more. I was terrorized in 6th grade. I know you don't wanna hear it, but it's like, you can't even look at or say something to a 7th, 8th, or even a 6th grader. You couldn't even compliment them. That's why I'm a 7th grader now, & I'm gonna try my hardest to change from mean to nice. Good luck. "
--Jordyn, 12

"This will be my first year in middle school, and I am really nervous. I don't get along with other kids, and I really need some advice. People are bringing me down and really crushing me, and I have no one at school to rely on. Am I going to make it through middle school alive? Advice please!"
--Bailey, 11

"I am going to start middle school. I think the biggest differences are the lockers and the combinations."
--Breanna, 11

"I would have to say the biggest difference for me was meeting new friends, getting a locker, not having recess anymore, more homework, and that would be about it. I'm just afraid that when I get on the bus, I will have nowhere to sit. We just got lockers, and we're the first to use them. I hate being the youngest in the school. When we're older, we get to boss the younger kids around. I just feel so out of place. I just got 32 new houses built right next to me, so I'm hoping that I get to catch the bus with somebody my age because right now the oldest is 13 and the youngest is 8. I keep thinking that I'm going to do something stupid in front of everybody, and everybody will start laughing at me. I hate meeting kids older than me, or talking to them, I always feel that I'm not cool enough for them. Is middle school really fun?"
--Mary, 12

"The biggest deal for me is that there are more responsibilities and more classes and teachers. There's more homework and books too. There is also too much pressure. What if I don't fit in?"
--Ryan, 10

"Okay…Well, starting middle school can be hard with peer pressure, but my advice is that if they're your real friends, then they won't pressure you! Well there's another thing...school's not hard if you study! Studying for tests is very important, but trust me don't stay up all night and study! 'DNP' is what my teacher said, and that means 'Do Not Procrastinate,' which means don't put off a test or homework. Trust me, that is good advice. I remember staying up studying all night, and I went blank the day of the test. 2 tell you the truth, I fell asleep. My teacher wasn't mad though, he was really nice about it. Actually, he made a joke about it."
--Loraine

"I think that the biggest difference is dating. Not that any of the boys have cooties and stuff. It's the real thing. Going on dates and even kissing. Don't worry, it might seem bad at first, but you get used 2 it."
--Kate, 13

"The biggest difference is that I don't get to see my younger friends, so I call them and talk my head off for hours!!"
--Chelsea, 10

"Hi, I just moved from my old city to a new city, and I really DON'T want to because I'm really scared of making new friends, getting lost on my first day of school, and just totally HATING it. I went to middle school last year in 5th grade, and it was SOOO fun! You get to change classes a lot! And you get your own locker! The only thing I didn't like is that you had to change with other girls in the locker room :( "
--Brittany, 11

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