ABSTRACT

The transition from primary to secondary school can often be a difficult time for children, and managing the transition smoothly has posed a problem for teachers at both upper primary and lower secondary level. At a time when 'childhood' recedes and 'adulthood' beckons, the inequalities between individual children can widen, and meeting the needs of all children is a challenge.

Bridging the Transition from Primary to Secondary School offers an insight into children's development, building a framework for the creation of appropriate and relevant educational experiences of children between the ages of 10-12. Based on the five 'transition bridges' - administrative, social and personal, curriculum, pedagogy, and autonomy and managing learning - this book is a complete guide to the primary-secondary transition.

Chapters cover:

  • A review of the issues and challenges of transition and school transfer;
  • Management of physical, intellectual, social and emotional changes;
  • Issues of changing self-identity;
  • Approaches to ensure curriculum progression and continuity;
  • Ways to develop cooperation between primary and secondary schools;
  • Alternatives to traditional primary-secondary systems and pedagogy.

This book will be essential reading for all trainee teachers, undergraduate and postgraduate education students, and those working with children over the transition. The contributors offer a wealth of guidance and insight into meeting the educational and social needs of children through early adolescence.

chapter 1|13 pages

Introduction

Exploring the great divide

chapter 2|12 pages

The emotional impact of transfer

What can be learned from early years practice

chapter 3|15 pages

Adolescent development

Physical and biological changes

chapter 4|15 pages

Adolescent development

Intellectual and emotional changes

chapter 5|15 pages

Adolescent development

Personal and social changes

chapter 6|17 pages

Smoothing the trajectory

Primary–secondary transfer issues in science education

chapter 7|11 pages

Mathematics and transition

chapter 8|14 pages

Children's reading choices

Rethinking the curriculum

chapter 9|14 pages

The Fundamental Movement Skills programme (Steps PD) 1

Physical development challenges and opportunities in the primary school context

chapter 10|13 pages

Becoming a global citizen

Cultural strategies for community cohesion at Key Stage 2–3 transition

chapter 11|13 pages

Managing learning

An ecological perspective on childhood

chapter 12|13 pages

Managing primary–secondary transfer

Lessons learned?