Hi Caitlyn!  I'm Lucy, but call me whatever you please!  I also LOVE the Cricket mag.  I'm in 8th grade, so I've had some experience in middle school/junior high (I go to a middle school currently) so I think I can give you some tips. 

A problem I had when I was first starting off at the middle school, which is only 7th and 8th grade, was TIME MANAGEMENT.  You have to change periods frequently, and with seven classes they are all less than an hour long.  You have to make good use of your time unless you want a whole lot of late work and homework.  One more thing about time management: Passing period is roughly around 5 minutes, so you have to pack up your previous class FAST and get to class quickly.

There's my shpiel.  I'll go now, I tend to ramble if I'm not careful. 

TOPTOPTOPTOPTOP

Hello, and welcome to the Chatterbox! I'm Viola?, eccentric artist and Sticky Note Queen. 

Middle school... Pay attention in class, or at least try to look like you do. You want to know what the teacher is talking about if they call on you, and they like to call on people who don't seem to be listening.

Know your way around the school. If it's too big, you won't be able to get to your locker between classes every time, but you shouldn't attempt to sidestep that by carrying everything with you everywhere. Take what you need for the next couple of classes, and drop it off as soon as you can.

Ask for help if you need it, and don't clam up if it takes a minute to get to you, but don't rely entirely on having support.

Do your homework the day it's assigned. It's worth the free time and peace of mind you'll have afterwards.

Get outside now and then. You probably will anyway, but it's important, even if you're just reading under a tree instead of a ceiling. 

That's probably not all, but the rest is not for me to tell. Take care of yourself, and have fun! 

Heya, Caitlin! I'm Starseeker, as you probably already saw. I'm 9 days away from gradating MS (yay!) so I can tell you everything I've learned here.

Hmm, what hasn't been said yet? Well, I can expand on what Viola? said. Asking questions is a sign of strength-- not weakness. I wish I'd learned that a little earlier.

Also, don't be afraid. Don't be afraid to try new things-- I've done so many new things this year and they've all been fabulous. Don't be afraid to ask questions, or to seek help. Asking for help does not make you stupid-- it makes you smart. Don't be afraid to talk to other people. I'm an introvert at heart, so I know talking to new people can sometimes be hard. But it's so worth it. They're feeling just like you are.

Thank your teachers. When you walk out the door, say "Thank you, *teacher's name*!" It really makes you look kind and positive in their eyes and brightens their day as a whole.

Smile. Smiel at people who help you. Smile at teachers. Smile at the person sitting next to you. Smile at the staff. Smiling makes you seem friendly and approachable. People will remember you that way. Also, smiling convinces your brain that you're happy. Smiling affects your mood and others' in such an amazing way. :) 

Be respectful and listen. That one's pretty self-explanatory, I feel like. Yes, you will have loud people in your class. Yes, you will have disresptful people in your class. Don't be that person! Be that person that's known for being creative and kind, not loud and rude.

And most of all, enjoy it. Have fun. If you miss an assignment or two, don't stress. Take a deep breath and let it out. The joy is in the journey and in the friends you make. :)

~Starseeker 

Hi Caitlin! I am also going to finish eighth grade in a couple weeks. Most of the tips i have have alrady been covered, but I do have a couple more. 

It's aready been said, but it's important. Do not procratinate. Especially on big projects. All that does is keep you up late the night before it is due and you end up turning in something that doesn't fully represent what you can do.

This may seem obviose, but follow the dress code. You may se some kids get awy with it, but the one time you dress out of line, you'll be the one caught. The dress code may seem stupid in places, but it is there for a reason, and teachers and most students will appreciate it whe you follow it. 

Pack your own lunch. Middle school lunches are aweful.

Make new friends, and don't be upset if you drift from old ones. As you groow, so do your personalities and intrests. Your best friend from Kindergarten might be completely different now. However, that does not mean you can't till be friends. You just might not be as close.

Eighth graders seem scary and like they think that they're the best, but most of them are actually really nice. Don't be afraid to talk to them and ask them for help. At some point, they were in the same boat as you are. Eighth graders an become close friends as well. One of my best friends last year and knowing eithgraders now will also make you already know people in highschool whe you get t that point. PRetty mush, what I'm trying to say is that most eighth graders aren't as scary as you think. 

There will be times whn you will be overwelmed with things to do and just want to get them over with. Do not rush through it, spend time on it. As a friend always tells me, take things by the day. If you can't do that, by the hour. If you can't do that, by the minut, and if you can't do that, by the second. Also, don't be afraid to take breaks. You'll need to at some points. 

Take a variety of classes and take what you want while you can. Try to pass eveything, but middle school grades don't really matter in the lng run. If you try something that your horrible at, no big deal. You may find something you love that you had no idea you would like. 

Have fun! It's not as bad as peole describe it. 

Good Luck! 

Sorry that I didn’t reply to anyone, but thank you so much! -Caitlin