"I'm Kinda Nervous About High School": Fostering a Responsive Middle–to–High School Transition Though a Summertime Camp

• In Event: Innovative Leadership Practices in School Climate, Culture, and Community

Abstract

In this qualitative case study (N=32), researchers sought to gain a detailed understanding of the ways a summertime transition camp may help incoming ninth-grade students experience a developmentally responsive middle-to-high-school transition. Findings reveal that the camp experience supported some but not all of students’ procedural, social and academic transition-related needs and concerns. Transition activities, such as a summertime transition camp, have the potential to foster a responsive transition for students but such practices must be developed and delivered with students’ basic as well as developmental and transition-related needs and concerns in mind. Further, it is important students perceive the camp and all its activities as actually supporting their needs and satisfying their concerns in order to foster a responsive transition.

Authors

• Cheryl R. Ellerbrock, University of South Florida

• Erin Parke

• Jennifer Denmon