David Borgenicht: The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Middle School

Sometimes being “in the middle” gets a bad rap. But if you’re in the middle—or about to start the middle—of your school career, there’s actually a lot to look forward to… if you’re prepared.

This handbook is your very own insider’s guide to the unique world that is middle school. It’s kind of like getting a sneak peek at the teacher’s edition of your math book. It doesn’t have all the answers to your next test, but it does have all the tips and secrets you need to make the most of that oh-so-special time in the middle.

So, what exactly is so special about middle school? One word: CHANGE.

Middle school is one of those times in life when a whole lotta change happens in a pretty short time. In those middle years, people get taller, they get new interests, their social lives change, and their minds start thinking in more and more sophisticated ways. It’s one big chapter of change.

And it’s not just about what happens during middle school—the chapter begins with a big whammy of a change, too. When you start middle school, you’re fresh out of elementary school. Back there, you were old and wise. You knew the ropes. You knew the rules. There were plenty of short people around to make you feel tall. But then, along comes middle school and suddenly, BANG! You’re in opposite land. You’re a newbie. A young’un! Lots of things are different—the way your classes are set up, what’s expected of you, the way your friends act, everything!

This book is here to help you navigate that sea of change. It’ll help prepare you for the choppy waters—and sharks!—so you’ll have plenty of time for smooth middle-school sailing. Here’s how this handbook can help:

• Nervous about the school dance? We have the moves to get you through.

• Prepping for a big test? You’ll find plenty of tried and true studying hints in here.

• Have a sinking grade? We toss you a lifeline.

• Dealing with a bully or mean girl? We give you the upper hand.

• Being crushed by a crush? We show you how to read the signs.

• Growing apart from your best friend? We help you deal— and make new friends.

Whether you’re a middle-school rookie or a seasoned pro, the tips, tricks, and secrets you’ll find inside this handbook will help you have an amazing year (or two, or three). Now, it’s time to dig in and get to the juicy middle of things!

If middle school were a game, the first day would be like the championship. Here’s how to be in it to win it.

1 Conduct an investigation.

Does your school have a website? Check it out! Can you tour the school in advance? Do it! Know kids who already attend? Ask them for insider information! If you know what to expect, you’ll keep the pre-game jitters at bay.

2 Look great, feel great.

Take your first-day clothes for a test drive a few weeks beforehand to make sure they look and feel right. You can even host your own fashion show by asking your best bud for an opinion. Knowing you look your best will help you have the confidence you need.

3 Buddy up.

Find out who’s in your homeroom, who you can walk to gym with, and whose fries you can “borrow” in the cafeteria. Plan ahead to maximize “friend” time.

4 Map quest.

If you don’t have a map of your school, make one. Add crucial information like a route from gym to math that takes you past a water fountain.

5 Imagine success.

See yourself being happy, making friends, and feeling great. Don’t let yourself imagine an uncomfortable you. The better you visualize your day, the better you can make it.

Think of your locker as your home base, your fortress, your space to decorate or mess up as you see fit!

• Memorize your combo with a little poem like, “47, 13, 4, that’s the combo I adore.”

• Do a once-a-month super-clean. Toss what you don’t need and organize the rest.

• Make sure dirty clothes don’t hang around–they have a way of “ripening” in small, dark spaces.

• Keep a little mirror for between-class hair fixes and to check for paint smudges on your cheeks after art class.

• Avoid storing food “for later,” which might turn into “for the roaches that have moved in and are now quite comfortable.”

Read this list, then close your eyes and repeat it: For first period, answer questions 12 through 27. For second period, read chapters 5 through 7. For third period, do worksheet 6. For fifth period, do problems 6 through 13, skipping 8 and 11.

If it was tough to remember that list now , it’ll be even tougher at the end of a school day, when your brain feels like a wet noodle. Enter the homework planner, a.k.a. your brain saver!

1 Save the plan-it!

Assignments and quizzes and tests, oh my! Avoid getting lost in the woods by making (or buying) a planner where you can jot down crucial class info. Choose a notebook that’s not too bulky—you’ll be carrying this baby everywhere . Set up each page in your planner like the example on the next page.

2 Love your planner.

Record everything in there—not just homework and tests, but also upcoming field trips, long-term projects, and friends’ birthdays. (Who doesn’t like to be remembered on their birthday?!)

3 Get all the deets, all the time.

Make sure to record all the details as your teacher announces an assignment. If you’re going to do the work, you want to make sure you’re doing the right stuff.