Examining Student Transition Programs through an Invitational Lens

Abstract

Moving to a new school, while frequently exciting, is also filled withstress and anxiety for students and their parents. Nowhere is this moredeeply felt than during the transition from elementary to middle school.Increasingly schools are modifying their transition practices to assurethat students are better informed, and feel more secure in their new setting.This paper uses the construct of Invitational Education to identifyways in which school personnel can modify both formal and informaltransition activities to assure that students see their new school as welcomingand inviting.