Middle School

Getting comfortable with discomfort

This week the Middle Years students have completed their end of year examinations. For some students this is a stressful time, while others enjoy the challenge. Either way examinations are associated with feelings of discomfort, so students have to get used dealing with these uncomfortable feelings and get on with the job of doing the exam. 

Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. To successfully navigate their exams, students needed to be responsible for their learning, get themselves organised, pay attention, and revise well to ultimately do their best.

Each year I speak to students about how they approach difficult questions in tests or exams. When reading a difficult question, students first thought is often, “I can’t do this.” This first thought, while uncomfortable, is quite normal, but I encourage students to stop and reframe this, so their second thought is, “ok, what do I know about this question?” This simple rephrasing can often change students’ perspective on a question and get them started. Sometimes they complete the question, but other times they at least get a start and something down on paper. Being able to deal with discomfort in a positive way is a lifelong skill that I hope all the Middle Years students can continue to develop. 

Next week the Step-Up program begins, with the Year 7s moving into Year 8 and the Year 8s moving into Year 9. I hope this goes well for them and they get a chance to build their skills in being comfortable with feelings of discomfort with their new class, new teachers, and the step up in expectations etc.