Right now at Bedford, both 8th grade students and teachers experiencing stress about selecting classes for high school.

One major source of stress comes from the recommendations made by teachers on which high school classes they believe each student should be placed in. Some students view the recommendations as a wake-up call for what level they should be in. Some even start thinking as far as college and expect themselves to be at a certain level.

“It’s so nerve-racking. I want to see what my teacher thinks of me as a student, but what if they’re wrong?” said 8th grader Chloe Ashton.

Starting in January and lasting all the way to March, eighth graders at Bedford will start planning their high school schedules. For many high school courses, there is an option to take an honors level, an A level, or a B level class. This is determined by the teacher recommendations given out by the teachers to the eighth grade students. Teachers meet and discuss with the high school teachers the skills needed for particular classes. They also have a document that describes the levels of each class.

Throughout the first semester, teachers observe how the students are doing in class and look to see which class fits best.

Teachers would also like students to exemplify certain qualities, such as independence, motivation, and the willingness to put time and effort into their work. A few teachers even prefer student input, such as having them complete a survey sheet, a letter, or an email. Graded assignments also play a role in the recommendations, and show how well a student is performing during the school year.

Teachers finally start entering their recommendations into Home Access Center (HAC) from January 24 (the end of MP2) and continue until February 3. Later, students can view the recommendations on February 7 at 4pm.

However, sometimes a student feels they are not placed where they feel they should be. They can solve this issue with a discussion with their teacher, and possibly an override of the teacher’s decision. Despite this option, teachers and the guidance department advise against overrides. “Trusting teacher recommendations and being okay with it is really important because they really know the curriculum and what is coming in high school,” said Ms. Rinn. “We just want what’s best for you guys.”

Some students view the recommendation process as a source of stress because of the change, the lack of experience, and the unknown that lurks in high school. However, teacher recommendations should not be viewed this way. “Students think we’re judging their values,” said Dr. Cortright, 8th grade teacher. “But we’re actually trying to make your freshman year awesome.”

Recommendations are the teachers way of making a smooth transition for students into high school. The last thing they want is for students to overwork themselves. A few students even view recommendations as a positive thing.

“Teacher recommendations are a great opportunity to show the teachers that you are ready to take on the challenges of high school,” said Teagan Smith, 8th grader.