How to Get Ready for Eighth Grade

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 10, 2022 References Approved

Eighth grade can be both an exciting and scary time. Spend your time over summer wisely to make sure that you get the best start to eighth grade as possible. Doing some special preparations like checking the school rules, packing your bag, and getting enough sleep just before you start the new school year will help you to have a fun and successful eighth grade.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Using Your Time Over Summer

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Review what you learned during seventh grade. Brushing up on your academic skills over summer is a good way to feel ready for eighth grade. For maths, practice solving multi-step word problems, using decimals, fractions, and percentages, and reviewing proportional relationships. For English literacy, practice looking up new words that you come across in a dictionary, and then using them in a sentence.^{[1]
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Understood
Nonprofit organization dedicated to resources and support to people with thinking differences, such as ADHD or dyslexia
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- Some teachers give out sample assignments over summer for you to practice on.
2
Spend time with your friends over summer to form a support system.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Katie Styzek
Professional School Counselor
Expert Interview. 28 October 2020.} Spend time with your friends who will be going to your school too, by not only having fun, but also talking about your classes and what extracurricular activities you want to join. Eighth grade tends to have many unrealistic social cliques and expectations, so having a good set of friends from the start will help.^{[3]
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- Some schools have gatherings during the summer to help you meet other kids in your year, so attend these if you can.
- If you don’t know anyone who will be in your grade at your school, talk to your neighbours and other kids on your block.
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3
Read as many books as you can. Head to your local library and take out some fiction books that look good, or some non-fiction books if there is a topic you would like to learn more about. Reading as much as possible before school starts will help you to get used to the reading workload of eighth grade.^{[4]
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- E-readers like Kindles are another good way to get some reading done. There are heaps of book apps available online for e-readers.
- As eighth grade progresses, you will have less time to read for pleasure. This is another reason why reading as much over summer as possible is important!
- Reading is a good activity for any time of the day over summer. Try reading outside, at the park, or a chapter before bed every night.
4
Check the school rules before you start. Every school has slightly different rules, and some schools even change their rules from year-to-year. Keep yourself updated with the latest rules about things like using your mobile phone, or being late, so that you don’t accidentally break any of them.^{[5]
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- Many schools will post their rules online so that you can check them before your first day.
- If there is a rule that you don’t understand, talk about it with your family or with your teacher when you start. They will explain it to you in a way that makes sense.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Getting the Gear You Need

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Go shopping with your family for school clothes if you need them. Chances are, you’ve grown a lot since seventh grade and some of your everyday clothes don’t fit you anymore. Try on your old clothes in your wardrobe, and donate or give away any old pieces that don’t fit. Check your school dress code to see what clothing is okay, and what is prohibited.^{[6]
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- Many schools don’t let students wear short shorts, tank tops, or clothes of particular colors. Check the rules before you buy new clothes to make sure that what you are getting will be appropriate.
- Talk to your friends about what they are planning to wear to school if you are struggling for ideas. This will help to give you a good picture about what your peers will be wearing.
2
Gather all of the school supplies you will need for eighth grade.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Katie Styzek
Professional School Counselor
Expert Interview. 28 October 2020.} Over the summer, your school will have sent you a list of all of the things that you will need for the year ahead. This list usually includes things like notebooks, pens, pencils, and book covers, however things like a water bottle and gym shoes if you are taking gym are a good idea too.^{[8]
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- If you won’t be eating cafeteria food, get a lunch box to hold your food throughout the day.
- The subjects that you are taking will determine what you need for the school year.
3
Get a daily planner to help with time management. You can write down when all of your homework and assignments are due so that you don't forget about any of them. You can also write daily to-do lists, to help break up your workload into manageable chunks.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Katie Styzek
Professional School Counselor
Expert Interview. 28 October 2020.}
- A daily planner is also a great place to put your goals for eighth grade. You can include the grades you are aiming for, deadlines you want to meet, and any extra-curricular activities you want to participate in.
- Some highlighter pens and sticky notes can also help you to further organize your planner.
4
Pack your backpack with everything you will need for your first day. Being prepared for your first day can help to settle any nerves if you have them. Make sure that you have all of your school supplies ready in your bag to transport to your locker, your lunch if you need a packed lunch, a water bottle, and gym shoes if you need them.^{[10]
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- There are also many other supplies that you can pack in your backpack to help you feel ready for eighth grade. A hairbrush, hand sanitizer, a card with emergency numbers, deodorant, a few band-aids, and sanitary products if necessary can all help you to feel prepared.^{[11]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Starting a New Routine

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Get a good night’s sleep in the two weeks leading up to your first day. Make sure that you put your phone away and turn off the computer early enough to get 8.5 - 9.5 hours of sleep each night.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Mental Health America
Non-Profit Organization
Expert Interview.} Being well rested will help you to have a successful year in eighth grade!^{[13]
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2
Practice waking up early before the new school year begins. Getting into a good routine before school starts will make those early morning alarms so much easier. Go to bed early, and practice waking up at the same time that you will need to wake up for school to get into a good habit.^{[14]
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3
Eat a healthy breakfast on the morning of your first day. Good food and nutrients will help you to feel energized, alert, and ready to learn in the classroom.^{[15]
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Mental Health America
Non-Profit Organization
Expert Interview.} Try eating foods that include whole grains and proteins, such as whole grain toast with scrambled eggs.^{[16]
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- Make sure that you have a big glass of water with breakfast too, to help you feel refreshed and ready to start your day.
- Some other good breakfast options are fruit smoothies, oatmeal, bagels, and omelettes.^{[17]
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4
Sign up to a new extra-curricular activity once school starts. This will help you to make more friends and learn new skills.^{[18]
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Expert Source

Mental Health America
Non-Profit Organization
Expert Interview.} Eighth grade is a great opportunity to join new clubs, sports, or hobbies. There will be many activities available through your school, so stick with 1 or 2 that you like the most.^{[19]
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- You could try sports such as tennis, football, or swimming, or join clubs such as debating, volunteering, or chess.
- Only stick to 1 or 2 extra-curricular activities, as eighth grade will be a busy year! Make sure that you still have time in between all that you’ve got going on to hang out with your friends and to have fun.

Community Q&A

Question

I don't really eat breakfast what do you think I should eat before school I have a late lunch

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

Eating breakfast before school will really help you to feel focused and energised throughout the day. Fruit with cereal or oatmeal, or eggs on toast are good options.
Question

What if soemone is bullying you or bothering you?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

Talk to your family and teachers about the problem. They will be able to help you out.