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Post by gizzy on Aug 19, 2014 2:55:23 GMT
We went for locker set up today. He couldn't get the hang of how to open the lock & ended up in tears. He hid it pretty well & luckily there wasn't anyone else in the hallway. He was at it for almost an hour. School starts in 2 days. Any suggestions? And on top of it, we both forgot about bringing his supplies in.  |
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Post by Darcy Collins on Aug 19, 2014 3:09:35 GMT
Does the lock come off? We brought our kids' home so they could practice. If the locks are old - you may find they have drifted and need to determine the "real" combination. I remember being utterly frustrated trying to help her as I couldn't open the darn thing - then we realized that although the combination was 4-45-7 or whatever it was really closer to 4-46-6.
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Post by Yoki on Aug 19, 2014 3:13:57 GMT
My son (starting 6th grade next Monday!) practiced on an old combo lock this summer & found that when you twist the dial around to get back to zero to start it only will open if you do it the "right" way. Before he figured that out he could only open it about half the time. I can't remember what the right direction to turn it is but once he got that set he could open it every time. Sorry for the frustration - hopefully he can practice more!  |
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Post by anonrefugee on Aug 19, 2014 3:14:13 GMT
I volunteered at sixth grade orientation- let your student know it's not uncommon!
Did you ask an older student or staff member to try it? We had people standing by to help. A small percentage of our locks didn't work, and the Dean quickly reassigned lockers.
With my oldest I used an old combination lock at home, so they could practice left-right- left ...
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SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,408 
Location: Dallas Texas
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Post by SabrinaP on Aug 19, 2014 3:15:33 GMT
Very, very common. When my DH taught 7th graders (first year with locked lockers) he spent much of his first week patrolling halls by the lockers and helping kids open lockers. He will get it with practice.
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Post by cannmom on Aug 19, 2014 3:18:24 GMT
He will get the hang of it. My 9th grader struggled with his some this year. Let him just keep practicing it. Did you try to open it? Is it a bad lock or does he need more practice? If you have trouble with it too maybe he needs to have a new locker assignment because the lock is bad.
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Post by underwatermama on Aug 19, 2014 3:21:34 GMT
When my oldest was in 6th grade they brought in locks for the kids to practice on for their gym lockers. He came home and told how hard those locks to open and they should use them to protect banks!
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 19, 2014 3:59:24 GMT
Have him practice on a lock at home. Also, if the lock was sticking or something, let the teachers or someone know and they might be able to fix it.
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Post by gizzy on Aug 19, 2014 4:37:25 GMT
No, the lock doesn't come off. It's not broke, I was able to open it repeatedly. Wish I'd have thought to have him practice during the summer.
Thanks everyone! Glad to hear it's quite common & I'll go get a lock tomorrow for him to practice with.
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Post by Erica on Aug 19, 2014 5:17:10 GMT
My daughter is a 7th grader. This will be her first experience with a locker. We went over how to open the locker, but I'm worried. I know she will get upset and frustrated. I hope someone will help her.
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oaksong
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,167
Location: LA Suburbia
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 6:24:29 GMT
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Post by oaksong on Aug 19, 2014 5:24:58 GMT
Aaaw, poor guy. My son was the same way at that age, so sensitive about everything.
I'm sure your son will have better luck with some practice! He'll be a big 7th-grader soon enough, reminiscing as he watches the nervous little 6th-graders struggle with their lockers.
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perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439
Location: Idaho
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Post by perumbula on Aug 19, 2014 5:54:09 GMT
My son had an upper locker last year and couldn't see the top of the lock. He's about 4'8". He just gave up and never used his locker. He preferred carrying everything with him (they really don't get textbooks so it was just a binder with his work for all his classes.) This year he has a bottom locker and was annoyed when I told him he had to put his stuff in the locker for lunch at least. I got tired of replacing his pencils everyday because someone kept stealing them from the lunch table.  I think having your son practice is a good idea. Do remind him that the exact number is the only one that works and you can't reverse if you miss it. You have to start over even if you miss the right number by 1/16th of an inch. Teach him to go slow and be exact. |
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Post by maryland on Aug 19, 2014 11:30:27 GMT
Poor kid! That can be so frustrating, especially when they don't have much time between classes. My daughters have some trouble sometimes, and they are 14 and 16! So he isn't the only one, reassure him that it happens to lots of kids.
That's a great idea that some schools use volunteers to help with lockers. I am on the pto at our school, we should do that too.
Can you buy him a lock to practice on, then maybe it can be used when he has a locker at gym in high school.
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Nicole in TX
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,951
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Post by Nicole in TX on Aug 19, 2014 11:41:22 GMT
We have 12th graders that get stuck using a a locker!
Can you make up a chant with how to open it? Our locks have to spin around twice to the right before you can start the combo.
Also, so many of our kids 'set' their lockers. That means they just leave the combo on the last number and they don't have to do the combo every time.
Oh, feel free to go by the school with his supplies today, stock his locker, and practice. LOTS of junior high kids do that. They even walk the halls with their schedule to figure out where things are.
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Post by pjynx on Aug 19, 2014 12:24:47 GMT
My dd had problems at first too. It's a very common thing and most teachers are VERY willing to help. Tell him to not panic, but to simply ask a nearby teacher for help.
Another thing is that quite often, it helps to push IN on the dial a little is you are turning it. Not sure why this helps, but maybe because they are old?
Pam
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Post by mom2jnk on Aug 19, 2014 12:36:20 GMT
Poor guy. It is very common to have issues with lockers in middle school. Is your school open during the days proceeding school? Our school is open the week before school for kids to bring in their supplies, practice opening their locker, and "walk" their schedule. Perhaps your school will allow the same thing? Practicing in a quiet hallway with fewer people around usually proves to be very stress relieving for kids new to the junior high.
Also, have him spin the locker dial three or four times all the way around to the right before trying to enter the combination each time. Our old locks would get quite cranky and refuse to open if you didn't give it a few complete spins first. Sometimes kids panic and keep trying to enter the combination over and over again without spinning the dial to "reset" the lock. I taught my son that if he didn't get it on the first try, to take three deep breaths while spinning the dial to the right, before trying again. It helped to calm him down too.
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
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Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Aug 19, 2014 13:25:03 GMT
Poor kid. It's hard enough to transition, but add the use of a locker and it can be so much more stressful. I have special needs kids, and I actually bought a combination lock and had them practice, practice, practice while at home. And for the first couple of weeks, have him write his locker combination for his school locker, and leave it in his pocket. That way he doesn't have to stress about memorizing the number right away. When my son transitioned to high school, the lockers were really difficult to open. I couldn't even open it.  His speech therapist happened to be walking by, so she tried. She couldn't open it either. We finally gave up, and the school provided a locker that could use the key. I bet most schools have a few of those lockers. I would do that as a last resort though. |
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Post by Miss Ang on Aug 19, 2014 13:44:30 GMT
We brought our kids' home so they could practice. If the locks are old - you may find they have drifted and need to determine the "real" combination. I remember being utterly frustrated trying to help her as I couldn't open the darn thing - then we realized that although the combination was 4-45-7 or whatever it was really closer to 4-46-6.   And if you can't bring the one home from school, go to a dollar store and buy one so he can practice without pressure. |
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Deleted
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Oct 9, 2024 22:13:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2014 13:49:30 GMT
Good idea to practice on a combination lock at home.
I'm with Nicole -- I took my kids into the school during the week before it started. That went on up to about 8th grade. They'd offer to help teachers get ready, work out their lockers, and scope out their schedule. My daughter always freaked out a little with change. It really helped her calm down. The principal was fine with it.
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Post by Merge on Aug 19, 2014 13:51:58 GMT
It is common and middle school teachers, in our experience, are awesome about helping when needed.
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raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
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Post by raindancer on Aug 19, 2014 16:00:12 GMT
I remember having to struggle with a lock and I felt like crying more than once that first year. Poor guy! Glad you are getting him a practice lock! Our schools don't have lockers at any level so I never thought about that, I may have to buy a combo lock for my kids to play around with just as a basic skill they may need one day. |
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Post by Jamie on Aug 19, 2014 16:20:35 GMT
I remember having the same issue when I started Middle School. It took a week or so but finally got the hang of it.
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Post by MommyofTriplets on Aug 19, 2014 16:56:21 GMT
My DD had to have a teacher help her with her locker three times yesterday. I think she'll get the hang of it soon, but she was pretty frustrated with it.
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iluvpink
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Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on Aug 19, 2014 17:34:08 GMT
Oh gosh, my dd had an awful time at first in 6th grade. And I was no help at orientation as it had been almost 25 years since I had used a combination lock. Another student helped her get it open once but then she couldn't again. We ended up going home, looking it up on Google, wrote down the steps and then went back up the next day so she could practice.
She still had trouble the first few days but she certainly wasn't the only one and the teachers were all willing to help and understanding if the kids were a few minutes late to clss the first week of school.
He'll get it and be fine in a few days! Tell him he is FAR from the only one.
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Post by fridaynightscrapper on Aug 19, 2014 19:31:27 GMT
This is the nightmare we all have before school starts. It's so much pressure. Good thoughts coming his way.
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crumpea
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by crumpea on Aug 19, 2014 19:33:56 GMT
My 6th grader didn't lock hers. She just left the lock dangling there unlocked for an entire year. Luckily, nobody was interested in stealing her crumpled papers and stinky gym shoes  |
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Post by alibama on Aug 19, 2014 19:46:57 GMT
I remember when my daughter started 7th grade she had the same problem. She came home in tears she was so frustrated.
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Post by gizzy on Aug 20, 2014 4:47:53 GMT
I'll keep my fingers crossed for her Erica. There will most likely be many teachers who can help her. Poor kid, that had to have been frustrating for him! I'm glad he's got a bottom locker this year. Good idea, Pam! We'll give that a try. Aww, poor kiddo. Hope tomorrow is better for her.  Thanks again everyone! He didn't want to have a practice lock, so we'll see how he does on his first day on Thursday. Keep your fingers crossed! |
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Time to get off the internet!
His speech therapist happened to be walking by, so she tried. She couldn't open it either. We finally gave up, and the school provided a locker that could use the key. I bet most schools have a few of those lockers. I would do that as a last resort though. 
