This past year I taught middle schoolers as part of enrichment program, I was the drama teacher. I learned so much about this age group. - Girls vs. boys
- 12 years old and younger vs. 13 year olds
- What's cool vs. what isn't
- Play vs. corny
This is what it's all about. I was not that familiar with this age group prior to this year. Teens, yes, elementary school age children yes, middle school was a whole new ball game. Here is what I experienced most of the year. I got to see 4 different groups of 15-17 children. I felt like class was equally a mess as it was successful. I bought into some of their stories, and it affected the way I taught. I was hard on myself for "not knowing." At some point I realized that's exactly the state they live in!
The state of "not knowing" is where they are constantly...
Here are some of the "help me" signs of a middle school age child: - Physical ailments (Stomachaches and headaches)
- Negativism and lying
- Withdrawal
- Regressive behavior
- Excessive shyness
- Decreased interests
- Frequent crying
- Extreme sensitivity to rejection
- Poor social relationships
- Destructive ideas and behaviors
- Excessive boredom
- High emotional states
- Trouble with sleeping
Want to learn more? Join me and three other experts at Fusions speaker series, "Middle School Mayhem: Navigating the Young Adolescent Years."
IT'S FREE and there are refreshments. Yay.
Register here.
Love,
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