Middle school matters : the 10 key skills kids need to thrive in middle school and beyond--and how parents can help

Middle school matters The 10 key skills kids need to thrive in middle school and beyond--and how parents can help

Phyllis L. Fagell

Book - 2019

"Middle school is its own important, distinct territory, and yet it's either written off as an uncomfortable rite of passage or lumped in with other developmental phases. Based on her many years working in schools, professional counselor Phyllis Fagell sees these years instead as a critical stage that parents can't afford to ignore (and though "middle school" includes different grades in various regions, Fagell maintains that the ages make more of a difference than the setting). Though the transition from childhood to adolescence can be tough for kids, this time of rapid physical, intellectual, moral, social, and emotional change is a unique opportunity to proactively build character and confidence. Fagell helps par...ents use the middle school years as a low-stakes training ground to teach kids the key skills they'll need to thrive now and in the future, including making good friend choices, negotiating conflict, regulating their own emotions, be their own advocates, and more. To answer parents' most common questions and struggles with middle school-aged children, Fagell combines her professional and personal expertise with stories and advice from prominent psychologists, doctors, parents, educators, school professionals, and middle schoolers themselves"--

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Subjects
Middle school education > Parent participation.
Middle school students > Social conditions.
Home and school.
Adolescence.
Parenting.
Published
New York, NY : Da Capo Press 2019.
Language
English
Main Author
Phyllis L. Fagell (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
xix, 298 pages ; 23 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 257-280) and index.
ISBN
9780738235080
  • Foreword
  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1. What's the Big Deal About Middle School?
  • Values and Integrity "It's easier to lie than deal with all the drama."
  • Chapter 2. Making Responsible, Healthy, and Ethical Decisions
  • Chapter 3. Fostering Honesty
  • Chapter 4. Encouraging Kindness and Empathy
  • Chapter 5. Embracing Difference in Self and Others
  • Social Skills "I feel judged and ignored."
  • Chapter 6. Managing Shifting Friendships
  • Chapter 7. Dealing with Bullying
  • Chapter 8. Coping with Gossip and Social Turmoil
  • Chapter 9. Growing Up Sexually Healthy
  • Chapter 10. Preparing for Love
  • Learning "Everyone is getting A's except for me."
  • Chapter 11. Encouraging Balance and Setting Reasonable Expectations
  • Chapter 12. Tackling Homework
  • Chapter 13. Intervening When School is a Struggle
  • Empowerment and Resilience "There are all sorts of people in the world, and we'll all find our place."
  • Chapter 14. Connecting with Boys and Helping them Connect with Others
  • Chapter 15. Raising Strong, Empowered Girls
  • Chapter 16. Taking Risks in a World of No's
  • Chapter 17. Managing Setbacks and Shoring Up Resilience
  • Chapter 18. Preparing Kids for a Changing World
  • Conclusion Moving Forward: "Make mistakes, model self-compassion, and grow alongside your child."
  • Parent Discussion Guide
  • Educator Discussion Guide
  • Resources
  • Acknowledgments
  • Index
  • About the Author
Review by Booklist Review

When the words middle school are mentioned, most adults recall a time when they felt awkward both physically and socially. No matter the school setting, the transition between childhood and adolescence can be challenging for kids. Counselor, mother of three, and Washington Post contributor Fagell encourages parents and educators to consider the middle-school years in a different way. Instead of a rite of passage for kids to survive, the years between elementary and high school are a crucial time to teach kids how to thrive. She highlights four essential areas: social skills, values and integrity, empowerment, and resilience and learning. Each chapter begins with a list of key skills to focus on, ranging from how to make good friend choices and negotiate conflict to how to self-advocate and make responsible, healthy, and ethical choices. Fagell includes relatable examples from her years of guiding middle schoolers and concludes each chapter with top tips for parents and helpful conversation starters. Readers will appreciate Fagell's straightforward advice on the wide array of challenges that can appear during the influential years between elementary and high school. This is a must-read for all parents and educators of kids in this unique and often misunderstood age group.--Melissa Norstedt Copyright 2019 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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