My friend Douglas Haddad is here this week to chat about all things middle school, with a focus on encouraging discouraged learners.
Douglas has been teaching for over 24 years (at ONE school!), and I love his commitment to his students. Douglas shares what he’s seen changing during that period, like higher anxiety & social media misuse, and what’s stayed the same, like a child’s need to feel loved, heard, and understood.
Douglas shares his wisdom on keeping middle schoolers encouraged & engaged: making sure they understand the systems in place around them, how we can help when our kid isn’t connecting with a teacher, collaborating on family agreements, and helping our tweens grow their tolerance for discomfort.
Takeaways from the show
- What’s different between middle school today & when you were a tween?
- “Loved, heard, and understood”
- What does discouragement look like in the classroom?
- Wait Until 8th Pledge
- Does your child know & understand the systems in place around them?
- How to help foster connection between your child & their teachers
- Family contracts, charters, agreements, & meetings
- Being available without an agenda or judgment
- Setting & celebrating small goals
- Scaffolding for our kiddos to grow their tolerance for discomfort
For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here.
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