Creating Social Networks for Middle School Students
Middle school years can be challenging for all students as they emerge from their years in elementary school in a single classroom and now need to navigate with a variety of teachers and classes each day. When learning remotely, the challenges are amplified as students must connect with each teacher virtually and learn how work with many different students from afar. Our middle schools are focused on building effective school communities that foster students’ leadership skills and nurture each student’s individual learning needs.
Leadership Clubs
This is best achieved through ongoing leadership development clubs and events. The fall spirt week includes a Pajama Day and Super Hero Day for students. The art club provides calming art activities. Art projects may include creating personal mandalas by using a computer graphic software application. Students also participate in an online physical fitness class to maintain a balanced physical fitness program.
The 7th grade students participated in a modified version of the annual NaNoWriMo novel writing contest in November. The national contest required that applicants complete a 50,000-word manuscript between November 1 through November 30. The middle school students completed a 15,000-word novel during the month of November.
Each school supports the social-emotional needs students with self-care calming and healing activities. They have launched suicide prevention programs. Selected instructional materials are non-biased with a focus on college and career options. And teachers build connections with students, families, staff, and the communities they serve by giving back for the greater good of all.
May your middle schoolers achieve a calming confidence in their ongoing growth and learning.
Yvette
Copyright © 2020 by GenParenting
Yvette King-Berg, is the Executive Director of Youth Policy Institute’s Charter Schools. She was the former California Charter Schools Association Vice-President of School Development and Outreach-Southern California. Ms. King-Berg has over thirty years of experience working with teachers, students, parents, and organizations in a variety of positions including Director, Assistant Director, Curriculum Advisor, Bilingual, and Title 1 Coordinators, classroom teacher (K-12) in Pasadena and LAUSD. She has been married for twenty-three years, and is the proud mother of her son, EJ, who attends UC Berkeley.