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School Culture/Climate

Creating Safe Spaces—Four Lessons Learned

Creating Safe Spaces—Four Lessons Learned

Taking time to listen to and learn from students makes a difference

Emily, one of my former students, was in seventh-grade when a close friend leaned over to share a secret. "I'm bisexual," Alison* told her. "I like guys and girls" (from Emily's blog at...
Author: Phyllis L. Fagell
Number of views (618)/Comments (0)/
Topics: Health, Wellness, GuidanceYoung Adolescent Development
Tags: Student MotivationGuidance
Four Ways to Help Students Be Their Best Selves

Four Ways to Help Students Be Their Best Selves

How educators can help students repair damaged relationships and make behavioral changes

The eighth-grade girl approached Tom Adams in the cafeteria. "Dylan just asked out Samantha as a joke," she said. "Now he's laughing about it with his friends, and Samantha is sitting at our table crying." Adams, the...
Author: Phyllis L. Fagell
Number of views (6610)/Comments (1)/
Topics: Health, Wellness, GuidanceTeachingYoung Adolescent Development
Tags: Guidance
What to Do When a Parent Is Incarcerated

What to Do When a Parent Is Incarcerated

New information helps educators understand how to work with students

In the August 2011 issue of Middle Ground, I encouraged teachers to be proactive with students whose parents are in jail or prison. I provided a brief overview of the perceived academic disadvantages for children of...
Author: Megan Sullivan
Number of views (5508)/Comments (2)/
Topics: At-risk/RTIFamily and Community
Tags: Guidance
Help Your Students Combat Cruelty by Making Kindness Go Viral

Help Your Students Combat Cruelty by Making Kindness Go Viral

Four ideas to encourage middle schoolers to choose kindness

In recent years, there has been a renewed focus on intentionally fostering kindness and practicing peer respect. We don't want youth to simply not do the wrong thing, but do what is right instead—treat their...
Author: Sameer Hinduja
Number of views (10120)/Comments (5)/
Topics: Bullying/School SafetySchool Culture/ClimateTeachingYoung Adolescent Development
Tags: Guidance
When This 7th Grader Lost All His Friends

When This 7th Grader Lost All His Friends

The one bold move that evoked their compassion

Sean sat in the big gray chair in my office, his head between his knees. "I have no friends anymore," he said. I handed him a box of tissues and he wiped his eyes. "No one will talk to me. If I try to sit at someone's...
Author: Phyllis L. Fagell
Number of views (15394)/Comments (0)/
Topics: Bullying/School SafetyTeachingYoung Adolescent Development
Tags: Counselor RolesGuidance
Beyond Power Tools: How Maker Learning Can Improve Social Dynamics

Beyond Power Tools: How Maker Learning Can Improve Social Dynamics

In September, my seventh grade students gave me a quick social snapshot of their class. As their new school counselor, I had asked them to submit their thoughts anonymously in a box, and they didn't hold back. Their...
Author: Phyllis Fagell
Number of views (11032)/Comments (0)/
Topics: School Culture/ClimateTeaching
Tags: Character EducationGuidanceSocial Emotional Learning
Getting to the Heart & Sole of Young Adolescent Girls

Getting to the Heart & Sole of Young Adolescent Girls

Young adolescent girls gain the skills and tools they need to reach their potential.

Neuropsychologist Dan Siegel, in his book Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain, describes adolescence as a time of increased elasticity in the brain. The emotive part of the adolescent brain is...
Author: Heather Britt
Number of views (22446)/Comments (0)/
Topics: Health, Wellness, GuidanceTeachingYoung Adolescent Development
Tags: Gender-based LearningGuidanceSocial Emotional Learning
Dealing with Death: The Toughest Lesson

Dealing with Death: The Toughest Lesson

AMLE Podcast

AMLE talks with Angela Falter Thomas about her article entitled, "Dealing with Death: The Toughest Lesson" from the May 2015 edition of AMLE Magazine. We discuss how to support our young adolescents and ourselves...
Author: AMLE
Number of views (15337)/Comments (0)/
Topics: Family and CommunityHealth, Wellness, GuidanceYoung Adolescent Development
Tags: Guidance
Finding a Common Language Through Relationships

Finding a Common Language Through Relationships

Establishing supportive relationships helps students truly thrive.

How effectively are we communicating with our middle school students? As a middle school counselor, I often step back and think: Am I speaking to fill the space? Is what I am saying applicable. Most important, do I...
Author: Andrea M. Salvo
Number of views (17806)/Comments (0)/
Topics: Health, Wellness, GuidanceTeachingYoung Adolescent Development
Tags: Student EngagementCounselor RolesGuidance
Nurturing Effective Middle Level Schools

Nurturing Effective Middle Level Schools

Support, passion, and positive relationships are ingredients of an effective middle level school.

Henry Ford said, “Whether you think that you can, or that you can’t, you are usually right.” I often share this quote with students who tell me they are not good at this or that subject or...
Author: Ann Edwards
Number of views (28670)/Comments (0)/
Topics: Middle School ConceptSchool Culture/Climate
Tags: Student EngagementStudent MotivationGuidance
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