The AdolescentThe Adolescentoror

“Where has my Baby gone?”“Where has my Baby gone?”

Keys to Understanding Keys to Understanding

The Adolescent & Middle SchoolThe Adolescent & Middle School

byby

CMS CounselingCMS Counseling

CMS Administrators Principal – Cynthia Jackson Assistant Principal – Sedric Childs: 6th

Grade and Instruction Assistant Principal – Yolanda Cromer-

Nunn–CMS Annex 6D Assistant Principal – Gloria Watson: 7th

Grade Assistant Principal – Karen Briggs – 8th

Grade

CMS Support StaffYou are not Alone

Counselors– Bree Winkler – Teams 6A, 6B &7B

– Deborah Lorenz – Team 6D

– Nerida Edwards –Teams 7C, 8A & 8B

– Robert Rice – Teams 7A, 7D & 8C

Graduation Coach – Charles Walker Intervention Specialist – Sally Kellogg Social Worker – Stephanie Ingram School Psychologist – Deborah Bailey

Middle SchoolMiddle SchoolA Time of Many ChangesA Time of Many Changes

New EnvironmentNew Environment Academic RigorAcademic Rigor Transition from play (Elementary) to work Transition from play (Elementary) to work

(high school and beyond)(high school and beyond) Growth ChangesGrowth Changes Social ChangesSocial Changes Emotional StrugglesEmotional Struggles

New EnvironmentNew Environment Larger BuildingLarger Building

Larger Variety of teachers – Larger Variety of teachers – coming coming from backgrounds in Elementary and High from backgrounds in Elementary and High

SchoolSchool

More Students More Students Disruption of Comfort Level – Disruption of Comfort Level – Leadership & Role understanding Leadership & Role understanding

BelongingBelonging

Life DevelopmentLife Development

Physical DevelopmentPhysical Development Intellectual DevelopmentIntellectual Development Social DevelopmentSocial Development Emotional DevelopmentEmotional Development

Physical DevelopmentPhysical DevelopmentCharacteristics & Characteristics & NeedsNeeds

22ndnd Fastest Growth Period Fastest Growth Period Irregular Growth and Maturity Fluctuating Basal Metabolism Ravenous Appetites Body changes are Normal & Ok Allow for Changing Needs Allow for Exercise and Periods of Rest

– Body Clock Adjustments Nutrition is Very Important

Intellectual DevelopmentIntellectual DevelopmentCharacteristics & Characteristics & NeedsNeeds

Egocentric – Egocentric – Its about meIts about me, , meme, , meme Highly Curious about the Real World Prefer Active Learning to Passive Moving from Concrete to Abstract

(Now to Future) Be Available: Set up private time Exposure to real world events and

discussions of real world events Find out how they learn; model learning Organization and guidance is needed

Social DevelopmentSocial DevelopmentCharacteristics & Characteristics & NeedsNeeds

Finding Their Place in Finding Their Place in theirtheir World World Testing the Boundaries/PowerTesting the Boundaries/Power Reacting to EnvironmentReacting to Environment Social ExplorationSocial Exploration Be Available: Encouragement not Praise Set Clear Logical Values-Rules driven Listen to their Fears and concerns

without judgments Know the friends-Space but not too

much!

Emotional DevelopmentEmotional DevelopmentCharacteristics & Characteristics & NeedsNeeds

Searching for Identity and IndependenceSearching for Identity and Independence Moody – Who Me?Moody – Who Me? Behavior IssuesBehavior Issues Self-Esteem - IALACSelf-Esteem - IALAC Help them become independent, but give

them a sense of belonging It’s only part hormones Poor Behavior is not readily apparent Unconditional Love is paramount

Experimenting and Disorders Self Inflicted Violence Eating Disorders ADHD/ADD

– Medical– Constructed

Depression/Suicide Gangs Cyber World Sex all types

What’s a Parent to Do?

Let’s Hear from the Experts

Bree Winkler - Moderator Kimberly Peddrew – Teacher of the Year

– Lang Arts & Social Studies, Depart. Chair S.S.

Kent Hite – Teacher of the Year – Math John Donegan – Teacher of the Year –

Social Studies Lisa Lee – Teacher of the Year – Impact Cagina Noird – Department Chair – Lang

Arts Dr. Denean Smith – New to DeKalb from

Atlanta City Schools - Science

Parenting Ideas (Following Rules)

Set Rules based on your Values and Morales

Punish the behavior (correction not anger) Be Consistent and Loving Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Know the School Rules Teach your Child good decision making

skills

Parenting Ideas (Learn about Their World)

Be actively involved in school You can’t love them too much Be familiar with their friends and hangouts Know about what they read, see, listen and

interact Keep up on the latest drugs and their effects Teach them to be safe

Success in the Middle School Micro-manage Get a Copy of your child’s Syllabi so you can

help them manage their time and prioritize. Agenda—check daily—reward responsibility

and organization Homework—designated time and place;

check daily; establish a plan to get homework to teacher

Schoolnotes.com

Success in Middle School

Studying for quizzes, test, and finals Materials—be prepared

Goals—short and long term Assess child’s learning style Notebook, bookbag and locker checks

The Role Of CounselingThe Role Of Counseling We are Here for Your ChildWe are Here for Your Child

Delivery of ServicesDelivery of Services ProgramsPrograms

CollaborationCollaboration SchedulingScheduling

Academic InformationAcademic Information Social/Emotional InformationSocial/Emotional Information