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Adjusting to Middle School
Level Issues (6-8) in Public Schools
The Tween to Teen Years

PSPN

      If you've made it through elementary school relatively unscathed, then hold onto your hats as your child enters middle school.  Not only is this a period of adjustment in terms of educational expectations, but peer pressures begins to escalate, incidences of violence become more common, sexual promiscuity becomes a hot topic and the list literally goes on, and on, and on.  Add on top of that the your child's emerging sense of independence in addition to their pubescent hormonal changes and you've got your hands full.

     As parents we begin to question whether or not it's appropriate for us to intervene our our children's behalf, and our children become more vocal in their request for us not to get involved.  So we struggle with the dilemma of how much responsibility should our children be allowed to shoulder on their own, and when have things reached a point where it's time to step?  There are no easy answers, but despite a child's rate of development either academically, or emotionally ... during the middle school years they are still in need of our guidance, protection, and supervision. 

     As this section develops we will bring your more links to resources that are specific to middle school issues both academically and developmentally, and we welcome your request and suggestions for feature topics. 

NCLB and Middle Schools: 
Confronting the Challenges

(excerpt) NCLB immediately requires new teachers in middle schools that are not within K–8 facilities to have a major or the equivalent of a major in each subject they teach. Many of the education programs offered by universities and colleges today provide potential teachers with the equivalent of an academic major. Veteran teachers must meet the same requirements as new teachers or meet a uniform state standard by the 2005–06 school year.

Given that the majority of middle schools are not part of K–8 facilities, most of the nation’s middle school teachers will have to meet the more stringent requirements. These requirements could present a real challenge for school districts as they try to recruit and retain middle school teachers.

Middle school teachers often teach multiple subjects, and the guidance on NCLB teacher-quality standards require them to be certified in each of those subjects. It will be especially challenging for middle schools in high-poverty districts and in very rural districts to recruit and retain qualified teachers for all subject areas. (More)

iVillage.com: Parent Soup
Teen Popularity - Are You Helping or Hurting Your Child
Well-meaning parents bent on improving their child's social life can unwittingly sabotage it instead. Take this quiz to see if you recognize when you are -- and when you are not -- acting in your child's best interests. If you are less helpful than you should be, you'll learn how to become more of an asset.