Handling Common Middle School Challenges

Summer is going by quickly and soon the next school year will be upon us. If you have a student entering or starting another year of middle school, it’s an exciting time! But there are also unique challenges that face middle schoolers. The current uncertainty in the world has made it even more difficult for students to face common challenges. 

We believe that with the right tools and positive communication, any challenge can be faced head-on! If you or your student is preparing for middle school, read on for some common challenges and solutions to make their year run smoothly. 

Communication with Authority Figures 

Here at BlueSky, Our middle school students are assigned an advisor to feel supported and seen. Our teachers are also dedicated to giving students one-on-one attention beyond the classroom. It can be a big challenge for students of middle school age to feel comfortable communicating honestly with figures of authority, so it’s important to us to show them that their experience is important and that our authority figures care about them. 

Trusted authority figures are vital. In fact, according to the American School Counselor Association, there are numerous studies demonstrating the value of school counseling for students in the domains of academic development, social and emotional development, and college and career readiness.

Our team at BlueSky reaches out to every student to meet them where they are and give them a chance to express themselves to someone they may deem important. 

Anxiety Due to Change 

Middle school students are at a difficult time in their lives, but our current middle schoolers are dealing with so much on a global scale. Change is not easy at this age but there are ways to provide comfort and confidence in changing times. Distance learning is a big change for some students and parents, use these tips to ease into distance or online learning. 

Encourage your students by providing an open line of communication and a safe environment to express their concerns. Keep them involved with any decisions that are made about their schooling and ask open-ended questions so they start to feel comfortable discussing their anxieties. 

Navigating New Ways of Learning

We are in an unprecedented time of emergency learning due to the pandemic. It can be tempting to assume that because youth are comfortable using the internet, smartphones, and other technologies that they will seamlessly adjust to distance learning, but often that is not the case. This has been a big shift for students who have become accustomed to a traditional way of learning, but we have been operating online for years! So we have some tips to make this easier. 

Online learning is a great option for students who are now forced to distance learn. Many schools, unfortunately, have not had the time to become comfortable teaching online and aren’t given access to the tools and resources necessary to teach virtually. Help your student by creating a structure with a schedule, and giving them frequent breaks. It can be difficult to focus at home, so encourage your students to make a check-list of their assignments so they can feel accomplished as they check each task off. 

Middle school is difficult for many students already, but we are in a strange time that can make middle school even more difficult. If you’re curious about online learning or other ways to support your middle schooler as they shift to a new learning environment, contact us!