The room full of tweens at Marymount International School in London voiced many of the same concerns as my middle-schoolers in the District. “Sometimes, I pretend to know what my friends are talking about just…
Four ways educators can lean into discomfort To get from Reno to Lake Tahoe School in Incline Village, Nevada, a school official had to drive me up 6,500 feet of steep, narrow roads lined with…
Supporting students during this changing and uncertain time My 11-year-old son recently got an email from his coach, Ava Benach, on what was supposed to be his first day of baseball practice. “Hi team,” she…
Hi, I hope everyone’s year is off to a great (if busy) start! It’s finally feeling like fall here in Maryland and Washington, D.C. While it’s been a bit more challenging to balance everything now…
Just a brief update to share the exciting news that today is publication day for “Middle School Matters.” I’ll be at my favorite independent bookstore in Mashpee, Massachusetts to mark the occasion. I’ve been getting…
I’m happy to share that Booklist gave Middle School Matters a starred review, calling it “a must-read for all parents and educators of kids in this unique and often misunderstood age group.” This is the first official…
Gena had always been an even-keeled and academically strong student, but the transition to middle school rocked her self-concept. She started failing her classes and shut down. Her complete school refusal may be unusual, but…
Childhood has changed for this generation of middle schoolers. In this article for “Kappan,” Phyllis writes about what it means to be a tween today—to grow up with social media & the 24/7 news cycle;…
It can be frustrating to parent — or teach — a child or teen with “Eeyore Syndrome.” These are the kids who are relentlessly negative. They’ll say things like, “My teacher thinks I’m stupid,” or…
Middle schoolers are unfairly maligned, so Phyllis wrote this article for Ask Listen Learn to bust some myths. For starters, most tweens really dislike drama—especially from their parents. Here’s her take on some of the…
