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Support and Independence
Support and Independence
Students starting middle school are going through a large transition, probably the second biggest in their lives.
They need help organizing. They need guidance from adults. But they also need to start advocating for themselves.
Consider them writing a "contract for increasing responsibility." As they show that they have mastered certain skills, they gain more independence--but they still need to be checked up on occasionally. This is the time of life when kids like to experiment.
Healthy Habits
Healthy Habits
Students succeed best when they are leading a well-balanced life.
This means getting time AWAY from devices; it means rest, exercise, and good nutrition.
With the proliferation of digital devices, kids are finding ways to get around bed times, and they are coming to school tired. Very tired. Devices are already shortening the attention spans of all of us. Lack of sleep only makes this worse!
Add to this a diet a chips and energy drinks--and it becomes *really* difficult for students to learn.
Check out below for more information
SCREENS!
Screens are the number one cause of sleepiness in my classes. *ALL* my classes.
EXERCISE
Lack of exercise is one of the main reasons students have trouble focusing in class. They have lots of energy--they need to use it!
Plus, it makes their brains work so much better.
NUTRITION
The point is not to shame anybody about what they choose to eat. I know it is not possible to always make the perfect choice. I don't!
However, students do best when they are eating more protein, less sugar, and no caffeine.
The sugar and caffeine give them a quick burst of energy (that they often cannot control) followed by a crash. If they're getting enough sleep, they really don't need caffeine at this age.
Protein, fats, and complex carbohydrates (whole grains, beans, vegetables) spread the energy out over time. Thus, they can pay attention in class much better.
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