My friend Douglas Haddad is here this week to chat about all things middle school, with a focus on encouraging discouraged learners.   Douglas has been teaching for over 24 years (at ONE school!), and I love his commitment to his students. Douglas shares what he’s seen changing during that period, like higher anxiety & social media misuse, and what’s stayed the same, like a child’s need to feel loved, heard, and understood.    Douglas shares his wisdom on keeping middle schoolers encouraged & engaged: making sure they understand the systems in place around them, how we can help when our kid isn’t connecting with a teacher, collaborating on family agreements, and helping our tweens grow their tolerance for discomfort.   Takeaways from the show What’s different between middle school today & when you were a tween?  “Loved, heard, and understood”  What does discouragement look like in the classroom?  Wait Until 8th Pledge  Does your child know & understand the systems in place around them?  How to help foster connection between your child & their teachers  Family contracts, charters, agreements, & meetings  Being available without an agenda or judgment  Setting & celebrating small goals  Scaffolding for our kiddos to grow their tolerance for discomfort For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices