In this episode of Chaos to Context, we explore what happens when kids come home upset about a correction at school—and how easily adults can slide from validating feelings into letting those feelings determine the story.

Focusing on the middle grades, when embarrassment intensifies as kids become acutely aware of being seen, we look at why correction often feels heavier at this age, how shame can distort perception, and why discomfort does not automatically mean something went wrong.

This episode offers concrete guidance for parents and caregivers on how to respond when a child feels embarrassed, called out, or unfairly targeted—without rushing to email teachers or escalate before reflection happens. Along the way, we explore how reframing helps kids separate feelings from responsibility, preserve dignity, and build resilience in moments that do not feel good but matter for growth.

This episode draws on developmental psychology, neuroscience, and the author's experience as a parent and educator.

In this episode, we unpack what it actually means when kids shut down. Withdrawal, avoidance, and selective engagement are often read as defiance or disinterest, but they are frequently part of identity formation and nervous system regulation in the middle grades. We talk about why shutdown is so commonly misunderstood, how bids for connection get stranger as kids grow, and what staying present really looks like when connection comes sideways. From playful insults to competitive hugs, this episode explores how kids signal care without saying it outright, and how adults can respond in ways that keep relationship intact while kids figure out who they are becoming.

This episode draws on developmental psychology, neuroscience, and the author's experience as a parent and educator.

You say no to something ordinary. Screens are done. It's time to leave. That's not happening tonight. The decision is clear, but the moment shifts anyway.

In this episode of Chaos to Context, Jody looks at why limits so often trigger outsized reactions in the middle grades, how developing autonomy and uneven regulation shape those moments, and what helps adults hold boundaries without getting pulled into escalation or self-doubt. The episode focuses on what's actually happening when a simple no changes the emotional balance, and how staying anchored to the present keeps both the boundary and the relationship intact.

This episode draws on developmental psychology, neuroscience, and the author's experience as a parent and educator.

A sigh. A look. A refusal that lands harder than it should. Suddenly the interaction has shifted, even though nothing big has happened.

In this episode of Chaos to Context, we'll look at why these moments feel so personal in the middle grades, how developing brains and nervous systems shape kids' behavior, and how adult interpretation often steers the outcome. Through familiar parenting moments, the episode explores what helps adults stay steady when things tighten.

This episode draws on developmental psychology, neuroscience, and the author's experience as a parent and educator.

Episode 1 introduces the core lens of Chaos to Context. Jody Passanisi explores why middle-grade behavior feels harder to interpret, how adult confidence quietly erodes during this stage, and what clearer developmental context makes possible. The episode focuses on helping parents and educators decide what to worry about, what to ride through, and how to set expectations that support growth while remaining a steady presence for middle graders.