What do you remember about being in middle school? It can be such a difficult transition time for many of us, and our children and students in that same age group are no exception.

That’s why we are so thrilled to have Phyllis Fagell with us today. Phyllis Fagell is a school counselor for K-8 children and teens. She is also a psychotherapist, a columnist for The Washington Post, and the author of Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond--and How Parents Can Help.

Listen in on this insightful conversation as Phyllis guides us through some of the ways that we can assist this malleable age group develop confidence through character-building skills.

Show Highlights:

• Desiring to learn more about the middle school-aged students she worked with is what prompted Phyllis to write her book.
• Phyllis relates why she thinks many teachers don’t want to teach middle schoolers.
• Middle-school age can seem like such a difficult time in our child’s lives, but there's a reward when we can teach them how to cope.
• The way you communicate with your child can make all the difference in how ready they are to hear you and how ready they are to absorb that information.
• One of the most important skills we can teach our kids in this age group is to challenge the lies that they tell themselves. 
• Another thing we should be teaching our kids is the importance of being someone that people can trust.
• Middle school is the time when it’s easier for a child to rebound over whatever they might be stumbling over or struggling with. By high school, they are more “set” in their ways.
• Phyllis shares the impact on students that she has observed during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Phyllis addresses how parents should be communicating with schools and how they should build a partner-type relationship instead of an adversarial-type relationship during team meetings.
• Self-advocacy is not an innate ability but is another important skill that needs to be taught, especially by modeling this behavior.

Connect with Phyllis!

Phyllis’s Website

Phyllis’s Book: Middle School Matters

Links/Resources:

Thank you for listening!

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