Omicron…finding joy at school despite disrupted learning…social media challenges…Phyllis and Joe asked students about some of the challenges schools face right now. As usual, middle school students had a lot of insightful things to say about how educators can best support them, and vise versa.

Middle School Walk & Talk is a production of the Association for Middle Level Education. Learn more at amle.org.

Joe and Phyllis are joined by special guest Ned Johnson as they discuss how to use our understanding of young adolescents' development to help drive intrinsic motivation, develop executive functioning skills, and promote positive behavior.

Ned Johnson is the founder of PrepMatters, a tutoring and educational advising company in Washington, DC, and the co-author with Dr. William Stixrud of What Do You Say? How To Talk With Kids To Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home, The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives, and of Conquering the SAT: How Parents Can Help Teens Overcome the Pressure and Succeed.

Middle School Walk & Talk is a production of the Association for Middle Level Education. Learn more at amle.org.

Delta Variant...devious licks...quarantines, mask policies, and more school closings...a school year that we thought might bring a return to normalcy has instead presented new challenges for school communities. In this episode, Joe and Phyllis set out to normalize the feelings of stress and burnout being felt by educators around the world and talk about strategies they're using to address it in their own lives.  

Middle School Walk & Talk is a production of the Association for Middle Level Education. Learn more at amle.org.

What do students have to say about how good they're feeling about school - and overall? How can we foster a sense of belonging for all students in our schools? Phillis and Joe chat with Phillip Marcus, Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Wellness at Chappaqua Central School District. The results of their student voice survey showed some surprising trends that have informed their culture building moving forward. 

Middle School Walk & Talk is a production of the Association for Middle Level Education. Learn more at amle.org.

As we head back to school, Phyllis and Joe are back! Joined by special guest Annie Murphy Paul, they discuss how to empower students to employ their bodies, spaces, and relationships in the service of intelligent thought and learning. Annie offers a few lessons we all can learn to take better advantage of the world outside our brains to improve the way we think and help our brains reach their full potential. Annie is the author of The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain. 

Middle School Walk & Talk is a production of the Association for Middle Level Education. Learn more at amle.org.

In the last episode of the season, Phyllis and Joe celebrate the end of an unprecedented school year. They talk about how they're wrapping up at their respective schools,  reflections on the past nine months, and plans to recharge for the coming school year. 

Middle School Walk & Talk is a production of the Association for Middle Level Education. Learn more at amle.org.

Phyllis and Joe enjoy the nice weather as they talk about a range of topics, including:

• Strategies for effectively transitioning middle schoolers into the summer after this unprecedented year of schooling
• What are students show us on the surface versus how they're really feeling, and how to support them wholly 
• The impact of burnout and how to finish the year with strength and resiliency 

Middle School Walk & Talk is a production of the Association for Middle Level Education. Learn more at amle.org.

Special guest Katie Hurley, author of No More Mean Girls, joins Phyllis and Joe as they talk about how to support students who are struggling socially during this year of constant change. 

Middle School Walk & Talk is a production of the Association for Middle Level Education. Learn more at amle.org.

For students still learning fully virtually, and those with anxiety about returning to the classroom, how can we ease the transition back to in-person school? Phyllis and Joe walk while they talk strategies to help these students effectively return to the classroom. 

Middle School Walk & Talk is a production of the Association for Middle Level Education. Learn more at amle.org.

Middle school students are hungry to know what's happening in the world around them. Amid the recent violence targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S., educators continue to grapple with how to talk about race with students and families. In this episode, Phyllis and Joe discuss the imperative nature of addressing these issues with students and  provide strategies educators can employ to have effective conversations centered around empathy. 

Middle School Walk & Talk is a production of the Association for Middle Level Education. Learn more at amle.org.