Limitless Learning, a blog by The Howard School

Middle school is one of the most critical stages in a child's development. In her excellent book, Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond – and How Parents Can Help, Phyllis Fagell describes it as the second-biggest transition in life after early childhood.

Here are seven ways to help your middle schooler — or soon-to-be middle schooler — develop the skills they need to thrive.

Whether perceived as positive or negative, change is often overwhelming and can be difficult to navigate. Every day, children are experiencing change. For schoolchildren and their families, fall can be a particularly stressful time of year—from arriving at a new school, to beginning a new grade, meeting new teachers, classmates, courses, and schedules.

So, why is change hard and what can we do to support our children, both at home and at school?

Parenting comes with its share of unexpected challenges, and navigating a new diagnosis of learning differences for your child is one of those moments. You’re thrown into a world filled with new jargon, complex public school IEP processes, and an unfamiliar world of specialists, services, and educational options. The stakes can feel impossibly high.

For many parents, hearing the term “processing speed” for the first time can create more questions than it answers.

You likely first encountered it tucked within a bunch of test results as you’ve been seeking to better understand your child’s learning differences. But what does it actually mean? And, more importantly, how does it affect your child?

At The Howard School, we believe that every student deserves an education tailored to their unique strengths and learning profile. Our high school program goes beyond traditional academic models to provide neurodiverse students with the tools, confidence, and real-world experiences they need to thrive—both in the classroom and beyond.

Under the leadership of our high school principal, Michael Powell, we have enhanced commitment to student-centered learning and innovative programming. Check out his Q&A!