1. Is he ADHD or just in middle school? Navigating the Unusual world of the usual middle school student

2. Is your middle school experience like a day at the beach? ZLots of laughter ZSunshine and happy faces ZNo structure ZNice for a day, but not good for a whole year

3. Or is your middle school experience more like a foggy day in London?  You’re teaching, but students seem foggy on the exciting information you are giving them.  Child-like behaviors switch so quickly to adult-like behaviors, and students get offended when you aren’t on your toes and dealing with them accordingly  At the end of the day you have lost all ability to speak coherently to any other adult.  You’re teaching, but students seem foggy on the exciting information you are giving them.  Child-like behaviors switch so quickly to adult-like behaviors, and students get offended when you aren’t on your toes and dealing with them accordingly  At the end of the day you have lost all ability to speak coherently to any other adult.

4. Or is your middle school classroom just one big party? Lots of laughter and cheering Constant activity Chaotic Overwhelming But definitely a lot of fun!

5. Or is your middle school classroom like a calm lake in the wee hours of the morning?  Quiet  Relaxing  Peaceful  Beautiful  If this is your classroom, please come up here and take over this workshop for me!  Quiet  Relaxing  Peaceful  Beautiful  If this is your classroom, please come up here and take over this workshop for me!

6. Study Skills Study Skills / Let’s get organized / Let’s get informed / Let’s act informed / Let’s think / Let’s get organized / Let’s get informed / Let’s act informed / Let’s think / Let’s write / Let’s test

7. Emotional Language Emotional Language / They are kids / Love to laugh / Hate to fear / Want to please / They are kids / Love to laugh / Hate to fear / Want to please / They are teens / Love to tease / Hate to be noticed / Want to be loved

8. Emotional Language / They are becoming adults / The girls want to be pretty and helpful / The boys want to be brave and protective / They are becoming adults / The girls want to be pretty and helpful / The boys want to be brave and protective

9. Emotional Language / Ask questions before confronting-get the whole picture / Cater to their desire to be mature adults / Use language that appeals to their age. / The iron fist enclosed in a velvet glove / Ask questions before confronting-get the whole picture / Cater to their desire to be mature adults / Use language that appeals to their age. / The iron fist enclosed in a velvet glove

10. My Goal: / Psalm 18:35 “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.”

11. Engaging Lessons Engaging Lessons / Incorporate laughter (goofy moments, inside jokes with each class, memories, you are human) / 1/3 vs. 2/3 note-taking method / Pictures, graphic organizers, video clips, movement, and random fun facts / Incorporate laughter (goofy moments, inside jokes with each class, memories, you are human) / 1/3 vs. 2/3 note-taking method / Pictures, graphic organizers, video clips, movement, and random fun facts

12. Loving your middle students on their most unusual days / Be encouraging: Matthew 25:21 / Be patient: James 1:4 / Be expectant and graceful: Matthew 5, Luke 23:33-43 / Be honest: Luke 22:33-34 / Be encouraging: Matthew 25:21 / Be patient: James 1:4 / Be expectant and graceful: Matthew 5, Luke 23:33-43 / Be honest: Luke 22:33-34