Q: Who are the kids?

A: Middle schoolers!

Some developmental physiology

Children aren’t teenagers Teenagers aren’t adults

Many adults aren’t even adults (yet)!

Rapid changes in the body (outside)

Changes in size and shape Changes in appearance

Rapid changes in the body

Hormones and emotions S*E*X!!!

And by the way, it’s not happening at the same pace

for everyone Gender Ancestry Individual differences

Rapid changes in the brain

Changes visible on the outside…

Rapid changes in the brain

…reflect changes on the inside

• Gray matter reaches peak size

Rapid changes in the brain

…reflect changes on the inside

Decrease in synaptic density—the brain is rewiring itself

Some key factors to consider

Inconsistencies in comprehension/cognition and output

Some key factors to consider

Emotional lability

“Multiple Intelligences”

Bodily-kinesthetic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Logical-mathematical Musical-rhythmic Verbal-linguistic Visual-spatial Naturalist

The experience of middle schoolers

What are they like?

The experience of middle schoolers

What are their stressors? What are their supports?

Resilience: characteristics of the child

Social competence Problem solving skills Autonomy Sense of purpose and the

future

Resilience: characteristics of the community

Caring and support High expectations Opportunities for

participation

Check in

What were your middle school years like?

What kind of person were you academically? Socially?

What kind of person did you see yourself as? Which identity/ies mattered most to you?

What kind of person did others see you as? Which identity/ies mattered most to them?

So what does this mean for us at Summerbridge?

Generalities about Middle Schoolersspecific kids

Your preconceptionsyour expectations

Your actions, attitudes, and moodstheir successes (or failures)