Betwixt and Between: Understanding and Meeting the Social and Emotional Development Needs of Students During the Middle School Transition Years

About the Book

Educators, parents, and those who work with middle school students in various settings will find this book to be a valuable addition to their library. Early adolescence is a time of tremendous change with the potential for positive development in the academic, social, and emotional domains; yet, often this age group struggles to adjust to the transition of middle school and the tasks that are required to be successful there. The authors -- both of whom are seasoned educators and administrators -- cover a variety of topics germane to positive development. These include social and emotional development, current research on the adolescent brain, and the academic challenges of entering middle school. There are also chapters on contemporary issues such as bullying, social media, and inclusive leadership. Parents will find suggestions for how to support their middle school child, and educators will discover a wealth of best practices to incorporate into their interactions with early adolescents and their families.

Table of Contents:

Preface
Understanding Social and Emotional Development and Difficulties in Middle School: An Introduction
Chapter 1: Social and Emotional Development during the Middle School Years: Theories and Educational Considerations
Chapter 2: The Pre-Adolescent and Adolescent Brain: Current Research and Understandings
Chapter 3: The Pivotal Years: How Educators Can Assist Students with the Tasks and Perils of Middle School
Chapter 4: Social Media and Middle School-Age Development
Chapter 5: Middle School Parenting: Graduation Is Just around the Corner
Chapter 6: Teaching at the Middle School Level: Best Practices for Promoting Social and Emotional Development
Chapter 7: “We’ve Got Each Other’s Backs”: Promoting Social and Emotional Development through Inclusive Leadership
Chapter 8: “If You Really Knew Me”: An Effective, Middle School-Led Campaign to Stop Bullying
Chapter 9: Expanding the Application of Response to Intervention Strategies to Address Social-Emotional Difficulties in Middle School
About the Coeditors
About the Chapter Authors

About the Author :

Dr. Nicholas D. Young has worked in diverse educational roles for over twenty years, including serving as a director of student services, principal, graduate professor, dean, and superintendent of schools. He holds numerous degrees from Austin Peay State University, Westfield State University, Western New England University, Union Institute & University, and American International College, including a Ph.D. in educational administration and an Ed.D. in psychology. Dr. Young has published widely, recently co-authoring Collapsing Educational Boundaries from Preschool to Ph.D.: Building Bridges Across the Educational Spectrum, Learning Style Perspectives: Impact In the Classroom (3rd edition), and Transforming Special Education Practices: A Primer for School Administrators and Policy Makers.

Dr. Christine N. Michael is a thirty-year educational veteran with a variety of professional experiences. She holds degrees from Brown University, Rhode Island College, Union Institute & University, and the University of Connecticut, where she earned a Ph.D. in education and human development and family relations. Previous work has included middle and high school teaching, higher education administration, college teaching, educational consulting, literacy development, Head Start, Upward Bound, GED preparation, and the federal Trio programs. She is currently the Program Director of Low Residency Programs at American International College.

Review :
No other stage of education rivals the complexity of the middle school years. With so many social, emotional, physical, and cognitive changes taking place, educators must tackle it all to positively impact student development. In Betwixt and Between, Dr. Young and Dr. Michael compile a collection of authors and topics that address the many different facets of educating young adolescents. It is an incredible toolbox for anyone involved in middle level education! There are few topics more important than the healthy development of our children, and focusing on the needs of middle school children hits a much needed area of concern. From social and emotional issues to school and family issues, to brain research and the all-too-current issue of bullying, this book offers all who care about children a wealth of information, advice, support and inspiration. This book is written in service of raising the next generation towards becoming fully capable adults. This book is a wake-up call for educators to incorporate meaningful and active engagement in and out of the classroom; following these suggestions, students may adjust more quickly and demonstrate increased academic performance. The authors offer insight into the needs of middle school students and suggest ways to better support a successful school climate. They convincingly argue that early adolescence is the most critical phase of human development, making their demystification of that period especially valuable. The book addresses important topics in the social and emotional lives of early adolescents. This is such a pivotal time, developmentally, that it is wonderful to see an entire work devoted to the age group. Covering contemporary issues such as social media, bullying, and pro-social growth through leadership opportunities, the authors offer educators and parents alike a rich array of strategies and approaches to help “tweens” navigate middle school successfully. We all are aware that middle school years are when some students begin to prepare for accomplishment at the secondary and post-secondary levels, while others begin to disengage from the educational experience. Such disengagement has huge personal, social, academic, and financial implications for the students themselves as well as for their families and society. In this book, the authors wisely address ways in which we can keep middle school students engaged and thriving during the challenging early adolescent years.