Middle School and the Age of Adjustment: A Guide for Parents

(Hardback)

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Description

Helps parents set boundaries and give guidance to their children as they navigate the troubled waters of early adolescence. Middle school is a time in children's lives when they experience tremendous changes: physically, emotionally, and socially. It is a very vulnerable stage when children are exposed to risky behaviors, intense peer pressure, and a possible academic decline. Parents need to be aware of the issues and challenges that their children face so that they can help to solve problems in a proactive manner. When parents work closely with school personnel, young adolescents are guided more effectively. The author, who has worked as a middle school counselor, reveals actual problems that a school counselor might encounter among students and provides vignettes of student situations and conversations with parents. She provides many suggestions to help parents establish boundaries for their children and give guidance as they navigate the troubled waters of early adolescence. She stresses that parents who are informed about the problems their children will face can better help them deal with the issues.

Reviews

"Eileen Bernstein's book is one that I wish I had when my children were in middle school. The format is direct, clear, and engaging. Specific examples in the shape of situations taken from Ms. Bernstein's extensive practical experience in middle school enliven the text."-Margeurite T. Gaffney English Teacher Montgomery County Public Schools
"Middle School and the Age of Adjustment. A Guide for Parents by Eileen Bernstein is a must read for all parents regardless of the age of their children. Ms. Bernstein captures the essence of the middle school student with clarity, understanding and true meaning of the middle school journey. Through vignettes and real life examples the reader will develop a vivid picture and a clear understanding of the social, emotional and physical changes that middle school students experience. I applaud Ms. Bernstein for writing about her middle school experiences through the eyes of her role as both a parent and a middle school counselor!"-Linda Kass Former Middle School Counselor Specialist Montgomery County Public Schools
"This is a must read for any parent sending a child to middle school. It captures the "pure" essence of adolescence. Having spent twenty-five years in the business as a middle school counselor and dealing with so many of the issues presented in this book, I found myself nodding my head throughout the entire book. The situations and suggestions were right on the money! The scenarios presented are very realistic and the advice given in very practical and it works. This book is one of the most comprehensive and well written books on middle schoolers that I have ever read. I can't wait to have this book published so I can recommend it to my parents."-Dedra H. Green Resource Guidance Counselor Montgomery County Public Schools
"This is an excellent resource for parents, teachers, and anyone who works with a middle school population. It reflects the experience and expertise of a professional school counselor. The thoughts and suggestions for teachers and parents are clear and concise. It includes the critical issues that all middle school aged children, their teachers and parents will encounter."-Kenneth R. Greenberg Professor/Director of School Counseling University of Maryland, College Park
"Through many colorful anecdotes, Eileen Bernstein brings clarity to the complex social, physical, and emotional changes of middle school boys and girls."-Dorothy Colding Principal Farquhar Middle School, Montgomery County Public Schools
Parents and teachers will do well to examine this title about the challenging middle school years typified by sixth graders asking thousands of questions and eighth graders knowing everything....Becuase of the joint audience of parents and teachers, this book is a solid addition for public libraries to be placed on adult nonfiction shelves and also a possible purchase for the professional collection in school libraries.-VOYA
"Parents and teachers will do well to examine this title about the challenging middle school years typified by sixth graders asking thousands of questions and eighth graders knowing everything....Becuase of the joint audience of parents and teachers, this book is a solid addition for public libraries to be placed on adult nonfiction shelves and also a possible purchase for the professional collection in school libraries."-VOYA

Author Bio

EILEEN BERNSTEIN is the Guidance Counselor, at Gaithersburg High School, Maryland.