Loving the Me I'm Going to Be: Growing and Thriving in the Middle School Years
The Middle School years are difficult for young girls to navigate with their self esteem intact. This ongoing class will support your daughter's efforts to grow strong and secure in who she is. Suitable for home school or brick-and-mortar
Miss Kate, M. Special Ed., TEFL
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(127)
What's included
1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
1-2 hours per week. Each learner will be expected to journal every week. This can take as few or as many minutes as she deems necessary for her own benefit. Each learner will also be expected to read a book (listed above) every two weeks. Preparing for leadership during her week may be something that your daughter prefers to spend time doing, but that will be completely up to her.Class Experience
In this ongoing class, your daughter will connect with other girls her age who are experiencing the turbulent years of middle school. The need to fit in, combined with issues about body image, moderate determination and unsettled emotions take their toll on even the strongest personalities. Through discussion, journals, and books, learners will develop a secure sense of self and develop the self-acceptance that is sometimes lacking in today's young woman. Leadership roles will be rotated among all members of the group in order to provide a safe place to practice soft skills such as: empathy, active listening, assertiveness and social awareness. I will act more as a facilitator during classes while the girls lead discussions and activities. Therefore, each class will have a different leader who will run the sharing time, discussion about the journal topic, and the book talk time. We will begin every class with a sharing time. Each girl will be given the opportunity to share a talent, struggle, concern, or high point of her week with the rest of the group while her friends actively listen. After the initial sharing time, the girls will be encouraged (but not required) to discuss the journal topic of the day (listed below). No one will be required to share, and intimate topics that are best left to counselors will be discouraged since that is not my area of expertise. The last part of each class will be spent discussing the book we are reading as a group. Please see the list below for advanced notice in order to review each book for its appropriateness. This portion of the class will be fluid in nature with the girls deciding what they would like to discuss from each read. We will spend two weeks discussing each book (with the exception of the first week); however, the girls do not have to attend every week since the topics for discussion, while based upon the same book for two weeks in a row, will be completely different. The schedule will be as follows: Week of September 11 Journal Topic: What is Empowerment Book: Dear Girl by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal Week of September 18 Journal Topic: What is Curiosity Book: Dennie by Judy Bloom Week of September 25 Journal Topic: The Emotions of Curiosity Book: Dennie by Judy Bloom Week of October 2 Journal Topic: A Time of Curiosity Book: Stage Fright by Meg Cabot Week of October 9 Journal Topic: Five Things I'm Curious About Book: Stage Fright by Meg Cabot Week of October 16 Journal Topic: The Most Curious Person I Know Book: Girl Friends: How to be Friends Forever by Sarah Delmege Week of October 23 Journal Topic: Trying Something New Book: Girl Friends: How to be Friends Forever by Sarah Delmege Week of October 30 Journal Topic: I Show People Who I Am Book: Lily B. on the brink of Cool By Elizabeth Cody Kimmel Week of November 6 Journal Topic: What I would Change Book: Lily B. on the brink of Cool By Elizabeth Cody Kimmel Week of November 13 Journal Topic: My Fears Book: Smile by Raina Telgemeier Week of November 20 Journal Topic: Embarrassment Book: Smile by Raina Telgemeier Week of November 27 Journal Topic: Changing Routines Book: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli Week of December 4 Journal Topic: Empathy through Curiosity Book: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli Week of December 11 Journal Topic: Judgement by Others Book: Wish by Barbara O'Connor Week of January 8 Journal Topic: Judgement of Others Book: Wish by Barbara O'Connor Week of January 15 Journal Topic: Changing Perspectives Book: Keeping Cool in Middle School By Kathleen O'Dell Week of January 22 Journal Topic: Confidence. Book: Keeping Cool in Middle School By Kathleen O'Dell
Learning Goals
Overtime and through self-reflection with the journal and discussion with friends, the girls who participate in this group will become more self-confident, assertive and resilient.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Each class will have a different focus or "theme" directed by the journal topic of the week which is listed in the class description. You may choose to talk with your daughter about the topic before or after the class; however, anonymity is expected. Please only discuss your own daughter's thoughts and feelings regarding the week's topic and not those of other group members.
Please choose to pre-authorize the books as you deem necessary.
Supply List
Learners will be expected to purchase the following: "Empowered: A Journal for Teen Girls - Reflective Prompts to Inspire and Confident You" by Charmaine Charmant Learners will also need to purchase or borrow a copy of the book for each week's discussions (listed above).
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
The books needed are listed in the class description.
The journal needed is listed in class materials.
No outside videos will be used without two weeks' notice.
Joined March, 2022
4.9
127reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Alaska Teaching Certificate in Special Education
Master's Degree in Education from University of Alaska, Fairbanks
I have a master's degree with an emphasis in behavior, but moreover, I'm a mother of six children. I have first-hand experience of the tumultuous middle school years six times over!
In addition, I have volunteered with girls scouts for decades and also work with the youth at my church.
I understand the brain of girls who are becoming women, and I long to help each girl learn to appreciate herself beyond measure.Reviews
Live Group Class
$15
weekly1x per week
45 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
1-8 learners per class
