Middle school can be a bit daunting especially if your student has been homeschooled and now plans to attend a brick-and-mortar school, is still navigating the pandemic, has skipped a grade(s), or is just a bit nervous about the transition to middle school. It can be an exciting time to meet new students from all over the community, but it can also be a bit scary navigating cliques, the give and take among friends, having a strong sense of values, self-doubt, and approval seeking from peers. Fitting in can be a bit complicated. Yet, at the same time, we need to be able to be ourselves and have confidence in who we are. As well, this is a time when leaders emerge. Added to our topics will be leadership skills as well as executive function skills, such as time management, to encourage your learner to be the best selves they can be. 

In this class, I will present topics, ask questions, and open the door for lively learner-directed conversation. This class is part social and part informational. Our class is limited to seven students to give each student a chance to share during class time if they choose to. They can share about any situations they are dealing with at middle school or even share how they are working to become their best selves. Students will gain confidence in navigating the social, and emotional aspects of middle school, as well as becoming emerging leaders. As with all D.R.E.A.M. classes critical thinking is utilized. The following outlines our upcoming class topics. Since this is learner-directed, please contact me directly to see exactly where we are at on any given week/topic. 

Upcoming Topics:

Organizing and planning: How do I stop the confusion?
Time Management: How can we use time to become our best selves? 
Who are they? Understanding the “Other”
Managing Teasing, Exclusion, Bullying, Rumoring, and Ganging up.
Dealing with Cliques and in-group and out-group biases.

Future Topics:
   1.	Fear: How can we recognize it and what can we do about it?
   2. Who are you? Determining your values to help make better decisions.
   3.	Discipline: What are the keys to discipline?
   4.	Boundaries: What are they and how do we keep them?
   5.	Persistence without Exception: How do we keep going when times get hard? 
   6.	Relationships: How do we know if someone is our friend?
   7.	Good Thinking: What do we need to know to learn to think critically?
   8.	Good Character: What is it and how do we form it?
   9. 	Communication: A forgotten Skill.
  10. Logical Fallacies: How to recognize them and respond. 
  11. Cognitive Biases: Is what we believe the truth?
  12. Goals: How to set them, manage them and complete them.
  13. Emotional Regulation: Why do I get so upset or sad sometimes? 

I believe in creating a classroom environment that is flexible and driven by student suggestions and engagement. While I always have a lesson plan for each class, I can and do adjust my plans to best meet the needs of the students who join each week. I encourage a very interactive classroom where students are encouraged to engage. 

Sample Lesson Plan: 
I.)	Teacher Greeting
II.)	Introductions & Club Announcements
III.)	Week’s Topic 
	   a. In-depth look at the topic 
	   b. How does this behavior/concept connect to the fundamentals of personal growth?
V.)	How can we apply this topic to our life?
	   b. Student sharing 
	   c. Asking questions
VI.)	Thought Questions
           a. What is one new thing you learned today that you will not forget?
           b. What is another topic about the social aspects of middle school you would like to learn about?