The Developmental Needs of Middle School Students

Middle School is an exciting but frustrating time for students. Transition is the key word. Through middle school, physical and psychological changes abound. During their journey from childhood to adolescence, students are characterized by:

• Being very active, yet easily fatigued due to rapid physical growth
• Searching for their own unique identity, turning more toward peers rather than to parents for ideas and affirmation
• Being extremely sensitive to comments from others
• Relying heavily on friends to provide comfort, understanding and approval

A Comprehensive Developmental Program

Internal changes, coupled with the challenges of the outside world, reinforce the goal of middle school counselors: to teach students skills to help them through this difficult stage of life and to use these skills on a daily basis. To accomplish this, middle school counselors provide and carry out a comprehensive counseling program that focuses on the uniqueness of students in three areas of development - academic, career and personal/social. Designed for all students, student competencies provide goals that are integrated throughout the entire school curriculum and environment. These goals are the engine that drives the program components including the guidance curriculum, individual planning, counseling and program management.

School Counselors help children by . . .

• Promoting positive attitudes among students toward self, family, peers and community.
• Assisting students in learning how school performance relates to future opportunities.
• Developing and delivering classroom guidance lessons that teach skills such as healthy decision making, resolving conflicts, career planning, study skills and respecting others.
• Working collaboratively with students, parents and teachers to identify and remove barriers to learning.
• Supporting students by teaching skills for achieving success.
• Helping students to recognize and make the best of their abilities.
• Counseling with students individually and in groups.
• Providing support during personal crisis.
• Orienting new students.