RE: Middle Grades

Good for you Irvin for bringing this point to light!  I've talked to many middle-school kids from public schools that seem to be caught in the transitional stages of growing up with little help form adults who don't seem to understand them.  Ironically, I've also seen many parents pulling their kids out and finding alternative home schooling or doing independent studies with them. Wow, what a difference it makes in a positive way.  Of course these are parents looking out for the interests of their children too.  Also, those who have chosen alternative home schooling in the early years, the children seem much more well adjusted as the embrace this period of transition. (What I've seen are children who you can communicate with easily, are more trusting and comfortable with both youth and adults.)   I think you are right, you need to educate the teachers and also maybe assist in ways of helping parents with possibly adding optional adult educational classes so they too are aware of the changes their kids are going through!