Notes From The Middle

Feb 27
3 min

The Transition to Upper School: How Rivers Helps Students Make the Leap

Transitions can be a challenging part of life. At Rivers, we understand the importance of finishing one stage in a student’s educational...

Three Tips for Talking to Middle Schoolers About Vaping

The Rivers School

Jan 23
2 min

Three Tips for Talking to Middle Schoolers About Vaping

In the past year, the number of teens who vaped increased dramatically: over 17% of eighth graders and 37% of high school seniors reporte...

The Rivers School

Nov 21, 2019
3 min

Why Gratitude Is Good for You

Thanksgiving is good for your health. The meal may leave us momentarily satisfied, but compelling research shows that giving thanks provi...

Embracing Perseverance: Two Stories from the Middle

The Rivers School

Oct 24, 2019
6 min

Embracing Perseverance: Two Stories from the Middle

Growing up is an adventure with no predetermined final destination. There’s no one right way to travel through life—so it can be inspirin...

The Rivers School

Oct 10, 2019
3 min

Working Smarter, Not Harder

Last Friday, I spoke to a group of Middle School parents about how to help students “work smarter, not harder.” At Rivers Middle School, w...

Reframing Homework: Helping Students Become Independent Learners

The Rivers School

Sep 19, 2019
2 min

Reframing Homework: Helping Students Become Independent Learners

Tonight, my third grader waged battle with a math practice test. At first, she circled around it, reluctant to engage. When she finally a...

Opening Assembly Remarks: How Questions Can Change the World

The Rivers School

Sep 6, 2019
4 min

Opening Assembly Remarks: How Questions Can Change the World

Did you know that the average four-year-old asks 73 questions each day? My son recently turned five, and that statistic frankly seems a l...

The Rivers School

May 30, 2019
4 min

Embracing the Unexpected

During our final Middle School meeting, I shared this message with students. Years from now, when you look back on this school year, you w...

What Do You Want to Protect?: Designing a Family Tech Strategy

The Rivers School

May 23, 2019
4 min

What Do You Want to Protect?: Designing a Family Tech Strategy

When Janell Burley Hofmann visited Rivers Middle School to talk to parents about screens and teens, she began by surveying the landscape:...

“Guardians of Dignity”: Three Ways We Help Middle Schoolers Connect Deeply

The Rivers School

May 2, 2019
4 min

“Guardians of Dignity”: Three Ways We Help Middle Schoolers Connect Deeply

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Dr. Donna Hicks, whose work on the concept of dignity has changed my mindset about this fundamental ...

What a Fashion Exhibition Taught Seventh Graders About Apartheid and Identity

The Rivers School

Apr 16, 2019
3 min

What a Fashion Exhibition Taught Seventh Graders About Apartheid and Identity

This week’s post is written by Rick Taylor, a seventh grade humanities teacher at Rivers. Before spring break, the seventh grade humaniti...

Got a Challenge? Try Brainstorming Questions, Not Solutions

The Rivers School

Mar 29, 2019
2 min

Got a Challenge? Try Brainstorming Questions, Not Solutions

In his book A More Beautiful Question, journalist and innovation expert Warren Berger writes, “We’re all hungry today for better answers....

Adolescence and Identity Development: Designing Curriculum that Meets Students Where They Are

The Rivers School

Mar 7, 2019
4 min

Adolescence and Identity Development: Designing Curriculum that Meets Students Where They Are

This week’s post is written by Melissa Dolan ’98, our Middle School Curriculum Leader When people outside of the school community ask me w...

Student-Led Conferences: What Happens When Students Sit in the Driver’s Seat?

The Rivers School

Feb 20, 2019
3 min

Student-Led Conferences: What Happens When Students Sit in the Driver’s Seat?

Do you remember what it felt like to wait at home while your mom or dad attended parent-teacher conferences — to know they were talking a...

“Where Does the Power Come From?”: Helping Students Find the Courage to Adapt

The Rivers School

Jan 31, 2019
2 min

“Where Does the Power Come From?”: Helping Students Find the Courage to Adapt

I was the chess champion of the sixth grade. My grandmother had taught me how to play the game. Starting when I was in the third grade, s...

The Rivers School

Jan 10, 2019
3 min

The Courage to Hear Feedback

Feedback is a word we use a lot in school. But what does it mean, really? And, more importantly, why would anyone want to receive any? He...

The Pomodoro Technique: A Practical Homework Tool

The Rivers School

Nov 29, 2018
2 min

The Pomodoro Technique: A Practical Homework Tool

Have you ever had the experience of sitting down to complete a small task, and 25 minutes later, you still haven’t finished it — but you ...

The Intrinsic Motivation Engine: Helping Kids Drive Their Learning

The Rivers School

Nov 14, 2018
2 min

The Intrinsic Motivation Engine: Helping Kids Drive Their Learning

“How do I help my child develop intrinsic motivation?” It’s a common question — but not quite the right one. Children and teens are alrea...

The Middle School Brain: Why Pleasure is a Better Motivator than Pain

The Rivers School

Oct 25, 2018
2 min

The Middle School Brain: Why Pleasure is a Better Motivator than Pain

How do we motivate children to make good choices — from avoiding procrastination to acting responsibly with peers? This is a perennial qu...

Practical Wisdom for the Parenting Journey: Introducing Two Amazing Speakers

The Rivers School

Oct 11, 2018
3 min

Practical Wisdom for the Parenting Journey: Introducing Two Amazing Speakers

As a parent, I am always on the lookout for mentors — people who can help me respond a little more purposefully, responsively, and wisely...

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