Throwback Thursday: Local Student's Message about Compassion

Happy Thursday Dreamers! As this month marks a year from our blog's launch we hope to share with you some of our favorite posts through out the year. Additionally, September is a very special month to us as it is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month.

We would like to it back to a Dream Team Feature that we shared with you almost a year ago today of local student, Morgan. Morgan was apart of the very first Compassion Project that ever took place and created a Compassion Bag that had a combination of store bought items as well as items that she crafted up herself, really bringing her bag to the next level.

Morgan has rallied students together over the past two years to support Teen with a Dream and joining the fight against pediatric cancer. It was Morgan who presented the idea of hosting a school wide Compassion Project to her school's student council and successfully got the idea voted in. This school wide event took place only a few months ago and was a raving success!

Read Morgan's Message in her Dream Team Feature HERE

High School Education Week Begins [Tips for Parents to Prepare Their Child for High School]

Through out the month of August we have gone through "What Parents should tell their child's teacher" and "What teachers should know if their student is a pediatric cancer patient". We have done so for Elementary School and Middle School.

We feel as though you can easily apply those posts to our high school edition as well. That is why today we are going to change it up a bit and just share a few ways that you, as parents, can prepare your child for a positive start to their high school journey, even with cancer!

This topic hits close to home for us at Teen with a Dream due to the fact that our founder, Spencer, was diagnosed only weeks before he was supposed to begin high school.

Tips to Prepare your child for high school....

1. Maintain a positive attitude towards your child. By showcasing a positive outlook will have residual impacts on your child. When they are able to see how positive you are about it, hopefully they will begin to get excited as well.
2. Make sure to make orientation events a priority. Much like the middle school transition, going to high school also means a change in location. Make sure that your child is extremely comfortable with the layout of their new surroundings.
3. Establish a plan for missed days. [You can read about this more in detail in our Middle School Edition]
4. Sign up for an extracurricular activity that is right for your child. This would be something that you will definitely want to consult with your child's doctor. Due to the physical demands of sports discuss with your child's school alternative options such as clubs or even modified options for sports. By joining in on extracurricular will create a sense of belonging for your child and make them feel more involved and comfortable. This is profoundly important for pediatric cancer patients due to the likely high number of absences they will experience. If your child cannot make a meeting, ask one of their fellow club members to video chat your child!
5. Communicate, communicate, communicate! By maintaining continuous conversations with your child will allow you the opportunity to spot if their is a problem. 

Core Subject Resources [Middle School Edition]

As you may have seen last Thursday we broke down each of the common core subjects for elementary school. Now, we would like to apply that same layout for the core subjects of middle school.

 

Let's begin,

Language Arts 

ReadWriteThink

Language Arts within this stage of education begins to focus more on comprehension of language and reading while beginning to expose students learn how to analyze what they are reading. All of these topics build on building a strong foundation of creativity and a better understanding of language. Check out this wonderful resource who encompasses all of these traits...

Get started HERE!

Mathematics

Education.com

This is a great resource for any middle school student through their numerous activities that they provide to help your child build their confidence and skill within the mathematic world.

Get started HERE!

Sciences

Middle School Chemistry 

Download free activities, lesson plans, related readings AND view video demonstrations of science experiments.

Get started HERE!

Social Studies

Discovery Education 

This is a great resources, providing you with SIX options of social studies courses. This resource has digital text books, related readings, technological activities. Additionally all of their resources are aligned with core curriculum requirements

Get started HERE!

Foreign Language 

Share My Lesson

Browse through numerous of foreign language lessons created by actual teachers for even more practice!

Get started HERE!

Health

teAchnology

This resource has everything health curriculum related from grades 6-8 including free printables!

Get started HERE!

Inspirational Dr. Seuss Quote for this Middle School Education Week

Moving forward into middle school can be a nerve wracking process. With a new school, new curriculum, new friends...just remember to not let the unknown overwhelm you because....

What Middle School Teachers can Prepare for a Pediatric Cancer Patient Student

Last Monday, we shared a checklist for what teachers should know if one of their students is also a pediatric cancer patient. In addition to that list, we would like to share with you a checklist that is unique to middle school students.

Lets review general topics that teachers should know when one of their students is also a  pediatric cancer patient .....

1. What type of cancer they had and the side effects.2. Things to watch for medical and emotionally after all you do see the child for a large chunk of hours each day. 3. A plan for absences. 4. As teachers pushing children forward to learn is a big part of what you do, but cancer patients and cancer survivors can’t always be pushed because sometimes its a large issue that is holding them back, its important to ask and see what things effect them so that you know that line. 5. What are signs to look for that the child may need more help outside of the classroom6. Contact information to contact parents with the most amount of ease. 7. What goals/wants does the child want in their education.8. What are any rules and regulations your school/districts have on situations like this, and if they aren’t effective how to make them more effective. 9. Also ask questions you feel may better help you, cancer families at the point of reentry into school have spent 1,2,  or even 3 years dealing with this so they will be very knowledgeable on the patient side.

In addition, this checklist showcases topics unique to our middle school teachers and coping with a pediatric cancer patient ......

1. Typically, middle school teachers seek to reduce parent involvement to promote student's independence. For Pediatric cancer patients this may be a little trickier to balance as their child is going through an extremely traumatic experience as are the parents. That is why, as the teacher, you may want to initiate an elaborate discussion with the child's parents in order to map out a plan that both makes the parent comfortable all while promoting the student's independence. 
2. Peer pressure becomes more prevalent in middle school, therefore we would suggest to check in with [all students] but potentially have an extended conversation with a pediatric cancer patient student. Pediatric Cancer Patients are especially prone to depression and loneliness and would benefit from a caring conversation with their teacher.
3. Middle schools also tend to be much larger than elementary schools, therefore establish the best routes through out the school to ensure that this particular can make it around with ease due to the limitations that cancer can cause on a person's body.
4. Decide the best plan of action for absences and missed in class activities to ensure that this student is receiving the same amount of enriching education [even if it has to be at the hospital!]

What Parent's Should Tell Their Child's Teachers [Middle School Edition]

Moving forward from last week's focus of elementary school education week, we are beginning our Middle School Week Edition!

There are numerous similarities from last Saturday's post, but we would like to share with you a few key points that are unique to Middle School.

Going to middle school typically means a change in location and buildings. This can be a difficult transition for some. That is why there should be an in-depth conversation between you [the parent] and your child's teachers.

Topics that will be especially important to cover [IN ADDITION TO LAST WEEK'S] during this conversation would be:

• Familiarize yourself and your child with this new building
• Where are some quick routes to get to the restroom if nausea hits your child quickly
• Who is the school nurse and how can you get in contact with this person to establish that particular plan of action
• What are each teachers expectations of your child when there are absences
• Discuss with each teacher what their rules are surrounding wearing a hat due to hairloss that chemo can cause
• Is there a parent portal that you can maintain continuous interaction with your child's curriculum 
• Discuss an action plan that you and your child have established to cope with new friends and peers. Additionally discuss how your child's school handles bullying and the measures they take to prevent this. 
• If your child's middle school has locker's practice how to unlock their types of lock at home, that way the anxiety of not being able to get in and out of your locker is eliminated
• Read read read the student handbook!