Middle School has changed dramatically from when I first stepped foot into Westwood Middle back in the 1980’s. While technology is a driving factor in the changes, the majority of improvements come from a better understanding of how students learn and what their needs are. From teachers looking to improve their classroom experience to families shopping for the best school for their student, here are four tips for designing a more engaging classroom.

The negatives of middle school are plastered across the media spectrum; in fact, the best-selling author James Patterson even has a widely popular book titled, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life.

Middle school can be a challenging and trying time - that holds for parents just as much as students. Parenting adolescents is complicated by the many opportunities and challenges that 21st century technology allows. While students are often very savvy using technology, they often do not have the maturity to make the right decisions. As the holidays approach, when many students get new tech or tech upgrades, here are some general guidelines and reminders for parenting middle school children: