Social Impact of the "Text Generation"

Dr. Michael Osit, a clinical psychologist in Warren, NJ, identifies many of our children as a "Text Generation". He feels that communication channels like texting and IMing have have a significant impact on how children socialize and communicate. Dr. Osit sees the pros and cons of this ever growing dependence on technology for communication. He feels that although decreasing amount of face-to-face communication do negatively affect children reading other peoples "nonverbal cues" during regular live contact interaction, children can benefit because it gives them a significantly greater amount of opportunity to interact with many people. The trick is for parents and children to have limits and thus a balance between the digital world and the real world.

Generation Text by Dr. Micheal Osit

Student Perspective

The student perspective is often changing by the class, period, day or even moment. It is an on-going process that is affected by the particular environment they are in. It is important for the student to know who to go to if there is a problem.

Many students feel when they have a problem with bullying, it is difficult to report it. When they tell the teacher or counselor about a bullying issue, they are sometimes seen as an outsider and there can be retaliation by the bully. If the student is a "bystander" to a bullying incident, they are often silent and do not speak up for the person being bullied or report the incident to the appropriate person.

Teacher Perspective

Teachers can have a major impact on the social aspect of middle school students. They are often the ones who are on the "front line" of what is going on with the student. Students are sometimes more comfortable with going to a "teacher" rather than going to their parents. Adolescence sometimes creates barriers to relationships with parents.

Exploring Character and Conflict through Language Arts

Parent Perspective

Parents can have a completely different perspective on social skills in middle school. Their perspective may be individualized to their own child. In addition, children can often behave very differently at school than they do while at home.

The parent sees their child "after" the events of social interaction at school. If their child is suffering, the parent is also suffering. When a "social challenge" occurs in the lunchroom, classroom, at an in-school sports event or anywhere at school; it is difficult for a parent to know how to help them. They may tell their child to ignore the situation, contact a teacher, see the dean or counselor or they may choose contact the school themselves. Most importantly, it is difficult for the parent to understand the make-up of the school.

When should a parent intervene? How can parents help their children in middle school? Are parents helping or hurting their children when they try to intervene? These are all on-going questions that should be discussed with an appropriate person at school.

Article on Parental Perspectives
Parental Involvement at the Middle School
Quiz for Parents

High Priority for Social Skills in Middle School

Middle school is one of the most challenging places for any child to fit in. This challenge is often multiplied many times over for a child with special needs. The middle school years are a volatile time for most students.

If we agree that one of the highest deficits in social skills at the middle school level is with the student with special needs, we might think that these students are the ones who need the training, right? So we give them some training and everyone is great. NOT! We must remember to look at the whole picture: all the students, the teachers, paraprofessionals, legal rights, IEPs, scheduling, goals, objectives, curriculum, lunch room, sports, etc. Social skills are a big part of all of life. They affect "the now" and " the later". Everyone needs to be "on board" with the philosophy of acceptable behavior at the school. Social skills are the "main artery" of that place we call "school". Social skills affect everything, including learning.

So, how do we address the "social skills" in middle school so that we are maximizing the success of all the students in middle school? One of the ways Dr. Jed Baker, a clinical psychologist and renowned expert on social skills training for children who have social-communication difficulties, has been successful is by creating an all inclusive program with all the students in. Dr. Jed Baker directs and supervises social skills training in the Millburn, NJ public schools. However, not all school districts are able to do this. Other districts have special programs for the students who need special training with social skills. Many districts offer on-going training for their teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators and even incorporate it into their curriculum. Some districts offer social skills workshops for the families in the district.

Dr. Jed Baker

Social Skills Lesson Plans for Middle School

Other information on social skills for middle schoolers