The plants in our area that seem to be the most drastically affected by the drought are azaleas and rhododendrons, which are in the same family. They really are very susceptible. Their roots can dry out for long periods of time. It's a transitional time of mixed feelings and apprehensions, a time rich in discovery, but not without a lot of stresses. Believe it or not, lots of parents have some apprehensions about seeing their kids leave the cozy, nurturing elementary school and head for the big, imposing middle school, says Temple education professor Suzanne Levin , a middle school specialist and former eighth-grade math teacher.
Parents are scared any time their kids have really big changes.
For kids who have some apprehensions, Levin says parents need to emphasize all of the exciting new opportunities which await them in middle school. There will be some kids who are really nervous, but looking at it as a new opportunity to learn and experience new things will help. Even though their middle school-aged kids would rather be with their friends, parental guidance is extremely important, says Levin. Children at this age still look very, very heavily toward their parents for guidance. Parental input really matters to them.