Strengths for students between Grades 5 to 7 expressed as:
- At home there is a parent or other adult who:
- Really cares about me
- Always wants me to do my best
- Notices when I’m not at school
- Is someone I trust
- Rarely feeling sad or hopeless
- Rarely skipping school
- Learning is not seen as being overly difficult
- Having friends who don’t get into trouble
- Not seeing or carrying a weapon
(Note: more than 94% felt these statements applied)
Opportunities for many students relate to the following themes:
Life at school creates a greater sense of:
- Belonging
- Excitement to be at school
- Fair treatment
- An ability to influence decisions
- Feeling safe and not having rumours spread about them
- Being able to do activities that generate interest
(Note: approximately 70% felt these statements applied)
Relationships with a teacher or adult create a greater sense of :
- Feeling closer to a teacher or adult
- Feeling that a teacher or adult is concerned when they are upset
- Feeling/being acknowledged when they try hard or do a good job
- Being noticed when not at school
(Note: between 53% and 73% felt these statements applied ranged)
Many students noted additional challenges:
- Not having a role model (14%)
- Not seeing a doctor for regular appointments (30%)
- Not finding someone to talk to when they need help (31%)
- Not being active (involved in rigorous activity (40%)/moderate activity (40%))
- Eating fast food (75%) and not eating adequate amounts of vegetables (28%)
Not using sunscreen (40%) - Unhappy with their body shape and size (63%)
Kimberley Schonert Reichl did a presentation in November at the Alberta conference on Middle Childhood. You can see her presentation as well as other presentations at the conference.