A Guide to Middle School and Beyond

By Michael Turnbull

Throughout my 35 years as a teacher and coach, I have always wanted to write a book about this time in the lives of young people. This book is not a success guide, merely a guide with thoughts and ideas that I hope you will mull over and give consideration to. If you find anything that helps you along your path, that's great! It is up to you: SAVE or DELETE?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Turnbull
• Release date: May 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310361425

Michael Turnbull

I am in my fifties and will be retiring in May of 2017 after 36 years of teaching and coaching. The first book "Random Thoughts of A Stupid Man" was published in 2012. My wife of 35 years and I will be moving to Winton, MN after we get our Bed & Breakfast sold in Hibbing, MN. We have two grown children, both married. We also have one grandchild and one due in July. We are loving being grandparents & looking forward to spending more time at the lake!

Book preview

A GUIDE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL & BEYOND

By Mike Turnbull

A Guide to Middle School and Beyond

Copyright 2016 by Mike Turnbull

Smashwords edition.

Cover design by Rivershore Books

Cover photo by Mike Turnbull

Photos by Mike Turnbull unless otherwise noted

Author photo courtesy of author

The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author represents and warrants that s/he either owns or has the legal right to publish all material in this book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

DEDICATION

SPECIAL THANK YOU

CHAPTER ONE: THE YEAR BEFORE

CHAPTER TWO: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

CHAPTER THREE: YOU MADE IT

CHAPTER FOUR: MOVING FORWARD

CHAPTER FIVE: DON’T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT

CHAPTER SIX: HIGH SCHOOL & BEYOND

CHAPTER SEVEN: ALL THE BEST TO YOU

WHAT I WOULD NOT DO FOR MY FRIENDS

WEBSITES YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT

QUOTES TO CONTEMPLATE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

COACHING PHILOSOPHY

BOOKS BY MIKE TURNBULL

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

PREFACE

I want you to know that I attended Junior High School in 1971–1973. I took seventh and part of eighth grade at Chipman Junior High in Alameda, California, and the rest of eighth grade at a school I can’t remember the name of in Browns Mills, New Jersey. My dad, who was in the U.S. Navy, was transferred from Alameda Naval Air Station to the Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey early in my eighth-grade year.

I also taught 7th and 8th grade social studies classes from 1981 to 1993. My teaching jobs were all in Minnesota; Lake Park, Ely, Norwood-Young America and Wadena. I have taught and coached at the college level since 1993 and continue to do so today.

I have always wanted to do some writing about this time in the lives of young people. I was ready to attempt this several years ago when a book called The Diary of a Wimpy Kid hit the market. It seemed kind of pointless to attempt to put my thoughts on the subject to paper.

Please understand that I in no way claim to be any kind of an expert on the subject of adolescence or the middle school education system, but I do feel I have a few ideas worth sharing.

This is neither a success guide nor a survival guide, merely a guide. Thoughts and ideas I hope you will mull over and give consideration to. If you find anything that helps, that’s great!

Mike Turnbull

DEDICATION

To all my student-athletes that I have taught and coached over the past thirty-five years: You are all and have always been the reason I get up every morning and happily head off to school. I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to be in the education field all this time. You have all provided many insightful moments and fond memories.

I hope all of you are well and thriving.

Photo by Mike Flaten

SPECIAL THANK YOU

Thanks to my sister, Lisa Rahja, an elementary teacher, and my nephew, Grant Rahja, a freshman at UW-Madison. Your input during the writing of this book was invaluable to me.

CHAPTER ONE

The Year Before

Let us assume you are in sixth grade and will be transitioning to middle school next year. Next year