Book description
An empowering guide for parents and teachers seeking a positive, practical alternative to the confusion and struggles of middle school."A must-read for anyone who has a tween or works with tweens." - Madeline Levine, New York Times bestselling author of The Price of Privilege and Ready or NotHow can parents stay close with their children through middle school? How do we help middle schoolers discover who they are, enjoy friendships, and manage their growing emotions? What kinds of learning experiences will keep them curious and motivated?These and more questions are answered in this highly engaging and informed guide to the middle school years. Chris Balme draws on his experience as a middle school founder, principal, and teacher, together with the latest adolescent neuroscience. He shows what is going on in the brains of middle schoolers, and how that affects everything from their friendships to the way they relate to parents or show up in a classroom.Parents will gain insight into how to transform their parenting to help middle schoolers find greater independence, connect well with peers, and have the deepest learning possible in and out of school. Educators will learn about the developmental keys to making middle school a place of belonging, with deep social and emotional learning and academics that draw out students' full motivation and potential.Praise for Finding the Magic in Middle School"I love Finding the Magic in Middle School - as a parent of tweens, an educator, and a school design innovator. Chris's love for young people and the awkward but powerful path of self-discovery they travel in the middle school years is obvious, and its clarity inspires us to see and want to enable the magic. Weaving together brain research, storytelling, and design insights, Chris breaks us free from the old narrative of adolescence."- Kim Smith, Co-Founder of NewSchools Venture Fund and Pahara Institute"What Chris Balme calls the "Ultimate Underdogs"-middle schoolers-are in for a better time of it now that he's written this book. After 20 years of working with this underestimated, under-trusted, under-stimulated swath of humanity, Balme has distilled what they need most, and how to give it to them. Hint: It doesn't look like your old social studies class."- Lenore Skenazy, author of Free Range Kids
About the Author
CHRIS BALME has led two innovative middle schools, trained thousands of parents and teachers, and received the Ashoka Fellowship for his work as a leading global changemaker in education. He is endlessly curious about how we raise wise, loving, and capable young people. Chris lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children. Find him at www.chrisbalme.com.
Fuzzy Claws
As an audiobook aficionado, this app is a dream come true. Its support for various formats and effortless navigation make it my perfect reading companion. 🌟🎧 The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Chicago Blackout
This app's support for various formats and genres ensures that there's always something new to explore. I've recommended ListenBook to all my fellow bookworms. It's a true companion for audiobook lovers.
White Swan
Listening to audiobooks has become my ultimate way to unwind after a long day. It's impressive how the app caters to both seasoned readers and newcomers. The features on this app, from bookmarks to playback speed, cater to all preferences. I'm addicted to this app's ability to seamlessly blend books into my life. 🚗 Turning road trips into unforgettable adventures – audiobooks keep me entertained on the journey! 🚗📖
CommandX
With this app, I'm experiencing the joy of reading in a whole new light. Effortless and enriching – that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its smooth interface and thoughtful features have set the bar high for audiobook enjoyment. 📱📖 The statistics feature is brilliant. I love seeing how much time I spend on audiobooks with ListenBook.
Fire Sass
Audiobooks have become a source of inspiration and motivation, thanks to this app. 🔥 Spicing up my routine with this app – it's like having a personal storyteller on hand at all times! ✨📖 Audiobooks have become a staple in my routine, all thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. It's a must-have for any book lover. 📖📱 The app's performance is exceptional, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted audiobook experience. It's clear that it's designed with audiobook enthusiasts in mind. Elegant design and user-friendly interface. Love it!
MythMaker
With this app, reading is no longer confined to a specific time or place. ListenBook's dedication to providing an excellent audiobook experience is evident in its smooth and silky playback.
The Shield Toronto
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made my life so much easier. I can't believe how much more I'm 'reading' now, all thanks to this app. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to share the joy of storytelling with friends and family. It fosters connections and conversations. Book groups are a thoughtful addition. I can group related titles for easy access.
Sass Burst
Tone adjustment is a brilliant addition that lets me personalize the narration to my liking. It adds an extra layer of connection to the audiobooks. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my recordings sound clearer than ever. Automatic metadata retrieval adds a professional touch to my audiobook collection.
Cross Thread
With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my downtime more enriching and meaningful. ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. It's my go-to app for literary adventures. ListenBook has become my trusted companion for literary adventures. The app's features are exceptional.
Delicious Wing
Audiobooks on demand? Yes, please! With this app's diverse format support and easy downloads, my reading routine has reached new heights. 🌟📚 The adjustable playback speed feature is a true innovation. It adds a personalized touch to my listening. Bookmarks are a fantastic organizational tool. They help me keep track of important moments in my audiobooks.
Grave Scuttlebutt
The app's layout is clean and intuitive, making it a pleasure to navigate. The quality of the audio is top-notch, making the experience truly immersive. With this app, my daily commute has transformed into an engaging journey through captivating stories. Audiobook magic at my fingertips! This app's comprehensive offerings, from statistics tracking to immersive audio processing, have breathed new life into my reading. 📚✨ Makes listening to audiobooks easy and enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook!
Drift
ListenBook's audio filters have transformed the way I experience audio content – it's a real game-changer. ListenBook has reignited my love for storytelling and learning, one audio file at a time. Adjustable playback speed is my secret weapon for covering more material in less time. A productivity boost!
Mum Mary
Audiobooks have made long flights feel like a breeze – a true travel essential. Smooth playback and great sound quality. ListenBook is my new favorite app!
MysticMingle
I'm addicted to this app – it's like having a library in my pocket. CUE playlist support is a fantastic organizational feature. It keeps my audiobooks neatly arranged. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a game-changer. It's like customizing my listening experience. Auto-rewind feature is a lifesaver. I never lose my place!
ThickSKN
My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook! ListenBook Pro's noise reduction ensures that my listening experience remains clear and enjoyable. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to bond over stories.
Zero Corn
The voice actors are incredible – they make the characters come alive. ListenBook's support for various formats ensures that no audiobook is out of reach. ListenBook has elevated my learning experience. I'm retaining more information than ever.
Cross Thread
ListenBook's features are a dream come true for anyone who loves to learn on the go. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a thoughtful gesture that ListenBook makes seamless. Downloading over WiFi is super efficient. Saves a lot of time.
Snow Hound
ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats ensures that I can access my content without any limitations. This app has transformed my daily routines into immersive storytelling experiences. Binaural audio processing is a godsend. My ears don't fatigue even during extended listening.
Eerie Mizzen
Thanks to ListenBook's binaural audio processing, my extended listening sessions are fatigue-free. I can't get enough of this app's easy navigation and quick access to chapters and playback controls. The intuitive chapter navigation and quick access to controls make my audiobook experience seamless. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks. Very convenient.
Pinball Esq
The chapters feature on ListenBook enhances my audiobook exploration – it's like flipping through pages. Looping playback is a brilliant study tool. Thanks to ListenBook, my learning has improved! CUE playlist support is a fantastic organizational feature. It keeps my audiobooks neatly arranged.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience