Surviving Sixth Grade: What Every Parent Needs to Know (from a Teacher Who Gets It)

Guest: Lauren Davis, 6th Grade Teacher & Mom of Two TeensHost: Peyten WilliamsEpisode Summary:If you’ve got a rising or current 6th grader, this episode is your survival guide.Middle school teacher and mom Lauren Davis knows sixth grade inside and out—from the locker struggles to the lost homework to the friendship drama. In this high-energy, deeply practical conversation, she shares exactly what sixth graders are really like, how their brains and social lives are changing, and what parents can do to support growing independence without taking over.Inside this can’t-miss episode:What actually helps kids take ownership of their schedule and materialsHow to teach communication and self-advocacy in real, doable waysWhen (and how) to talk with your middle schooler after schoolCommon parent traps—and how to avoid themThe one strategy she wishes every parent would try with their 6th graderWith humor, empathy, and classroom-tested insight, Lauren equips parents with both mindset shifts and practical tools to thrive through the middle school years.