Hands-on challenges gave Rye Middle School sixth graders an opportunity to learn more about how they organize their work, manage their time, maintain their attention and make thoughtful decisions during the Building Bridges program on Oct. 22.
Throughout the 90-minute program, students rotated through interactive stations focused on four areas of executive functioning: organization, time management, distraction and attention and wise decision making. Each activity encouraged students to consider the strategies they use in their own lives while developing a greater understanding of areas they may find challenging.
Building Bridges is an annual program for students in grades 6-8, with a different theme tailored to each grade level. For sixth graders, the program comes at an important transition as students take on greater independence and, for the first time, manage work and responsibilities across multiple teachers.
“Most students need some help in trying out different strategies that may work for them,” sixth grade counselor Dina Farewell said. “Our goal with Building Bridges is to offer different ways of trying things, to see what resonates for each student and help one another through it.”
Following the stations, students came together for a Four Corners activity and gallery walk that provided additional opportunities to reflect on what they had learned.
Beyond helping students identify their own strengths and challenges, Building Bridges encouraged them to consider how executive functioning skills can differ from person to person. Farewell noted that these skills continue to develop as students grow, making it important for them to explore different approaches and discover the strategies that work best for them. Through the experience, students developed greater awareness of challenges their classmates may face and explored how they can be supportive friends to those whose experiences may be different from their own.
Farewell coordinated and facilitated Building Bridges, with sixth grade core teachers and support staff leading the stations. She emphasized that bringing the experience to students is a team effort across the school.
Through Building Bridges, students put The Rye Commitment into action by building greater self-awareness, strengthening practical skills and developing empathy for others as they continue growing as learners and members of the Rye Middle School community.