047 | Communicating to Middle Schoolers

In this episode, Chris and Jennifer are joined by Ashley Bohinc, the author of a new book, Communicating with Middle Schoolers. Together, they dive into the unique challenges and proven strategies for effectively connecting with students during this critical stage of development, especially in a ministry setting. This conversation offers practical advice on how to build meaningful relationships with middle schoolers, a group navigating one of the most significant transitions in their lives. A must-listen for anyone looking to deepen their understanding and improve their communication with this pivotal age group.

Links Shared During Show:

Ashley Bohinc -  https://ashleybohinc.com

Takeaways

• Middle schoolers often feel forgotten in ministry.
• Breaking down concepts is crucial for understanding.
• Concrete language helps middle schoolers grasp abstract ideas.
• Categorizing questions can lead to better engagement.
• Unstacking instructions can prevent chaos in group settings.
• Middle schoolers think literally and need clear guidance.
• Engagement issues may be misinterpreted as behavior problems.
• Teaching should focus on digestible pieces of information.
• Open-ended questions encourage more thoughtful responses.
• Teaching mixed age groups requires intentionality and adaptability.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Youth Ministry Podcast

03:00 The Importance of Middle School Ministry

06:04 Breaking Down Concepts for Middle Schoolers

08:59 Using Concrete Language in Communication

12:01 Categorizing Questions for Better Engagement

14:54 Unstacking Instructions for Clarity

18:10 The Challenge of Teaching Mixed Age Groups

21:05 Final Thoughts and Resources

The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers | There are a lot of great youth ministry podcasts out there, but not many focus only on volunteers. The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers is all about providing great content to help volunteers who work with teenagers. Each episode is short and to the point on topics about how to best impact teenagers with the gospel. Each episode will be hosted by several youth ministry vets that have been working with teenagers for over 30 years. If you love working with teenagers, you're going to love this podcast!

You can reach Chris & the team at studentministrynetwork.com

We would LOVE to hear from you! Email us at YouthMinistryPodcast@GaBaptist.org to share show ideas or give us feedback.