•CHARACTERISTICS OF MIDDLE LEVEL LEARNERS-EMOTIONAL & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT•LEARNING STYLE DIFFERENCES•CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT- SUPPORTING

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

DAY 2

Questions, Comments, Concerns…

Activity: The Human Expert

What did you learn yesterday??

What are the two fundamental goals of any adolescent?

Two Fundamental Adolescent Tasks

Determining their identityDeveloping a sense of competence

These two dilemmas are the driving forceof social and emotional adolescent changes.

Developing Identity

Central theme in of adolescence Searching for a unique sense of self, different

from family

Developing Competence

Teachers can provide opportunities to Problem solve Complete tasks Set goals Reach goals

If students do not fulfill their desire for

competence at school, they WILL find it elsewhere.

Characteristics of At-Risk Learners

Academic & achievement problems

InattentiveEasily distractedShort attention spanLow self-esteemLack social skillsNarrow range of

interest

Fear of failureLack structure &

organizationAvoids responsibility

& independence

School Characteristics That Meet Needs of At-Risk Students

Focus is on kidsChallenges the

regularitiesCollaborates with

parentsAvoids reforms that

intensify impedimentsPromotes success

Reduces negative effects of large school size

Values differences in students

Minimizes mistakes and failures

Adopts a “whatever it takes” attitude

Characteristics of a Gifted/Talented Student

Avid readerOutstanding in

academicsWide range of

interestsAnxious to try new

thingsAlert & gives rapid

answersSelf-motivated

Dominate peersHas self-confidenceSensitive to other &

situationsCan solve problems

ingeniouslyCreative thoughts,

ideas & innovationsDesire to excelVerbally expressive

Gifted/Talented Characteristics

Imaginative storiesMature sense of

humorInquisitiveShow relationships

between things that instantly seem unrelated

Tends to lose an awareness of time

Likes to work aloneExhibits expressive

body/facial gesturesEager to share

discoveries

Characteristics of Underachievers

Feel inferiority & like a failure

Feel rejected by family

Take little responsibility for actions

Hostile to authorityResist adult

influences

Negative about school

Appear rebelliousLack academic

motivationPoor study habitsLess popularWithdraw from

classroom challenges

Underachievers…

Poor adjustment &transition actionsLittle interest in

outside hobbies, sports, or other activities

Test-phobicLack academic or

vocational goals

Lower leadership status than peers

What SPECIFIC strategies can we use for…

At-risk studentsGifted and talented studentsUnderachieving students

Traits of Adolescents to Keep in Mind When Planning Lessons

1. They need opportunities to express their creativity.

2. They need opportunities to form positive peer relationships.

3. Provide them with real-life problems.4. They need different situations to explore

and extend knowledge.5. Give them various activities and time to be

themselves.

Traits to Keep in Mind When Lesson Planning

6. They need opportunities to feel success and recognized.

7. They need caring adult role models and advisors who like and respect them.

8. They need consistency & direction.9. They need hands-on cooperative learning

activities.10. They need situations to share thoughts,

feelings, & attitudes.

Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic

Research has shown that students score significantly higher on tests when learning in the way that fits their preferred style.

Easiest way to reach learners is to provide choice and variety

Characteristics of Young Adolescents

HANDOUT: Page 43 – 51 from This We Believe

Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic

Research has shown that students score significantly higher on tests when learning in the way that fits their preferred learning style

Provide students CHOICE and allow them to be CREATIVE

Multiple Intelligences

Logical-MathematicalInterpersonalSpatialMusical-RhythmicIntrapersonalBodily-Kinesthetic Verbal-LinguisticNaturalist

HANDOUT: Multiple Intelligence Inventory

Select a topic/ subject area…

Develop at least one (try for more than 1) activity for each MI- create a graphic organizer on poster paper to display.

You might want to think about incorporating these activities into your unit.

Activity

People SearchMeet MePersonality Bingo

COMPUTER LAB!

Classroom management Transition Motivating students Bullying in the middle school Student-led conferences Portfolios Integrated curriculum James Beane Negotiated

curriculum Reading Strategies Reading in the content area Transition Social and Emotional issues

Also look for resources:Lesson PlansTemplates (calendars,

seating charts, lesson plans)

MS Office Rubistar Jeopardy review gamesWikiGlogster Email 5

websites with a short description to share on our class wiki

TEXT TALK

Book 1: Becoming a Middle Level Leader read pages 20 – 37 Puberty

Book 2: Becoming a Middle Level Leader read chapter 4- An Environment to Support Achievement

Book 3: The Young Adolescent and the MS read chapter 6- Gifted Learners in the Middle Grades

Book 4: Coming of Age read chapter 5 – Emotional Development

Text Talk

Book 5: Essential Questions with Answers read chapters- 7, 9, & 10 Developmentally responsive practices,

Book 6: How to Talk so Students Can Listen read chapter 2- Seven Skills that Invite Kids to Cooperate

TEXT TALK

Summarize your chapter for the class.

How can this information be applied in the classroom?