Middle School Climate

Climate: The Socioemotional mood or spirit created by the person holding the

expectation, often communicated nonverbally.

Issues in Middle School 1980’s reform vs. todayTransition problemsSub optimal learning conditions

DisengagementSocial alienationPhysical conflictParental support declinesPhysical changes

Middle School Climate Study“Fastback Report”Included students, teachers, parentsPurpose of study: to learn opinions regarding

school, students, teachers and then offer suggestions to improve Middle school climate.

Hypothesis: Student success is related to their perception of school climate

19-item survey, rated 3 categories: school, student, teacher

Results & SuggestionsGrades, gender, and ethnicity showed

common characteristicsSuggestions for teachers to help create a

positive climate: Discrepancy of viewsMake learning relevantSupport ExpectationsRecognize Individuality Gender Issues (opposing views)Show Cultural Sensitivity

Self-Fulfilling ProphecyPygmalion effect

Leads to Self-Fulfilling Prophecy (SFP)Handout serves as exampleMany teachers make quick judgments about

studentsChances increase that teachers will treat

students to accommodate their judgments.Teacher has opportunity to change and prevent

negative climate.

ReferencesERIC document : ED426985. Good or Bad, What Teachers

Expect from Students they generally GET! Washington, D.C. 1998.

Gold, Joshua. Middle School Climate. University of Illinois, 1999.

Pipher, Mary. PH.D. Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls. Riverhead Books, New York, 1994.

RAND Corporation. Problems and Promise of the American Middle School. 2004. www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB8025/index1.html

Wills, Judy. Cooperative Learning is a brain turn-on. Middle School Journal, March 2007, Vol. 38, No. 4, pgs 4-13.