Michelle Koenig

Forest Park Middle SchoolFranklin, WI

Koenigm@franklin.k12.wi.usSTRITCH in Subject

DAY 1

• Middle School vs. Junior High• Middle School Philosophy• Characteristics of the Middle

Level Learner

Activity: Name Tent

• Create a name tent so that your name is in the middle of the name tent and in teach corner write or draw something that represents your past, present, future, and something not many people know about you.

Introductions

• Name• List 3 topics you would like to

learn more about in regard to adolescents.

• Why are you enrolled in this class?

• What is your future teaching goal?

Class Schedule

9:00 – 11:30LUNCH

12:30 – 3:003 Credit: 7/13 – 7/15 & 7/20 – 7/22

4:Credit: 7/13 – 7/15 & 7/20 – 7/22 7/16 & 7/23 WORK TIME!

Paperless…

http://teachingms.wikispaces.com/

SYLLABUS!

ASSIGNMENTS1. Handbook for teaching Middle Level

Learners•Title Page•2 – 3 page introduction for the handbook

that makes a case for using specific instructional methodology and curriculum for the middle level learner.

•Graphic Organizer that outlines the characteristics of middle level learners

•Collection of Instructional, Assessment, Management, and/ or Curricular Strategies…

The Collection of Strategies

• Could be handouts, notes, resources from the internet or class members, books, magazines….

• Include the document and a note about how you will use this strategy in the future.

• A minimum of 15 strategies should be included in your handbook.

• DUE: 7/21

2. Middle Level Unit

• Create a unit appropriate for the middle level learner (in a content area or integrate content areas)

• Follow RIO format• Unit should cover 5 – 10 class

periods• Student resources should be

“classroom ready”• DUE 7/21

Rubrics

• Submit a self-completed rubric for the unit and the handbook

Text Talk(s)

• Textbook is provided• Read required text and be

prepared to discuss material with class

4 Credit Option

EdM550: Teaching Middle School

• What are your thoughts on teaching middle school students?

• What was middle school like for you as a child?

Adolescents

• What do young adolescents need?– Make a list of these needs in a

small group.

Needs of Young Adolescents

• Diversity• Self-exploration & self definition• Positive social interactions with

peers & adults • Physical activity• Competence & achievement• Structure & clear limits

HANDOUT: Page 30 & 31 The Middle School Guide

Successful middle school teachers strive to reach these

goals to meet the needs of their students: • Understand and accept behavior

of early adolescents as NORMAL• RESPECT early adolescents as

adults, but remember they are CHILDREN

• ENGAGE and CHALLENGE • TEACH adolescents to be

tolerant & accepting of differences

• Help to prepare them to be PRODUCTIVE adultsIs anyone surprised that there is nothing related to academics

on this list? What does this tell us?

Differences between Middle School & JR

HighMIDDLE SCHOOL• Student centered• Fosters

Collaboration & empowerment of teachers & students

• Focuses on creative exploration & experimentation

• Flexible time & scheduling

JR HIGH SCHOOL• Subject centered• Fosters

competition & empowerment of administration

• Focuses on mastery of concepts & skills separately

• Fixed schedule- usually 50 – 55 minute classes

Middle School VS. JR High

• Varies length of time students are in courses

• Multi-material approach

• Common Planning for Teachers & Teaming- share students

• Teamed-teachers are organized near each other

• Classes are blocked in semesters

• Depends on textbook-oriented instruction

• Teachers work in departments with no common planning

• Classrooms are assigned according to subjects taught

MS VS. JR High• Emphasizes

both affective & cognitive development

• Offers advisor/advisee programs

• Provides high-interest “mini-courses”

• Emphasizes only cognitive development

• Offers study hall

• Provides structured after-school activities

Even MORE differences

• Uses varied delivery systems with high level of interaction among students and teachers

• Organizes athletics around intramural concept

• Uses lecture style a majority of the time with the teacher doing most of the talking

• Organizes athletics around the interscholastic concept

The Reality…

• Most middle schools are not based solely on one philosophy.

• Hybrid schools make decisions based on money, space, staff, community, parents…

• Beware, some hybrid schools only have “Middle School” in their name, not philosophy

Middle Schools Today

• There are three times as many middle schools than JR High schools today

• Middle schools do a better job of meeting the needs of students

• According to Turning Points, 2000:– Study found that middle school

practices were not often aligned with the developmental needs of students.

The following recommendations were

made from the study• Create small learning communities• Teach a core curriculum of common

knowledge• Ensure the success for ALL students• Empower teachers and administrators• Staff schools with experts• Improve academic performance by fostering

heath and fitness• Get families involved in education of their

child• Connect community with the schoolsHow doe these recommendations relate to the needs of middle school

students?

“To change the world, teach a young-

adolescent”After reading about the importance ofmiddle level education answer the

following:• Schools should create a culture that

should include….• Schools should provide young

adolescents with…

NMSA: This We Believe

HANDOUT #1: Page 1 – 6 from This We Believe

HANDOUT #2: Page 7 from This We Believe

Middle School Philosophy

• Student centered• Needs based• Academic success for ALL students• Instructional strategies should be

adapted to meet the needs of ALL learners

• Teachers should have respect and empathy for puberty & treat students as adults

Student Focused Instruction

• Activity based instruction• Empowers students (Example: class

meetings)• Meets the needs of students• Two core-beliefs:

– Beliefs about learners (Teacher belief that all students have the ability to learn and the desire to ensure learning by all)

– Belief about power (Allowing students to have to exercise their power in the classroom and to teach them to use their power responsibility)

Traditional Practices = Failure

• Sorting and ranking learners• Ability grouping• Retention• One-shot grading• Star system & at-risk practices• Punitive discipline• Pull-out programs/traditional

spec ed

Traditional VS Student -Focused

TRADITIONAL• Belief

– Some can learn– Teaching is telling– Failure is

punished

• Roles – Teacher as

worker– Student as

product

STUDENT-FOCUSED

• Belief– ALL can learn– Teaching is

monitoring– Failure is learning

• Roles– Student as worker– Teacher as leader

Traditional VS Student-Focused

• PRACTICES– Learning as

listening– Paper pencil tests– ABCDF grades– On-chance

learning– Ability grouping – Pull-out programs– Retention– Punitive discipline

• PRACTICES– Learning as doing– Performance

assessments– Descriptive

feedback– Mastery learning– Mixed ability

grouping– Class within a class– Intensive

remediation– Behavioral support

Implementing…

Student focused instruction

What are the key ingredients?

Activity: 3-Minute Interview

You will have 3 minutes to interviewsomeone from class.

You will share information about yourpartner with the class at the end of the

interview.

Think of interesting questions to ask!

The Adolescent Brain: WARNING- Under

Construction!• FYI– The brain, not hormones, is the

reason for the inexplicable behavior of adolescents

– Short term memory increases 30% during adolescence

– Activities that adolescents engage in influence the activities that they will spend time doing as adults

– Adolescents are ruled more by emotion than by logic

Teens are navigating a cerebral hurricane

without a compass…• Parents, teachers, & other

adults have much less influence on adolescents

• The adolescent brain is not done growing yet-– Teachers can help by monitoring

books, assign projects with choice, and help design curriculum that every student can see useful

The Bumpy Adolescent Road…

“Kids that are more physically active get better grades and are less depressed-”

Phy Ed Teacher“The hardest thing about my age is

dealing with everything changing so quickly”

7th Grade Student “I wish teachers knew a little more about

how we think. It would help them make assignments and help them understand us.”

8th Grade Student

TEXT TALK• Book 1: Becoming a Middle Level

Teacher: read chapter 3 Emotional and Social Development

• Book 2: The Exemplary Middle School: read chapter 1 The Middle School Student

• Book 3: Coming of Age read chapter 1 Intellectual Development

• Book 4: Secretes of the Teenage Brain read chapter 1 Teen Brain: Under Construction

Text-Talk

Be prepared to share a summary of your

chapter with the class.

What implications might the material covered in your

chapter have oninstruction?

Ticket out the Door!