This We Believe

Summary:

Pages 1-7 walk through the general idea and goals of a successful middle school. Discussing the type of state that young adolescents are in during this stage of developmental process. The book also goes into how society plays a role in both the school and in the children. The first couple of pages seem like they are setting up a mission statement for a middle school. Some of the topics of goals and how the school should be run sounded just like the discussions from class. This was a great follow up to setting up our mini mission statements for our school in class last time.

Pages 9-19. Successful schools for young adolescents are characterized by a culture that includes most importantly effective teachers. This culture must include educators that enjoy it and are prepared, collaborative leadership, a shared vision, high expectations for everyone, a supportive environment, active and engaged learning, an advocate for every student, and family and community partnerships. One that allows students to feel comfortable and voice their concerns, or not be afraid to speak their mind. They need to be enthusiastic about their subject and lesson plans. these are the basics to being a great teacher and one should not go into the profession if they do not feel as if they can fulfill these duties.
Pages 19- 34. Providing "curriculum that is relevant, challenging, integrative, and exploratory" is key in a middle school classroom (This we believe 19). I think that curriculum and it's relation to the students age and interests is going to make or break a classroom and what the student takes away from it. Relevance can range from is the content relevant to what the MLR's are for this class and age group, to is this relevant to the students. Using examples that relate to the music, movies, sports, or hobbies that the students in your class are interested in at that time makes it easier for them to understand and makes them pay attention so much more. Finding lessons and activities that actively engages students and challenges them to think is extremely important with any classroom. In the middle levels its harder to find things, because each student is going through some major changes in their life and can be at a different level as the student sitting next to them. Interactive and exploratory go together in my mind. Students should really get to be able to experience many different ways to learn at this age to be able to figure out how THEY learn best. They should be able to explore on their own in research based activities and really get some hands on experience weither its group work or a field trip. While creating these lessons as a teacher one must keep the times in their mind. Most kids own a computer or use a portable electronic devise on a daily bases. Incorperate the appropriate teachnology and outside resources to be able to make a lesson plan easier for students to understand. Plus, adding these things into ones curriculum adds some variety so that both the teacher and the students don't get bored. The book also goes into assesment and how it should be stated clearly, which I think helps not only the students understand what is wanted, but it also the teacher. The rest of this section just went into a lot of stuff that we've been discussign in class about the Mission statement and how students are at risk for using drugs, tobacco, or having sex at this age.
Pages 35-51. This section really breaks down the roles and responsibilites of all the people involved in a middle school community adn how important each role is. It emphasises how crusial this stage of their life is. This part is something that would be great for a middle school conference day prep.

Motivating Young Adolescents

Meet Me In The Middle: Chapter 2

Abstract:

Chapter 2 makes you look around your room, examine, your lessons, and assignments and try to figure out a way that could make these things more inviting and effective. There are 17 suggestions in total and stories along the side of each suggestion from middle school students. These are GREAT suggestions. Most of these are ones that are one that have been mentioned in the education classes that I have taken, but they go into good depth on how to apply it and give a story of how it worked for a student.

Reflection:

“Getting young adolescents to pay attention and learn is 80 percent of our battle in middle schools” (page 7). I honestly couldn’t have put it better. My favorites were the not obvious ones that you normally don’t hear about: build suspense, use stories, use PQRST to motivate reading, and let students use their bodies. The suggestions along with the stories is effective information that every teacher should read. You can apply these suggestions at every level of schooling, not just in Middle School.

Stoking the Fires Within

Meet Me In The Middle: Chapter 1

Abstract:

Chapter one makes you look at yourself and how you feel that you will be as a teacher. It talks about what good teachers do. It makes you think about if you can handle what your about to take on. It’s a great first chapter to a teaching book. When you listen, use differentiated instruction, and care/ are passionate about your students can lead you to be a good teacher. Attitudes and communication are so important.

Reflection:

“Teachers can instruct by what they are more than by what they say” (page 3). Teachers have to live what they teach or they are not setting a good example for their students. “Good teachers came prepared to enlighten their students” (page 3). I feel that this is something that I am going to strive for in my teaching every day. On page 4 it mentions how teachers should “...admit mistakes and make it safe for students to admit theirs” which I feel is very hard to do, but learning it early is a good thing. “Educational systems are people centered. Survival in this world requires good people skills. Positive attitudes can change the world...” and thats what I hope to do. I feel that I am people centered, a positive attitude, and good people skills.

A design for improving middle grades education

Chapter 2:
Abstract:
Chapter two was full of recommendations. They recommend that you follow by set standards that are set by your state or school district. That the teachers are staffed with people who are knowledgeable about middle school age students. That staff should govern democratically while providing a safe and healthy environment. They also recommend that schools involve the parents and community members to help support and encourage the student learning. They express and emphasis that each teacher should work to ensure gets a full education.

Reflection:
The philosophy presented in Turning Points is meant to include every middle school student by making them effective human beings and informed citizens. This should be the main goal and philosophy of every school. The recommendations are good, but seem like repeats from all our education classes. The diagram 2.1 on page 25 was really good. These suggestions with experience and the eight essentials from chapter one would ensure a successful middle school.

A Decade Later

Kaisha Dunne
Due: January 21st, 2010
Turning Point 2000

Chapter 1
Abstract: The chapter went over the eight Turning Points essentials: create smaller communities, core of common knowledge, organized to ensure success, that teachers and principals need to have a major responsibility and power, staff your school with expert teachers, promote good health, structural change, and it is crucial to get together and synthesize the lessons learned with most current research. Teen drugs and pregnancy are a continuous issue in middle school. As students are having sex younger and younger it becomes a more prominent issue within the middle school classroom. It points out that the less supportive middle schools are correlated with lowered self esteem.

Reflection:
I think that this is a great chapter that every middle school teacher and administrator should read and work on in their own schools. I think that the communities are a great idea. I had communities in the middle school that I went to and it went so smoothly. Portland High and Mt. Abrham also use something similar to communities where they have a set homeroom for all four years. Which isn’t exactly the same, but it makes the transition from community style school smoother.

Oh hey

Blog One