Within this week’s reading, there was a lot that stood out within This We Believe. One thing that I appreciated was how the introduction of the book stated that it is quite difficult to find a curriculum or unit that fits all middle schoolers needs. This is because each middle school student, between the ages of 10-15 experience such dramatic changes within their bodies. I think this is important to state for future middle school teachers; I don’t think that it is stated enough. The textbook also talked about how important it is to teach students the love of learning, not just in finding the answers (4). I think that all teachers can get stuck in trying to get students to learn how to test to get the correct answers rather than truly loving learning. This makes me think that it is difficult for students to learn when they are already dealing with a higher demand of independence and responsibility, as well as their own personal changes. There was a particular passage in the text on page 6 that stood out. This passage talked about how it is important for middle schoolers to express their ideas and opinions about the world. This reminded me of my second placement at Independence Junior High. The 7th graders that I was with were reading the book Hidden Figures. I remember the teacher having some prompting questions and discussion ideas, but I also saw a few of the students engaging in the discussion. Students started to talk about segregation and gender roles and how that affected society back then. I thought that was a good example in demonstrating that students in middle school begin to experience and develop their own ideas, opinions, and questions without their parents.
Within the text, there were also some goals that were mentioned. One being, “Assume responsibility for his or her own actions and be cognizant of and ready to accept obligations for the welfare of others” ( AMLE 12). This particular goal reminded me of a situation I observed at one of my field experiences. The 8th graders recently wrote their own paper (unfortunately I can’t remember what type) and turned them in. My cooperating teacher noticed that one of the papers her student wrote was very similar to a written one already. The student plagiarized and had to be talked to. The teacher asked the student if he did this and the student embarrassingly said that he did copy the paper. The teacher said she was disappointed in him, but also told him that she knew he could do better than that. She allowed the student to talk to his parents first about the situation. This was a time in which the student recognized his own mistake and the consequences of his action: he would receive a bad grade and deal with the consequences his parents decided for him. Although the student did something wrong, the student also learned this goal the hard way.
This week, there was also an article that was assigned: Middle School - The Emergence of Middle Schools, Growth and Maturation of the Middle School Movement. This article mainly talked about the upbringing of junior high schools. Initially, I was quite shocked to read about how many variables needed to be considered. I never knew that there was this whole middle school movement as the article was talking about. I never knew there were so many obstacles and things to figure out before coming to a conclusion about the middle grades level. I never knew that some middle schools went until 9th grade, which apparently, was a large debate. The article went on to talk about the debate about which grade levels should be considered the “proper” middle school. But eventually, that debate died out as to whether junior high schools or middle schools were reaching the needs of their young students. The two sides eventually ended up fighting the same thing as to how they can meet the needs of their students. One moment within the article really stood out. It was the statement that read, “Unfortunately, high performing middle schools are still rare.” I thought this was very interesting to read about. When I was in middle school, despite the crazy drama and changes, I didn’t feel as if my school was undeserving me. However, at the same time, I also went to a private school. So I wonder if there is a major difference, which I assume there is. I was also struck at the term “semi-departmentalization” in the article. The term basically means that teachers teach more than one class to a few of the same students. This term means that students can actually have the sense that their teachers care about them and their learning, as well as how they are doing as individuals. This makes me think of my very first placement in a middle school. I remember the students, from varying grades, that said hi to my cooperating teacher. This makes me believe that the standard that semi-departmentalization plays in middle school is a big one and it does make a larger impact on students. The article also talked about the lack of teacher knowledge in the middle grades areas. Most teachers study more specifically elementary or high school education; there is a lack of middle school conversations and classes aimed at those areas. I feel like this really sticks out because it is true. I am specifically a Middle Grades major and I have found that there is a definite lack of support for my major. I love Trinity and what I have learned. I am definitely not saying that it is specifically Trinity’s fault for this, but there is quite a lack of classes and other students that have a passion for teaching middle school. I wonder if the “hate” of teaching middle schoolers is because everyone thinks about their time in middle school. Well, of course, middle school wasn’t always the best time for most. But, as a teacher in middle school, they can be the change for students who hate it! Being a teacher in a middle school is not the same as the time students were in middle school. So, I agree with the article when it states that there is a lack of knowledge in the middle school education area. There does need to be a change! Overall, I thought that this article was very informative and gave the readers a good understanding of the importance middle school teachers can have on students.
Sam,
ReplyDeleteI wanted to comment on a few things you said about the article from the reading this week. Specifically, “The article also talked about the lack of teacher knowledge in the middle grades areas. Most teachers study more specifically elementary or high school education; there is a lack of middle school conversations and classes aimed at those areas. I feel like this really sticks out because it is true. I am specifically a Middle Grades major and I have found that there is a definite lack of support for my major.”
Now I have no intention of teaching in the middle grades. I am much more drawn to the secondary level because I believe I can be more effective teaching there. Having a degree in Accounting and experience in different companies gives me more confidence and a greater feeling of preparedness than I would feel in the middle grades. That coupled with the higher level of maturity of the students just makes it feel like a much better fit. I can also see teachers having similar sentiment about the elementary level, whereas the middle grades is kind of a weird mix of the two, at least from my experience. I remember going through a transition of few teachers covering multiple subjects into an experience very similar to high school with a different teacher each period. So you don’t get strong bond of being their only teacher like the lower grades or the subject matter specialization of the upper grades.
Yet I am still in a teaching in the middle grades course, right? I had actually questioned some of the staff at Trinity about this courses inclusion in my licensure requirements and couldn’t get any kind of substantive answer. Being told, “it’s on the list” made me feel like It didn’t really serve a purpose. Especially since I don’t believe Illinois currently has any programs for business in the middle grades. Now knowing that the program lacks truly dedicated support and is instead populated by elementary and secondary trained teachers makes this course feel more appropriate. At a minimum I will have been exposed to the needs specific to students in this range and introduced to the strategies I will need to meet them.
Without having much experience in this arena I’d also have to think that the absence of support you spoke of could be a strong reason for a lack of high performing middle schools. It seems like this should be an area of strong support with all of the changes the students are going through. I mean if this group of educators is populated by individuals ill equipped to handle their students need how far back will those students fall?
Hello and peace to all,
DeleteHello Sam, I enjoyed your blog, and the comments you made to others in other places too. I particularly liked a couple of the quotations that you held up in your blog from our readings.
The first one was when you talked about the need to cultivate a love of learning for students. I picked that up in our readings (and from experience) too, and I think it’s very important. So I just want to say I completely agree with you, that it’s so important to help kids like/love learning, and school! And to that point, I think it’s important for us teachers to have a welcoming environment. And that we have on our radar those kids who might not be so popular to help them feel important and accepted so that they enjoy school… These are the kids who we have to worry about… Although, we have to care about all students not just the ones who are struggling…. But we need to have a special awareness of these kids.
And I also love this quote that you hold up from our reading as well that says, “Assume responsibility for his or her own actions and be cognizant of and ready to accept obligations for the welfare of others” ( AMLE 12).
This is just one sentence, but it says a lot!! It talks about developing in students a sense of personal responsibility for their own actions, and I think this also means getting them out of a “I’m always the victim” mentality were “I don’t have any control over my own destiny” attitude that some fall into.
My response continued...it only allowed so may words, so i thought i would just continue with a 2cd post....
DeleteBut in addition to this, I also like how the sentence talks about being conscious of those around us, and how we affect others. And by the way, this being conscience of others, does not necessarily mean only being in tune with the bigger issues. I think it also has relevance in our immediate circumstances too!
If I am somebody who is very popular and has a lot of friends, I should make it a point to look out for those who might be a little bit more lonely. I think we have a very “me” centered society in many ways. Sure, this generation will go out and protest, but when they come back to their immediate situations, I sometimes feel like there is still a self-centeredness to people. And by the way, this “me” centeredness is not unique to today’s current students, this something we all have to deal with. And I certainly am not exempt of sometimes being selfish (of which, as I grow, and mature, I’m working to be less and less so).
When I sub teach at District 230 high school(s) in the homeroom we have the announcements. And every homeroom class is a little different. Some of the classes I sub for, the students listen attentively, and another classes they just go on talking and talking during the announcements. I think it has a lot to do with what the homeroom teacher expects, and how they run home room.
But when I sub, and the announcements go off, and people are still talking, I will get their attention ask them to please be quiet and please pay attention… Sometimes, I have to say this a few different times. And then after the announcements are given I will get the classes attention for a few minutes and explain that the reason I asked the kids to pay attention for the five minutes is because not only might they hear something that’s important for them, I explain that there may be somebody who is just looking for something to do, and it might be important for their sake.
So, I put on the radar that there’s other people in the room besides them to consider. I will even say something like, when I was your age, I would often be talking during these announcements too, but as I got older, I started to see that I was being a little selfish…. And then I might even follow that up with saying and I’m working on being even more aware of others even today at my age (which I tell them is a hair over 21..for those who believe this…extra points! Anyway, after I say something like this, I let him go back to what they were doing. I say thank you for giving me a moment to explain why I think it’s important to hear the announcements. So hopefully some of this will stick with them down the line because it was explicitly stated in a nice way. I think sometimes people aren’t aware that they are being “me” centered, and so it doesn’t hurt to once in a while remind them that there’s others in life, and in the room, and themselves to consider once in a while. By the way, it helps remind oneself of this principle as well...it has me!
So anyway, all this goes to the great point that you made about how important it is for us to be not only self-actualizing and to take responsibilities for own actions, but also to be aware that others are around us as well. And it goes to the great point of how we as teachers can help kids see and understand this.
3rd and last continuation.... ( I will not be so long in future responses)
DeleteAnd finally, regarding the middle school teaching; I have come across a lot of students at Trinity who seem to love the middle school kids more than Secondary Ed. I guess it’s a preference. As I mentioned in my introduction, my main licenses is for Secondary Ed in English, but I am getting an endorsement in the Middle Schools. I love and care for both age groups, and think both have some very important learning that needs to be done.
And finally finally, I have often thought that as part of the curriculum, in each grade, there needs to be a class dedicated to social emotional development. What I mean is every grade has a math class, english class, history class, science class, music class, etc. etc.(I could go out the math class…LOL), but I think we need to have a social emotional class too, that is just as important. In this class kids will learn for 45 minutes every day just like they do the others social skills. They will learn things like taking responsibility, looking out for others, how to take criticism and not fall apart, how to listen in a conversation, how to be polite and use words like thank you and please, how to make eye contact in a conversation, how to look out for those who seem to be lonely, how to be socially aware, how to allow for other points of view, etc. etc.).
So these are the types of things that I would like to see implemented in school curriculum. And I think we should have a class like this from K to 12…. And make it a priority just as we do Art, history, science, and yes, even math, etc.
Anyway peace Sam… Thanks for your post and good thoughts and for conjuring up in me some reflections in response to your great reflections.
Peace all
Sam,
ReplyDeleteOne thing from your post that I really related to was your experience in your placement about a student owning up to plagiarizing. I had an experience similar to this at my last placement, but it didn't go as well. A student had copied another student's Spanish homework and both had to spend time in the after school homework program to redo the assignment on their own. The student who let the other copy admitted to letting him cheat and accepted his punishment of staying afterwards and doing it over again. The other, the copier, denied over and over, even after the other admitted to it. He was extremely upset at the punishment that he received for copying. He couldn't understand why he had to stay afterwards!
This stark difference really shows the importance of that goal and why that is a big goal for students to understand while they are in middle school. Understanding the consequences for our actions, whether good or bad, is important for every student as they approach an age of independence and responsibility.
Also in a different experience that you've had, I went to a K-8 elementary school. I never go the "middle school experience". I went from teachers handling everything to total independence in high school. This was a difficult transition to make. I see the importance of middle schools as I have had a couple placements in them now. It gives students a time to transition between elementary and high school. I agree with how you felt about your middle school experience. I didn't feel as though my teachers were underserving me, but looking back, there were ways that they could've supported students more in the changes that we were facing and help prepare us for changes that were coming in the near future.
Overall, I really liked reading your post and all your thoughts about the reading. I look forward to reading your posts in the future!