Stoltenberg Memorial Middle School

1. Stoltenberg Memorial Middle School

2. Here at Stoltenberg Memorial Middle School we seek to create a community of all types of learners with active and creative minds. We seek to also create a challenging learning environment that encourages  success through developmentally appropriate instruction that facilitates individual differences and learning styles. Our school promotes a safe, orderly, caring, and supportive environment for all students. Each student's self-esteem is fostered by positive relationships with other students and staff. We strive to have our parents, teachers, and community members actively involved on our students' learning and development.

3. Teaming

4. What is the middle school teaming concept? • Students and teachers are divided into teams • Teachers work closely with the students on their team • Teachers teach multiple subjects • Core subjects are taught by the team teachers • Math, language arts, social studies, and science

5. What is the Team Planning Concept? • Utilizes collaborative teaching teams. • Teachers of different subject areas work together to meet the needs of a common group of students. • Teams work together to evaluate, plan, and implement a curriculum for their group of students.

6. Size of Team and Outcomes • Teams can be of different sizes • ~40-60 students = 2 teacher team • ~150-190 students = 6 teacher team • Factors that determine the size of the teams • Needs of the students • Socially and academically • Number of students per grade • Design of the building • Division of teaching responsibilities • Advantages of having smaller teams • Closer teacher-student relationships • Students know each other better • Less scheduling difficulties

7. What Characteristics Make Up an Effective Team? • The focus must be student-centered. • Academic achievement must be attained. • Accountability systems must be in place. • Collaboration and a strong sense of team community must be evident. • Communication with parents.

8. How to Organize a Successful Team • There must be sufficient individual and team planning time for teachers. • Teams should be manageable in terms of numbers of teacher and students. • Teams should have the flexibility to arrange their students’ schedules. • Teams should have their own designated areas in the building. • The teachers who make up the team should be permitted to work together for multiple years.

9. Why is Teaming Beneficial for Students? • Bonding within a group • Students’ needs can be better met • Organizational and time management skills are learned • Interdisciplinary units create motivation • Behavior and attendance issues can be better monitored • Sense of belonging • Rules are consistent

10. Why is Teaming Beneficial to Teachers? • Provides daily meeting times for teachers to: • monitor students’ progress • coordinate assignments, tests, projects • discuss student needs/behaviors • examine accountability • confer with parents • Teachers get to know their students • Field trips and interdisciplinary units can be carried out without missing academic instruction from other teachers.

11. Evidence of the Effectiveness of Team Teaching • The evidence supporting the positive impact of interdisciplinary teaming on middle grades schools and students is growing (Arhar, 1990; Arhar, Johnston, & Markle, 1989; Dickinson & Erb, 1997; Flowers, Mertens, & Mulhall, 2000; Felner, Jackson, Kasak, Mulhall, Brand, & Flowers, 1997; Flowers, Mertens, & Mulhall, 1999; George & Shewey, 1994; Lee & Smith, 1993). • Students and teachers in schools that have implemented teaming and its associated practices with some degree of integrity consistently report more positive and productive learning environments (Arhar 1990, 1997; Dickinson & Erb, 1997; Lee & Smith, 1993).

12. Should 5th Grade Teachers Operate as a Team? • Yes! • The team can help smooth the transition of 5th graders to the middle school. • Student needs can be monitored. • Students can bond with and feel comfortable with a core of teachers

13. Middle School Block Schedule • A group of students have their core classes with the same team of teachers. • The core class periods are usually scheduled one after the other so an academic subject can extend an activity such as a lab into the next class period and borrow time from that core teacher. • The block schedule allows for all grade field trips, full grade instruction, speakers for full grade, etc. with little or no disruption to other teachers .

14. Curriculum Development

15. Exploratory Programs • Agriculture • Tech Ed • Computers • FACE • Foreign Language (Spanish/French) • Business • Green Literacy • Art

16. 7th Grade Sample Schedule

17. 5th Grade Classes • Required: • English/Writing(3) • Math(3) • Science (3) • History(3) • Reading/Spelling(3) • Physical Education • General Music • Art • Computers • Elective: • Chorus on Friday

18. 6th Grade Schedule • Required: • Language Arts (3) • Math(3) • Science (3) • Social Studies(3) • Reading (3) • Physical Education/Health • Art • General Music • Exploratory/Elective: • Band/Chorus • Agriculture • Tech Ed • FACE • Green Literacy • Foreign Language • Computers • Business

19. 7th Grade Classes • Required • Language Arts (3) • Math(3) • Science (3) • Social Studies(3) • Lit and Comp(3) • Physical Education • Exploratory/Elective • Band/Chorus/General Music • Art* • Agriculture • Tech Ed • FACE • Green Literacy • Foreign Language • Computers • Business * Art is required as one of the choices

20. 8th Grade Schedule • Required: • Language Arts (3) • Math(3) • Science (3) • Social Studies(3) • Physical Education • Exploratory: • Band/Chorus/General Music • Agriculture • Tech Ed • Computers • Foreign Language • Business • FACE • Green Literacy • Art* *Art is required as one of the choices

21. Integrated Curriculum • Education that is organize in such a way that it cuts across subject-matter lines • Brings together various aspects of the curriculum into meaningful association to focus upon broad areas of study • It views learning and teaching in a holistic way and reflects the real world, which is interactive • 6th grade ancient world • 7th grade stores

22. Integrated Programs 5th grade – Animal Unit • Science- learning about the animal • Art- making the animal • English- researching the animal and writing a paper on the animal • Math- population graphing

23. Integrated Programs 8th grade- Everything your heart desires • Math- help kids read labels and figure out the amount of calories and such in a meal. • English- Read poems dealing with feeling/emotions. Have them write poems about feelings/emotions • Health/P.E.- Inform them about heart disease. Discuss healthy choices in life, from eating and working out to drugs. • Music- Discuss lyrics in music about feelings, everyone pick a song. • Art- Make a diagram of the heart. • Science/History- Discuss heart transplants.

24. Green Initiatives for SMS • Student & Community Participation • Earth Day Open House, green literacy exploratory program • Staff Participation • In-service and advisory programs • Infrastructure • Compost, solar panels, plaques

25. Advising The organization of a staff member and a small group of students meeting to discuss important issues.

26. Philosophy of Advising • Each student has one staff member they can go to about anything • Staff creates an environment based on: • Warmth • Concern • Openness • Understanding

27. Effective Advising Builds • Social • Promotes communication • Builds peer relationships • Gives students roles and responsibilities • Improves school environment • Emotional • Gives sense of belonging • Builds self esteem

28. Basics • Who • Staff assigned advisory group • When • 5th/6thhave 25 minutes after lunch • 7th/8th have 25 minutes before lunch • Where • Any available classrooms • How • Each grade covers different themes applicable to that age group • 11-12 students drafted by advisor

29. Potential Advising Themes • Bullying • Organization and Study Skills • Think Green! • Team building & Communication • Manners • Self Esteem • Stress Management

30. Transitioning The progression from one phase to the next. More specifically from one grade level to the next.

31. Transitioning Support • Assisting students • Provides opportunities to thrive • Includes Staff, Parents, and Peers • Requires a listening ear

32. Effective Transitioning Builds • Social • Structure • Opportunities to discuss concerns • Friendships • Emotionally • Self confidence • Reduce anxiety

33. Basics • Where • The school to which they will attend • Who • Incoming 5th graders • Out going 8th graders • Parents/Staff/Community are involved to make effective • When • Semester before the transition • Summer • Advising Programing

34. 5th Grade • Student Survey • To be completed 1st February • School orientation • Peer mentors • School tour • Parent meeting • Address survey • Late April

35. 5th Grade Continued • Academic Fair Night • Performances • Extracurricular opportunities available • Address other concerns with panel • Late May • Scavenger Hunt Night • Week before school begins • Icebreakers • Scavenger hunt • Parent information • Changes of a middle school child

36. 8th grade • Survey Quiz • 1st of February • Advisee Assistance • Class schedule • Two weeks prior to scheduling classes

37. 8th grade Continued • Freshman Orientation Night • At high school • Middle school staff attend • Address student concerns and survey • School tour • High School student council members

38. 8th Grade • 8th Grade Field Day • Student organizations from high school talk • Extracurricular groups • Principle pep talk to include VP, Guidance Councilor, and School Nurse • How to get involved/ Importance

39. Transitioning Improvement • Self Study Survey • Completed by staff • Assists in reflection • Improvement in transitioning program

40. Student Activities and In-Service Committee

41. Student Activities • Activities performed by students that fall inside or outside of the normal realm of curriculum of student education. • Gives opportunities to build: • Social skills • Interpersonal skills • Self-esteem and confidence • Teamwork skills

42. Year Long Student Activities • Student Council-All Grades • 5th/6th Grade Student Council • 7th/8th Grade Student Council • Drama Club-All Grades • 7th/8th Fall Musical • 5th/6th Spring Play • Forensics in the Spring • Academic Olympiad-All Grades • Cougar Club (Community Service) –All Grades

43. Fall Student Activities • 7th and 8th Grades Only • Football (Boys) • Volleyball (Girls) • Cross-Country (Both Boys and Girls Combined)

44. Winter Student Activities • 7th and 8th Grades Only • Basketball • Boys: before winter break • Girls: after winter break • Gymnastics • Boys and Girls before winter break • Wrestling • Boys and Girls after winter break

45. Spring Student Activities • 7th and 8th Grades Only • Track and Field • Boys and Girls

46. In-Service for Teachers • An in-service committee is a group of teachers that work together and have the responsibility to professionally develop themselves and ideas • During in-service time teachers: • Investigate ideas • Give input • Learn to problem solve • Learn strategies to better support their students • Build teamwork skills

47. Summer In-Service • Two full days prior to the start of the school year • Required In-Service Activities: • Health and Safety Training • Technology Updates and Training • New School Policies • Motivational/Keynote Speaker • Administrative Address

48. In-Service During the Academic Year • Book Club • Technology workshops • SMART Board training • Compass Learning • Dragon Dictation • Educational Websites • Incorporating the Green Initiative into the school • Decrease paper usage • Monitor utilities • Eco-friendly products • Renewable energy sources

49. Additional In-Service Activities • Diversity Training • Students with Disabilities • Students of diverse cultures and ethnicities • Scheduling • State Testing Preparation and Score Analysis • State Education Conventions

50. Transitioning • Assisting teachers in the process of converting from a junior high school to a middle school format • Resources: • CEYA-Center of Education for the Young Adolescent • On UW-Platteville campus • AMLE-Association of Middle Level Education • Visits to other middle schools for helpful ideas • Academic Research • In-Service for Teachers