What is a Middle School?

1. What is a Middle School? January 11, 2012

2. Association of Middle Level Education • “..one that is specifically structured to meet the developmental needs of young adolescents ages 10 to 15” (McEwin, Dickinson, & Jenkins, 1996, in Powell, 2005, p. 3).

3. Alexander & McEwin (1989) • Featuring the following: • An interdisciplinary organization with a flexible day • An adequate guidance program including a teacher advisory plan • A full scale exploratory program • Curricular provision for personal development, continued learning skills, and basic knowledge • Varied and effective instructional methods • Continued orientation and articulation for students, parents, and teachers

4. Rationale for Middle Schools • The Association of Middle Level Education is dedicated to improving the educational experiences of young adolescents by providing vision, knowledge, and resources to all who serve them in order to develop healthy, productive, and ethical citizens. www.amle.org

5. A comparison of middle schools and junior high schools Middle Schools Junior High Schools Subject-centered Emphasis on cognitive development Teachers are organized in departments Six to eight class periods per day Few exploratories Study hall or homeroom Departments are in different parts of the building • Student-oriented • Emphasis on both cognitive and affective development • Interdisciplinary teams • Experiential approaches • Block and flexible scheduling • Exploratory, academic and nonacademic • Advisor/advisee • Classrooms in close proximity

6. For some… • Middle school offers the “last best chance to avoid a diminished future” (Turning Points, 1989, p. 7).

7. The State Department Specifies the following • State Middle School Program Standards • Standard 1: middle school teachers understand the major concepts, theories, and research related to young adolescent development, and they provide opportunities that support student development and learning. • Standard 2: Middle level teachers understand major concepts, principles, theories and research underlying the philosophical foundations of the developmentally responsive middle level programs and schools, and they work successfully within these organizational components. • Standard 3: Middle level teachers understand major concepts, principles, theories, standards, and research related to middle grades curriculum and use this knowledge in their practice.

8. The State Department Specifies the following • Standard 4: Middle level teachers understand the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to working collaboratively with family and community members, and they use that knowledge to maximize the learning of young adolescents. • Standard 5: Middle level teachers understand and use the central concepts, tools of inquiry, standards, and structures of content in their teaching field(s) and create meaningful learning experiences that develop young adolescents' competence in subject matter and skills. • Standard 6: Middle level teachers understand, value, and integrate literacy skills (i.e., reading, writing, speaking and listening) into all content areas.

9. The State Department Specifies the following • Standard 7: Middle level teachers understand and use the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to effective instruction, and they employ a variety of strategies for a developmentally appropriate climate to meet the varying abilities and learning styles of all young adolescents. • Standard 8: Middle level teachers understand and use formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate learning and teaching to ensure the continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of young adolescents. • Standard 9: Middle level teaches understand the complexity of teaching young adolescents, and they engage in practices and behaviors that develop their competence as professionals.

10. Standard 1: • middle school teachers understand the major concepts, theories, and research related to young adolescent development, and they provide opportunities that support student development and learning.

11. Young Adolescents • Social • Emotional • Physical • Intellectual • Moral • http://eduweb.unca.edu/nancys_sandbox/