Exploring the Middle School Philosophy

1. Exploring the Middle School Philosophy A layered approach to meeting the developmental needs of middle level learners Deb White KSP 607 - Fall 2008

2. Components of the Middle School Philosophy All members of the school community are committed to a coherent, shared vision.

3. Components of the Middle School Philosophy School Culture is how we create a learning environment that supports the academic performance, personal development, and social growth of middle level students.

4. Components of the Middle School Philosophy School Practices are what we do.

5. Components of the Middle School Philosophy The Student’s Developmental Needs are central!

6. Student Development is Complex • Actors: • Student • Other Students • Teachers • (Advisors) • Families • Administrators • Other School Staff • and Specialists • Local Community • Global Community Interactions among these contribute to the development of each student as a learner and person. Individual Characteristics Ecological Factors

7. Components of the Middle School Philosophy The Student’s Developmental Needs are central!

8. Middle School Philosophy: Developmental needs of the learner Physical Cognitive Social and Emotional

9. Physical Development • Rapid, intense, and sometimes painful growth spurts • Physical features develop at uneven rates • Hormonal changes; secondary sex characteristics • Awkward; balance and coordination are affected • Frequently hungry and thirsty • Often energetic

10. Physical Development Suggestions for Middle Schools • Regular physical activity (non-competitive) • Good nutrition and hydration are essential. • Opportunities to learn about physical changes, • including sex education • Environment in which respect for differences is • reinforced; no tolerance for harassment • Knowledgeable, understanding adults

11. Cognitive Development • Increasing capacity for abstract and complex thought • Problem-solving and reasoning skills are developing • Growing ability to reflect upon one’s thought • processes (metacognition) and actions

12. Cognitive Development Suggestions for Middle Schools Middle school students will benefit when their school or teacher: • implements an interesting, integrative, challenging , and exploratory • curriculum that is relevant to students’ lives. • provides numerous opportunities and support for students to: • Stretch themselves cognitively with unfamiliar ideas or tasks. • Transition from mastering concrete information to exploring • abstract concepts. • Practice new organizational, processing, and communication skills. • Reflect upon their thoughts and work; use reflections and feedback • to revise and improve products.

13. Social and Emotional Development • Emerging awareness of others • Heightened sense of fairness • Social consciousness • Need to explore personal identities • Sudden, intense emotions

14. Social and Emotional Development Suggestions for Middle Schools An effective middle school will: • Encourage students to explore new identity • roles in healthy ways. • Facilitate increased self-knowledge and resilience • characteristics. • Help students learn how to evaluate behavioral options • and anticipate consequences before making decisions. • Reinforce and model respect, empathy, and compassion • toward others. • Teach students how to understand and effectively cope • with their emotions.

15. Middle School Philosophy: School Practices School Practices are what we do.

16. School Practices • Active learning – Students are personally • involved and motivated to seek out challenges. • Multiple learning and teaching approaches • that engage all students in a variety of ways. • Assessment and evaluation are integrated with • planning and instruction • Guidance and support through an advisory • system and community partnerships • Organizational structure – Small, stable • learning communities and/or advisory groups

17. School Practices • Not an à la carte menu! • Must be used consciously. • Must be comprehensively integrated.

18. Middle School Philosophy: School Culture School Culture refers to prevalent values, attitudes, and expectations.

19. School Culture • High expectations for students and educators – effort, behavior, products, • individual growth, and collective progress • Knowledgeable educators – trained, enthusiastic, energetic, committed • A safe environment • Health, wellness, and safety • Courageous, collaborative leadership • Shared vision focused on • fostering the growth • of students as • learners and people

20. The Unifying Element of the Middle School Philosophy All members of the school community are committed to a coherent, shared vision. How do we define our learning community to guide school culture and practices in order to meet the needs of middle grade students?

21. What’s your role? • Students: active participants in their own education • Advisor/teacher: adult advocate for individual students; prepared and creative collaborator • Parents: active participants in the learning community; support the school’s vision at home • Administrators: collaborative planning time and resources for teachers; time and support for advisory group activities • Staff and Resource Professionals: team with teachers/advisors to apply their expertise

22. Middle School Philosophy - Summary • Developmental Needs of the Student • and Recommendations: • Physical • Cognitive • Social and Emotional • School Practices • School Culture • Coherent, Shared Vision • Your role(s)