The Middle Level Student

1. The Middle Level Student A look at adolescence ILAS 301 Spring 2014

2. Question #1 –What is a middle level student? • A thinking prompt: • Record THREE descriptors of yourself in middle school • Young adolescent, 10-15 years old • Some research defines “adolescence” as the time between 10 and 25 years • A student experiencing rapid and significant developmental changes physically, intellectually, emotionally/psychologically, morally/ethically, and socially

3. Question #2 - What Physical Changes are happening? • “In order to know whether a human being is young or old, offer it food of different kinds at short intervals.  If young, it will eat anything at any hour of the day or night.”   ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~ • “Adolescence is just one big walking pimple.” ~ Carol Burnett ~

4. A middle level student’s physical changes…. • More physical development occurs during young adolescence than any other time, except for the first two years of life • Rapid increases in height, weight, and internal organ size • Bones grow faster than muscles • Coordination issues • Puberty & hormone changes • Limbs grow first, followed by torso

5. Question #3 – What Intellectual Changes are Happening? • “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.  But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.”   ~ Mark Twain ~

6. Intellectual Development • Slowly progresses from logical, concrete thinking to more abstract, reflective thinking

7. A middle level student’s intellectual development…. • Brain size remains about the same but VERY significant changes occur (and continue until mid 20’s) • Executive functions mature but are NOT fully developed • Brain develops back to front – only 80% complete at adolescence • Relatively developed limbic system (emotions) • Frontal lobe (pre-frontal cortex) develops last • Responsible for planning, reasoning, making decisions, attention span, Inhibition of impulses, anticipating consequences

8. Question #4 – What Moral / Ethical Changes are Happening? • “Adolescence is society's permission slip for combining physical maturity with psychological irresponsibility.” ~ Terri Apter ~ • “It's difficult to decide whether growing pains are something teenagers have - or are.” ~ Author Unknown ~

9. A middle level student’s moral / ethical development….. • Strong sense of fairness and idealism • Very aware of how adults treat them as opposed to others • Begin to see issues in shades of gray, rather than just black and white • Many “But why…..” questions • Begin to develop their own personal values but often embrace ideas of key adults in their lives

10. Question #5 – What Emotional / Psychological Changes are Happening? • “Don't laugh at a youth for his affectations; he is only trying on one face after another to find a face of his own.” ~Logan Pearsall Smith • “Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself.” ~John MacNoughton

11. A middle level student’s emotional/psychological changes…. • Beginning to gain own sense of identity and uniqueness • Often self-conscious a • Very sensitive to criticism • Searching for acceptance, both from adults and peers • Have a great need to feel safe and accepted

12. Question #6 – What Social Changes are Happening? • “The young always have the same problem - how to rebel and conform at the same time.  They have now solved this by defying their parents and copying one another.”  ~Quentin Crisp • “If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.” ~General George S. Patton, Jr.

13. A middle level student’s social changes…. • Social maturity occurs SLOWER than physical or intellectual development • Have a very strong need to belong to a group • Approval from peers becomes increasing more important than approval from adults • Test the limits of acceptable social behavior to identify acceptable boundaries

14. Question #7 How do you make learning meaningful for middle level students? What is the best way to connect with a middle level student?

15. Tips to remember as a middle level teacher • Know Your Students’ Needs and Attention Span ~ 7 Item Limit ~ Approximately 10-15 min attention span • Add Emotion to Your Teaching • Scaffolded Your Instructional Strategies to meet your students at their levels (ALL of them!)

16. As a middle level teacher… • You must ALWAYS keep in mind that middle level students: • Are very aware of the flaws of others but are less aware of their own—egocentric • Are looking to interact directly with their surroundings and learn from experience • Are starting to see the world as less “black and white” and are becoming more comfortable with reflective thinking • Are very eager to learn about topics they find interesting and useful but apathetic if they find no interest – “real life” • Are very conscious of their physical appearance and social interactions, need to feel part of a group and are influenced by peer pressure • Need physical activity and movement

17. Components of Exemplary Middle Level Schools • Focus on student-centered instruction rather than subject-centered instruction • Emphasis on teaching the “whole” student  meaningful relationships and learning • Fosters both cognitive & social-emotional development • Varied instructional delivery with high level of interaction between teacher & students • Focuses on creative exploration within and between subject matter—interdisciplinary subjects/units • Curriculum based on ‘real world’ concepts and problem solving strategies • Teachers organized in interdisciplinary teams with common plan times • Flexible scheduling in larger blocks of time when possible • Advisory programs and teacher-guidance programs

18. So…..What do YOU need to do in order to connect with middle school and make learning meaningful? What can I do as a teacher?