Would I Want to Teach

1. Would I Want to Teach Middle Schoolers? Presented by: Vicki D. Linkous, Ed.D. Retired – Associate Professor - RU

2. Only in a Middle School We’re late again It’s in my locker It’s so boring

3. Thinking it Through • What are the students like? • What makes a good middle school? • What makes a good middle school teacher? • Is it for me?

4. Intellectual Characteristics • Wide range of cognitive development • Transition from concrete to abstract thinking • Prefer active over passive learning • Often preoccupied with self • Strong need for approval & easily discouraged • Inquisitive about adults – like to challenge them

5. Intellectual – continued • May show disinterest in academic subjects, but curious about the world and themselves • Prefer working with peers during learning activities • Beginning to understanding higher levels of humor

6. Physical Development • Experience rapid, irregular physical growth • Varying maturity rates – girls 1 ½ to 2 years earlier than boys • Experience restlessness and fatigue due to growth • Prefer junk food, but need good nutrition • Concerned about bodily changes – are they normal?

7. Moral Development • Are typically idealistic, want the world to be a better place • Often shows compassion for the “underdog” • Can be quick to see flaws in others, but slow to see their own faults • Moving from “what’s in it for me” to considering rights and feelings of others.

8. Moral Development - continued • Rely on parents and significant adults when facing major decisions • Developing own personal values – tend to be those consistent with those of their parents (families) • Need adult role models who will listen to them and affirm their moral consciousness and actions

9. Emotional/Psychological Development • Concerned about peer acceptance • Tend to be self-conscious, may lack self-esteem • Believe their personal problems/feelings are unique • May experience mood swings • Exhibit intense concern about physical growth and maturity

10. Social Development • Strong need to belong to group – peer approval • Like fads, especially those shunned by adults • Often over react to teasing, ridicule or rejection • May appear immature because social skills may be behind mental and physical maturity

11. Social Development - continued • Communication frenzy – telephone – notes • Want to make their own decisions • Big question: Who am I?

12. What Makes a GOOD Middle School?

13. Middle Schools – Grades 6 - 8 or 5 - 8 • Interdisciplinary teams of teachers • Common planning time for teams of teachers • Students assigned to same homeroom or advisory for all of middle school experience* • Exploratory courses or mini-courses • Flexible scheduling*

14. Middle Schools - continued • Cooperative learning as an instructional strategy • Parental and community involvement • Parents as volunteers • Heterogeneous grouping of students • Strong fine arts program

15. What Makes a Good (Exemplary) Middle School Teacher? • Likes this age group and wants to teach them. • Knows what the students are like developmentally. • Has a sense of humor and can laugh at self. • Has a passion for content and learning. • Enjoys using a variety of instructional strategies.

16. Good Middle School Teacher - continued • Understands and uses good assessment practices. • Enjoys working within a team. • Has teacher presence and “withitness.” • Knows how to be fair; can admit being wrong.

17. Is It For Me? • Sources: http://etsd.org/ems/endorsement/characteristics.htm • George, Paul & Alexander, William, (1993). The exemplary middle school. Fort Worth; Harcourt Brace.