 The 16 characteristics delineated in this research based position paper indicate that these characteristics, when present over time, lead to higher levels of student achievement and overall development.
In your reading, focus on the 5 characteristics of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment and the 6 Culture and Community Characteristics. In your writing, share your thoughts. Be sure to relate your comments to what you have seen or not in the classrooms you have visited or worked in.
171 Comments
Amber Paradise
10/13/2014 01:18:50 pm
Within the "Major Goals of Middle Level Education" outlined in this book, one of the expectations that the Association for Middle Level Education has for students is that they," Understand and use the major concepts, skills, and tools of inquiry in the areas of health and physical education..." as well as other topic areas. The reason I highlight the area of health and physical education is because currently I am taking "Health Issues for Elementary Educators," yet on the first day of class my professor stated that he wished he could change the name of the course because he wanted to help us focus on health education beyond an elementary school level, flowing into middle level education. He has showcased the importance of health education in children's lives, and just as this book reiterates, it is an essential topic to be discussed. Adolescence is a time period in a person's life where many changes occur, and if teacher's look at education and more specifically health education from a holistic perspective (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual), taking the whole child into account, they can better provide children with the information and skills they need to be the best students and growing adults that they can be.
Amanda Franco
10/14/2014 12:58:38 am
I like the point you made about health education playing a part in the students' abilities to be the best they can be. In a Health Promotion class I took over the summer, one theme that was addressed a lot was the idea that if kids knew how to take care of themselves and develop those habits earlier on, it would be easier for them to adjust to the other changes going on in their lives and focus better on school. For example, if kids actually knew why breakfast was the most important meal of the day, how it helps their ability to function throughout the day, and were able to find this out at an early enough age to make eating breakfast a priority and a habit, they may be more alert and attentive in class throughout the day.
Tara Caprdja
10/15/2014 10:07:12 am
I think that you make a very valid point about looking at health from a holistic perspective. I think that this could potentially help children/adolescents make better choices with things like sex, drugs and alcohol which the book says can be an issue at this age. It's all about helping them grow, and starting at a young age.
Taylor Barbarino
10/17/2014 08:33:56 am
Amber,
Kyle Savage
10/19/2014 09:17:53 am
Amber this is such a great and relevant post! We really do need to look at how health education is being incorporated into our classes. I am currently enrolled in the "Health Promotion for Children and Adolescents" class and I think it is absolutely amazing. We are learning so many different subtle ways that health education can be incorporated into the mainstream curriculum, and it really needs to be. People are constantly devaluing health and physical education classes, but being informed about these things is just as important as learning about math or science. There are so many different components that compose someone's health: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc. With all of the cognitive and bodily changes that are occurring for students during middle school, it is absolutely essential that we teach these kids how to go about making healthy choices all around.
Michael Blinn
10/26/2014 03:55:01 am
Just like the others who have commented, the importance of health education is worth noting. Looking at health education from a holistic perspective and taking the whole child into account is vital to ensuring the success of that child in the future. One thing that makes it difficult in the middle school setting is that each student may be at different developmental points.
Blessy thomas
10/30/2014 08:29:34 am
When I read this part about the book I felt the same way as you did. I remember as an adolescent dreading going to phys' ed, but now as an adult I understand the importance of it and health education and the necessity of both classes in schools today. Physical education is key because this day in age many kids aren't getting as much physical activity like past generations used to. Kids do not play outside as much and they used to, and while it is ideal for students to move around within their classrooms, it doesn't always happen. Gym class allows these students to move around and schools have come to adapt to allowing different likes of physical education including dance, team sports, etc. Like Michael stated, I too also took the health promotions class this past summer. The class was great because of the teacher, but also because of what we learned and it being relevant to what happens in society today. Your point about health education catering towards a holistic child couldn't be more accurate. I definitely think that if we provide these children with relevant information today it can help protect them from certain harms or help them know what to do in a situation. It also will help them in the future as well.
Amanda Franco
10/14/2014 01:38:04 am
One point in this book that has really caught my attention was brought up on page 7. It states that the family should "keep their end of the communication line open". I believe this is very important because if the family of the student is open with the teachers and the child, there will most likely be a quality support system for the child in all aspects of his or her life. My parents were always involved in my school work and communicated with my teachers up until high school, but by that point I had already developed a good work ethic and trust with my parents and teachers so it didn't matter anymore. If my parents hadn't had the dialogue that they did with my teachers from an early age, though, I don't know that my work ethic would have developed as well as it had. However, how can educators ensure that these lines stay open? If a parent or guardian doesn't want to be involved or doesn't feel that there is time allotted to be involved, how can we keep this communication?
Tara Caprdja
10/15/2014 10:00:15 am
I agree with you Amanda that this line of communication is necessary for a student to find academic and intellectual success. I think that one of the biggest struggles we will face as educators is figuring out just how to bridge that gap between home and school. Each situation is so specific that there can't be a single answer, but hopefully the more we allow ourselves to be available for communication the better!
Samantha Huber
10/15/2014 11:33:55 am
Amanda, I completely agree with you because it is extremely important for families to communicate with their children as well as the people in their child's life. It is very difficult to help a child when the teachers and parents are not able to communicate with each other and work as a team. My mom and dad were also very much apart of everything I have done in school and worked hard to get to know my teachers in order to find out how I was doing in school. This communication provided me the comfort of knowing that I had people that cared about me and wanted me to succeed.
Manjot
10/18/2014 01:37:58 pm
From what I've seen I think the kids that could benefit most from having an open line of communication with their parents and between their parents and the teachers are the ones least likely to have that communication. When you factor in the different environments, say inner-city, this becomes even more challenging because of the various factors. While it would be ideal for all teachers to have an open line of communication, we should also be prepared to do without it. Too many times I see the frustrations of teachers boil over into reprimanding at students or yelling at them. This is the easiest and fastest way to shut off communication with the students, we have to expect they are going to make mistakes. Especially considering many of them are not used to the responsibility and autonomy middle school brings. It sounds cliche, but I think the best way to make sure students do not shut you out is by having a great deal of patience and creating an environment that stresses failure is okay and necessary for growth.
Amanda Franco
10/21/2014 01:02:49 am
I agree that patience is one of the most important aspects of maintaining this trust and communication. My favorite teachers were always the ones that remained calm and took the time to make sure that everyone understood, to at least some extent, the material and made sure everyone was comfortable. It's just so unfortunate that the students who do need communication between parents and teachers the most are the ones who are least likely to get it, as you said.
Blessy Thomas
10/31/2014 12:51:41 am
I think that the open line of communication within a family can make all the difference. Like Garvin wrote in "Learning How to Kiss A Frog", these kids are in a time in their life where the only acceptance they're looking for is from their peers. This is also where they learn about different aspects of life (even if some of it may not be true). However, as parents it's important to make sure the kids understand that they are there willing to talk, but most importantly listen. Having active parents definitely makes a differences especially when it comes to a child's education because it does influence children.
Tara Caprdja
10/15/2014 09:57:55 am
In "This We Believe" there are many similarities to the ideas in "Learning How to Kiss a Frog." One of the main themes as I begin reading is that this time frame is so different than any other in a person's life and as a result, they should be taught accordingly. The book discusses how an important component of becoming a well rounded, successful adult is one's ability to be a lifelong learner. As we've discussed in class and read about previously, it is largely our responsibility as educators to give these children the opportunity to think outside the box - to develop a thirst for learning. Being able to obtain good grades is only a minor accomplishment in terms of the grand scheme of things. When the movement for middle school education began, they put much focus (and continue to do so) on the view point of a child between the ages of 10-15. How many times do we hear kids say things like, "I used to be really good in math until..." and then say a certain age with is somewhat linked to this age group? It's saddens me to think that children are being taught in a way that is not beneficial to them. This then brings me back to our last class where we discussed fixed minded versus growth minded. We have to help/encourage/push even our colleagues to make sure that they themselves are of a growth mind so that we are all role models for the students we encounter. We cannot expect them to be life long learners, and enjoy learning if we are not doing that ourselves. My fathers classic phrase really is nonsense: "Do as I say not as I do!" We cannot teach with that sort of attitude!
Samantha Huber
10/15/2014 11:36:39 am
Tara, I also found many similarities between what is being discussed in this book and "Learning How To Kiss a Frog". It is very important to allow students to come up with questions and discover the answers to these questions on their own. If a teacher is just standing in front of the room giving them the answers, the student is not going to gain any knowledge. Children need to have a desire to learn otherwise what good is teaching them anything.
Michael Blinn
10/26/2014 04:13:45 am
I love this idea of a lifelong learner. When I was a freshman, I took a quiz that tells me what my career should be during freshmen seminar. The number one thing that I had on my list of things I want in my career is lifelong learning. I think that if we can get adolescents to think of learning as more than sitting in a classroom, they will be much more prepared for high school and life in general. Its the growth mindset that you mentioned. This thirst for learning that you mentioned needs to be a thirst for learning in every aspect of life.
Blessy Thomas
10/31/2014 01:17:55 am
While reading the book I also realized the correlation between "learning how to kiss a frog" and "this we believe". The development of an adolescent is key but during this process engaging them in education is just as important. Being a lifelong learner allows them to expand their horizons outside of the classroom and really get experience from what they learn outside. It gets them excited about learning from hands on experience and prepares them for the "real world".
Samantha Huber
10/15/2014 11:30:47 am
So far this book has brought up some really interesting points when dealing with young adolescents. I was really interested in what Dr. William Alexander had to say about stimulating a love of learning in children and how "learning of right answers is not enough." I could not agree with this statement more because in the schools that I have observed at, I came across so many students that were just concerned about getting a correct answer. Some students would look at the people around them to find answers and others would just copy down the correct answer without understanding how they got to the correct answer. It is extremely important to teach students that answers are not whats important, its matters how you got to the answer because this will ensure that they understood the concept. I also liked that there were many similarities to what we read about in "How to Kiss a Frog". Adolescents at the middle school level are just starting to go through puberty, and this is when peer pressure is clearly present. It's important for these adolescents to have guidance through this time to help with the changes they are going through. I liked what they said about "keep communication lines open" because students need to know they can come to you with their problems even if they are afraid to because of what others think. In one of my observations in a sixth grade class, my mentor teacher allowed the students to keep a journal and write about anything they wanted. She kept the journals in a locked closet, and ensured the students that she was the only one that would read them. I really liked this because it allowed the students to share what they are feeling in a way that is confidential if they are uncomfortable with speaking up. Its an informal way of keeping that communication open with students, and allowing them to share any issues they are having with the teacher.
Tara Caprdja
10/20/2014 01:41:04 am
I agree with you Samantha that an important part of this book is recognizing that learning or achieving the correct answer is not enough. I think that many people (especially many parents) see this as the only goal. Good grades = good college = good job = happy life, right?? This isn't always the case. I somewhat touch upon these thoughts with my own post for this week too. This ties into "Learning How to Kiss a Frog" and viewing adolescents primarily as achievers.
Christina Lucci
10/20/2014 04:54:27 pm
I loved the part about getting the correct answer as well. I went into a bit more detail in my post but especially because I'm in the math field, I think that simply getting to the right answer without knowing how or why you got there isn't the goal. This is something that teachers should definitely take into consideration because if students are just looking for a good grade, they'd do just about anything to get it, even if it means putting down the right answer without actually learning anything.
Jack Nielsen
10/26/2014 05:23:17 am
Samantha, I liked how you related to reading to "How to Kiss a Frog". You are absolutely right that peer pressure is greater at this age than ever before for the students, and that can really make an impact on their lives. And like you said, we should keep communication lines open, and be there to guide the students through tough times. To add on this idea, I think we should be very friendly with the students, and communicate to them that we are always there to talk. I think having an approachable teacher makes all the difference for middle school students.
Taylor Barbarino
10/17/2014 08:54:38 am
I just started getting into this book and it starts off just like "Learning How to Kiss a Frog." It mentions many of the same interesting facts and ideas about middle school level children. I agree with Dr. William Alexander's point of view. He believes that "middle school" should be a place that addresses both academic and personal development of every adolescent. Teachers should not just focus on teaching these students.It is important to build caring relationships with these young adolescents and guide them in the right direction. Page 7 quotes, "caregivers and educators must remember that young adolescents hunger for informal interactions and conversations with caring adults." Adolescents just want an adult in their lives that they can rely on and be able to talk to.
Kyle Savage
10/19/2014 09:04:13 am
Taylor I couldn't agree with this post any more! I get so frustrated when I see teachers who are solely focused on teaching their students academics and running their classroom in a very formal manner. That is such a disservice for students School is not supposed to be this strict, military boot-camp where students come in, sit down, and work for 7 hours straight. School is also supposed to be a social and emotional experience as well. As teachers, there are a lot of different things about life that we can teach our students, and surprisingly, there are many things that they can teach us as well. We need to provide and allow room for these conversations to take place. The book is completely right when it says that many middle school students have this deep craving for informal conversations with adults; these conversations are absolutely essential to them. What if a student comes from a bad home life and isn't getting this positive adult attention from their families? As teachers, we could be the only people that can provide them with nurturing and compassion. We need to make sure that we are not robots when we teach these kids and that we are actually being attentive to their needs, ALL of their needs.
Christina Lucci
10/20/2014 04:57:16 pm
I agree with you 1000%. I find that with some of the teachers that I observe, they focus solely on the academic portion of education and don't pay much attention to building relationships with their students. One teacher talks down to her students when they get a little chatty and makes examples of them constantly, which creates hostile relationships. I think it's definitely important to figure out what resonates with your students so that you'll be able to relate to them and gain their respect that way.
Manjot
10/18/2014 02:19:50 pm
Got a bit of head start on this book due to my lack of blogging on Kissing a Frog. The first chapter actually does a great job of summarizing Learning How to Kiss a Frog by briefly discussing the topics Frog talked about at greater length. The thing that stuck out most to me in the first chapter was that we have to avoid dubious assumptions which lump together large number of students, such as "All 7th regular kids are..." "All the collab kids are..." I hear generalizations like this everyday. As this chapter discusses and all of How to Kiss a Frog focuses on is how different and unique each child is, they each have different strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes and modalities. We have to try model our curriculum to accommodate as much as possible for the students. Without doing so we will see kids do poorly and inevitably find ourselves falling into the trap of living by those generalizations. Finally, I think an accommodation all teachers should focus on is asking concrete questions that lead to higher level thinking. I know I have personally been so excited to teach content that I will jump to quickly to a higher level thinking question in hopes of having a lively debate and instead I will just have blank faces stare back at me. This is an adjustment I've had to make over the last week through experience, but it is so crucial as a middle school teacher. We first have to take the time to teach kids how to think at a higher level and make sure they are able to do so before we can start teaching content at a higher level. Accommodation is the name of the game and with the right help, every student can succeed.
Amber Paradise
10/21/2014 11:44:17 am
Manjot it is so interesting that you speak about higher level thinking questions, and that I just so happened to look at your post first this week. I am not student teaching until the fall, but today I was able to teach my first full lesson (an hour and a half) in the classroom I am observing. Some of the main suggestions my mentor teacher had for me regarding the lesson was a greater use of higher level thinking questions. Now, I am in a 5th grade classroom, so if you are in a grade level above that I can see a desire to jump to lively debates. I also want to engage my students in debates and conversations, but just like you said we first need to take the time to teach students how to think at a higher level. With scaffolding I was able to get some students in my class to think at levels higher than they would normally; however, I still lacked the ability to really get the wheels turning in their heads. This is something I know I have to work on.
Kyle Savage
10/19/2014 08:53:14 am
I have noticed a lot of similarities between “Learning How to Kiss a Frog” and “This We Believe,” starting with all of their advice about successfully educating middle school students. I think these books are so helpful to us as new teachers who are preparing to enter the word of education. I know this keeps getting repeated and repeated, but middle school is really such a complex and challenging time in the lives of adolescents, it is important that we know all we can to make the transition into this stage of their lives even easier. Something that stood out to me in this chapter is the segment regarding family communication with teachers and keeping families engaged in the learning experiences of our students. Working for a non-for-profit youth-focused agency right now, I definitely can see the importance of this and how relevant parent communication can be when dealing with children. Although it is our job to educate these students on an academic level, and often times on a moral, emotional, or spiritual level as well, there is really only so much that we can do. We cannot follow the children home at night and make sure they are doing what we ask of them or acting accordingly. What we can do, however, is keep parents involved in the lives of their children and include them in the conversation. Something important to keep in mind is that parents and families are the ones that know their children the best. If a child is having a behavioral issue or maybe not grasping a particular concept, parents and families can frequently be the best resource to rely on in finding ways to rectify said issue. Gaining parent support, in my opinion, is one of the most important things that a teacher can do and will only make our jobs easier. If parents are religiously reiterating and reviewing what goes on inside the classroom, children are more likely to comprehend.
Tara Caprdja
10/20/2014 01:25:02 am
Kyle, I enjoyed reading your post because you are coming from a slightly different angle at the moment while working at an agency as opposed to being in the classroom. I agree that parent interaction is of the utmost important but am curious how you are able to get parents on board. Do you ever encounter parents who are either unwilling or unable to be as involved as they should/you would like? This happens quite a lot with my students and it's a sad reality when we have to step back and recognize our limitations as a school. There are so many students we let graduate who have very little support moving forward. It's unfortunate that children have to go through life without the support that they deserve and that I know I am grateful for having myself.
Tara Caprdja
10/20/2014 12:33:40 am
There is a section in the book under "The Changing World" part that discusses how many young people seek a disposable income in life. The book says that adolescents are "targets of marketing campaigns that are by definition manipulative." I think that there are many young people who strive to simply be wealthy in life in order to be able to purchase such things. My students so often say (even as seniors in high school) that they want particular careers simply because of the average salary that is associated with it. While financial success can be important, I think that the (possible) lack of love for learning/and devotion to their career goals could result in a "self-destructive lifestyle" if/when money is the primary or only goal. Helping students develop a love of learning and a love for a particular field will hopefully allow them to find a career suitable for their lifestyle.
Amanda Franco
10/21/2014 01:08:12 am
I love that you bring up loving a salary vs loving a job or career path. Sometimes people may truly be interested in a field that has a fantastic salary, but more often than not, people aren't so lucky. We are faced with choice between money and passion while the media is constantly trying to sway us to be greedy, convincing us that we can't possibly be happy without whatever they are advertising. It's so important that educators help students develop the literacy skills required to read these advertisements and make decisions based on what they actually desire and not what they are told they should desire.
Amber Paradise
10/21/2014 11:48:24 am
Tara, just as Amanda said, I love the fact that you are discussing the views adolescents can have about "disposable incomes" and focusing on education as an end to a means of getting a job with a high salary to afford "the finer things in life." Just like you said, I did not want to become a teacher for the salary, and I think that has given me a stronger motivation in school to want to excel, because I am going into a career that I am passionate about. If we can bottle that passion and somehow infuse it into our students and help them develop a love of learning by tapping into their interests, we will guide them, as you say, to make choices in life to be happy, because I know money cannot buy long term happiness.
Christina Lucci
10/20/2014 04:51:54 pm
Just got started reading This We Believe and I have to agree with the previous posts in that it definitely correlates to Learning How to Kiss a Frog. Both serve as great insights with regards to the development of middle school students. I love that they don't just focus on the academia, but on the various other areas of personal development for middle school students because the text is right, this is definitely such an important time frame in a person's life because of the amount of growth and change that occurs.
Kyle Savage
10/23/2014 02:00:52 am
This is such a valid point! Too many times I think that teachers make homework about getting the right answer and leaving it at that, when in reality, homework should be so much more than that. I think that homework is intended to be a process that helps students work through problems and reinforces what they learned during the class that day or week. I know that when I was in middle school I didn't care about process, I didn't care if I knew how to do the homework, I just cared that I had the right answer for the next day when my teacher graded the assignment. This is part of the reason that I don't necessarily believe in graded homework; what is it really doing for students? The majority of students are only doing homework to get the grade, but on a cognitive and academic level, there is no real growth or knowledge. Sometimes I even think that homework should be optional so the students that genuinely are interested and want to learn and be better have the chance to do so, but the students who do not are not wasting their own time or my time.
Jack Nielsen
10/26/2014 05:26:40 am
Along with most of the comments, I also think that getting the correct answer isn't what is important. One of my professors always said, "I'll give you all the answers, but that won't do anything for you." I think he was absolutely right, because correct answers are meaningless in learning. Learning is all about the journey, and learning from mistakes. Going through some hardships and tough times is part of learning, and it makes us stronger both as students and people. Dr. Alexander is right when he states that getting the correct answer isn't what is important, because the learning process is what stays with the students. For middle school students, involving the students in learning is a great way for students to be engaged in activities that promote learning and problem solving.
Taylor Barbarino
10/26/2014 10:43:13 am
Great point! I use to hate when teachers assigned homework problems along with the correct answer in the back of the book! I found homework to be pointless when teachers did not actually make the assignment meaningful. Meaningfulness goes a long way!
Amanda Franco
10/21/2014 01:17:34 am
A lot of interesting points have been brought up in this book so far. The one that jumped out at me the most in my reading this week was on page 18 where it is stated that "learning tasks must be perceived as achievable, even if difficult, reflecting the high expectations held for all". I believe this is extremely important because half of the battle of accomplishing an assignment is having the confidence in oneself that one has the abilities and skills required to do it. If a student goes into an assignment without this confidence, the assignment will be stressful, most likely not done to the best of the student's ability, and the student probably won't take much away from it other than the negative feelings associated with it.
Kyle Savage
10/22/2014 12:29:27 am
Amanda I could not agree with you more. It is definitely the responsibility of the teacher to help foster a positive mentality and confidence within his or her students. I think sometimes teachers take for granted how much students really look up to them and value their opinion. Just by taking a moment to commend a student can really go a long way. We need to acknowledge each and every student as an individual and show them that we realize who they are , what their strengths are, and what their weaknesses are. For example, I think even writing little notes to students and attaching them to assignments or putting an "awesome" sticker on the top of a high test score can really boost up a child's confidence and self-esteem with regards to his or her education. The goal is to get middle school students excited about learning, and that is not always necessarily an easy thing to do. Students are much more likely to be excited and engaged if they know they are doing a good job on something and getting recognized in a positive way for all of their accomplishments.
Amber Paradise
10/21/2014 12:43:04 pm
Valid points and opinions have been made in class that students have easier and more possible access to technology than we may know (i.e. A student/parent claiming they do not have the money to buy their child a tablet, yet they send their child to school in new $200 sneakers). Yet my personal opinion stands that if we as educators rely on parents to aid in their children's educations, then we are asking too much from people that we have no control over. What we as educators do have control over is what happens inside our schools. That is why as it says on page 21, "...schools must provide regular access to digital tools for every student." This may be interpreted in different ways; however, I believe that I cannot rely on the incomes and priorities of my students' parents to aid in their technology based education. Those students who are privileged enough to have an iPhone in 6th grade, may have begged their parents for this piece of technology, saving money from holidays to contribute to the price, needed a cellphone anyway because they take the bus home or walk home from school because their parents work late, or because they are constantly trying to keep up with our competing materialistic society. I would not feel right then pressuring my students' parents to buy another expensive piece of technology for their child to use in the classroom. Page 20 also states, "Exploratory and enrichment experiences are fundamental components of a school serving young adolescents and deserve their rightful place in the curriculum and the schedule." Teachers and schools need to help their students explore their educational learning potential through technology by providing means of using technology, whether it is through giving students the opportunity to use class computers during recess, scheduling appointments for your class in the library of computer lab, or simply giving them alternatives to expecting they can get these technologies at home.
Olivia Tobias
10/21/2014 03:15:00 pm
I agree that it's a fine line students and educators walk these days in terms of technology. On the one hand, in Western American society, it's here. Technology is everywhere, both socially and in the work force. I've seen older adults in my life trying to get back into the work force, only to be summarily blocked out of almost all positions they might otherwise be qualified for because of limited computer knowledge. Teaching students also to use technology to find reliable information will keep them more informed about the world around then than news stations or papers ever could, and their horizons can be extended to people, places, and causes that their communities could never otherwise reach. Computer literacy is not only a great skill for them to know—it's becoming mandatory. And yet, even in this "Twenty First Century computer age," it feels presumptuous to assume that every household has internet access or functioning computers. I've heard people say to me, "Yeah, no, don't worry. They all have computers." But what about the student who doesn't? Do you shame them inadvertently by giving computer-related tasks that they can't complete at home? This is where it's important for schools to cooperate to ensure that students DO have the resources to teach Twenty-first century skills and internet citizenship, while also acknowledging that not everyone is of the socioeconomic status to have a computer of their own. From there, the teacher can move onwards towards imparting challenging, relevant curriculum that trains students how to take a handle on the technological future they stand to inherit.
Blessy Thomas
11/3/2014 05:50:20 am
I think this is a valid point you make. Too often we forget that some students may be going through hardships we would not expect or imagine some kids having. I actually had a student in my 12th grade high school class who came to my CP and told us that she did not have a computer, nor a printer, at home. My teacher told her that he would allow her to handwrite whatever assignment she chose or gave her extended time on projects for her to work on after school or in the library.
Manjot Khehra
10/23/2014 11:58:43 pm
I think it really depends on the area we teach in as well, I personally have no problem giving students at my current school computer related tasks because I know most of them have acess to it. However, for the few that don't I am able to point them to the many resources we have at the school that will allow them to complete the tasks. The school has chromebooks, a library with 15 computers availble during lunch and after school as well as a computer lab thats availble after school. After I show them these resources, it is then the responsiblity of the student to complete that task. One student tired to get out an assignment by telling me all his devices were down, after much resistant he eventually got the assignment done in the computer lab after school. Obviously, this is an ideal situation because this school has these resources, but if the resources are there then we should expect the students to complete these tasks.
Olivia Tobias
10/21/2014 03:03:55 pm
The adolescent years are a gift. After these years, energy wanes and responsibilities build up, and so I've always felt that it was imperative for adolescents to be given a chance to LIVE during this time of their lives. School will always be a part of their lives, but there's no reason for students to lose the starry-eyed inspiration of the elementary school student, or to feel that their world is being limited. Aspiring teachers know that being respectful and energetic is important for young learners, that being given a chance to experience the world "hands on" is so very important. But I was also struck by the concept of "hands joined" activities, as stated in this research. I've obviously heard many times of the importance of including students in decision making in schools, especially when it comes to rules and social constructs of the classroom, and the idea that students should also be included in the forming of the content of lessons has also been expressed in the past, but now that I read this, I recall that I've never really seen this implemented in any classroom I have observed in, and it suddenly strikes me as strange. Especially as we come out of reading "Learning How to Kiss a Frog," in which the importance of treating young 'frogs' with respect and dignity is endlessly expressed, the idea of including students in the making of their own curriculum seems so painfully obvious that I'm left reeling that it's not the norm. Why SHOULDN'T students be given a say in what they learn? It is, after all, their lives. Why should they allow other dictate what they do and do not know? Because of some misconceived notion that someone else writing curriculum "knows better?" Who knows better about what is important to a student then the students themselves? If "valuable academic standards neither implies nor demands a uniform, prescribed curriculum," then why is it standardized everywhere? (17) Certainly, some things are universal—reader, writing, arithmetic, these are basic skills. But what to read, what corners of the world or universe to learn about and explore, history other than European …why shouldn't students have a word in where they want their education to go, and how to get there? Wouldn't this provide the lasting notion that their opinions are valid and important, that they should have autonomy in their own lives? These are qualities vital to forming progressive societies, and invaluable for human beings to learn. It then becomes the task of the teacher to take that interest and mold it into a challenging curriculum towards which the students are personally INVESTED in achieving.
Samantha Huber
10/23/2014 09:04:42 am
Olivia, I completely agree with you about how important it is for adolescents to be able to experience things while they are learning. Students should have the opportunity to express themselves in their work as well as be given the chance to collaborate with their teachers to come up with curriculum that will be interesting to them. I feel that if children are able to tell teachers what they would like to learn about they will learn more.
Kyle Savage
10/21/2014 11:35:05 pm
Dr. Alexander makes a lot of valid points throughout his book. I really like the segment regarding technology and how he believes it is up to the teachers and schools to provide technology systems for students. This is so important that technology and digital education is emphasized when dealing students. The society that we live in is quickly evolving. Before we know it, textbooks and notebooks will be a thing of the past and we will only be dealing with iPads and tablets. Our students need to be well-versed in technology and be aware of all of the different capabilities and opportunities that are available to them via technology. Furthermore, the children of this generation have grown up in a digital world; I believe that they are more likely to understand a lesson or grasp a new concept if it is somehow technologically founded. The reality is that nearly every single middle school student these days has a smart phone or some sort of other smart device. These kids are texting, tweeting, instagramming, etc; they know how to use new media forums and enjoy doing so. In a sense, this can make the lives of teachers so much easier. Students are giving us a blatantly obvious way to reach them and connect with them that we know they will respond to. I am a firm believer in the idea that we need to reach students on their level and appeal to them with things that are of interest to them. Engagement is, and should always be, student-centered. How can we engage our students in a way that is meaningful to them and will make them excited about learning? These are questions that we should be asking when we make decisions about what and how to teach middle school kids. I really cannot express enough how happy I am with the outcome of the twitter assignment. I think it was such an innovative way to get us involved in the teaching community. 75% are on twitter at night anyway so it is literally not even inconvenient to do the assignment and in a way it is even fun! These are the types of things we should be thinking of with regards to our students. I absolutely agree that schools should be providing technology devices and digital access to students and administrators should be encouraging teachers to incorporate said devices into their curriculums.
Samantha Huber
10/23/2014 09:02:35 am
Kyle I complete agree with you about how important it is to incorporate technology into the classroom. The world is changing and it is important for teachers to conform to these changes. I observed in Mineola where each student had their own iPad, and the children absolutely loved it. It was incredible to see some of the educational apps that are out there and how useful they can be for students. I also agree that work should be student-centered because that is the only way children will be able to stay engaged.
Samantha Huber
10/23/2014 08:59:35 am
The 16 characteristics in learning are some of the most important things to incorporate into any school. I really liked reading about the different ways to get your students engaged in what they are learning about as well as different ways educators can help their students grow. The chapter on major goals of middle level education brings up a great point that schools program on the assumption that every student is ready to master specific concepts of content at the same time is unrealistic. No child learns at the same rate, so it is important for teachers to differentiate their instruction to meet the needs of each student. It is important for students to be engaged in what they are learning about because that is the only way they will learn. The 16 characteristics also say that their should be active family involvement in the classroom and their should be an inviting school environment. I could not agree with this more. I remember when I was observing in Mineola and they had their own living museum where the children would dress up as a person that has accomplished something in his/her life. The children would write information about their person, and each student stood in the gym waiting to be tapped on the shoulder by their parents to share their information. I thought this was great because the students got so excited about being able to have their families at school with them, and they learned a lot about different historical figures. I also liked the idea that teachers should participate actively in learning activities rather than just observing students work. Teachers should work collaboratively with their students to come up with lessons that will be engaging for students and allow them to have a positive learning experience. Teachers need to talk to their students and get to know them not just stand in the front of the room watching them. Each student needs to feel like they are valued no matter what age they are, and it is the teachers job to make them feel comfortable in the classroom. I also like the idea that it is important for teachers to recognize students efforts rather than just writing them off. If a student is clearly working hard to understand the material it should be recognized just as much as if they student is getting every answer correct. This comes back to the idea of diversity in the classroom and no two children are the same.
Manjot Khehra
10/25/2014 07:21:05 pm
One of the 5 characteristics of curriculum, instruction and assessment is that students are engaged in active, purposeful learning. This to me was summed up perfectly at the bottom of page 16 when it states "Developmentally responsive middle grades educators take the concept of hands on activities further by promoting what might be termed "hands joined" activities, ones that teachers and students work together in developing. Such activities foster student ownership and lead to levels of understanding unlikely to be achieved when students are simply completing teacher made assignments." I saw how incredibly important this is over the weekend. Friday was my last day student teaching at the middle school level and before I left I had students complete a quick survey asking them how much they enjoyed the constant group work and stations lessons which I had them do (at the recommendation of my mentor teacher.) I initially thought they were great because students got to work together, collaborate and move around. I was dead wrong. Most of them openly admitted to only liking it because they got to goof off and be off task with their friends. Many complained that this was distracting, others complained that it felt rushed (each station was 5 minutes) so they were always thinking about the time not the information, and finally most felt it was just copying things into packets. Even though the station lessons on the surface seem great because they feature collaboration, movement and teamwork its not genuine learning. (I also learned the power of surveying students, I was totally blown away by the things they were concerned about, it goes a long way to help us improve!!!!) In class we talked about how some students should be given power, when it comes to learning I think we can help all students feel respected and listened to by giving them various options to learn. Some students in the surveys said they would have rather done the work themselves because that is how they learn best. Others enjoyed the lessons where games were involved the most. I think talking to students and collaborating with them, questions such as How do you learn best? How do you prefer to learn?, will go a long way in helping them feel in control of their learning. If we can accommodate them in this sense, I think students will feel that their opinions are heard. We have to be flexible. Instead of lecturing and directing assignments and group work, we should be working on the assignments with kids. If the assignment is boring for you the teacher, how is it ever going to be engaging for a 13 year old?
Olivia
10/29/2014 03:12:36 am
It's unfortunate that your students didn't like the station activity! Although it's a problem I think about a lot. So many theories and teaching texts, such as This We Believe, uphold activity and creativity to be key motivators for students in education. I personally love the idea as well. But when I think back to high school myself, I also remember how much I HATE group work and being stuck working with people I didn't like, being too shy to offer my opinions, and being stuck with all the work. I think about these high school moments as I plan my own lessons and force myself to stop and think: I HATED this as a kid...why does it seem like such a good idea to me now?
Manjot Khehra
11/1/2014 08:59:24 pm
Thats exactly what I took away from it, if I had done that survey at the start I think I would have adjusted the lessons to fit their needs. There so many different learning styles, some kids said they prefer to work alone, which was something I really enjoyed in school too. Figuring how to get the most for each student in the class is tough, but I think that giving the survey at the start is a great idea!
Michael Blinn
10/26/2014 03:20:36 am
So, I read the introduction and the importance of middle level education and its packed with a lot of good information. I feel like just those pages summarize learning how to kiss a frog pretty well, just without the anecdotes that make learning how to kiss a frog easy to read.
Liz Orbon
10/27/2014 10:30:51 am
I definitely agree with you Mike. This book seems to be, so far, a more sophisticated version of the frog book we just read. It is nice to read two different forms of the same ideas though.
Kyle Savage
10/28/2014 12:15:25 am
I love that quote: "the curriculum, pedagogy, and programs of middle grades schools must be based upon the developmental readiness, needs, and interests of young adolescents," and i was thinking of talking about that in my response until I saw you beat me to it (LOL.) I absolutely agree with this being an essential component to keep in mind when educating Middle School students, with an emphasis on readiness. Too many times I have seen and heard horror stories of Middle School students being bombarded with curriculum that is way to advanced for them to comprehend. When this happens, students become disengaged, discouraged, and no longer want to learn or be in school. As the quote instructs, all of our students have needs and sometimes these needs are diverse. We need to be aware of what the needs are of our students on an individual and group basis. While some students may be able to work with harder material, others may not...this is where the idea of differentiation comes into play. It is all about meeting the needs of the STUDENTS, not what teachers think students can handle; there is a big, big difference.
Jack Nielsen
10/26/2014 05:30:56 am
When I was reading about the roles that teachers have in instructing young adolescent students, there were two that really stuck with me. Those two were role model, and collaborator. I think these two roles are most important because at a young age, these students need a positive role model in their lives, and someone to look up to. I know for me, a lot of the teachers I had were role models that I wanted to be like, and that really helped me grow as a student.
Liz Orbon
10/27/2014 10:35:55 am
Being a good role model and a collaborator are absolutely so important for our students. We spend so much time with our students and affect their lives in ways we will never imagine. I also looked up to a number of my teachers, who ultimately led me to want to become one myself. As you said, being a collaborator is just as important. Many middle school students are hesitant to work together or even to speak up, in fear of being judged. Being able to get everyone working together, as a family or a community, is a very hard, yet crucial component of being a middle school teacher. We need our students to be comfortable in our classrooms, so they will feel better about school and their daily lives.
Jessica
10/26/2014 11:55:43 am
It seems as though "This We Believe's" first chapter is one general overview of "How to Kiss a Frog." They mention how middle schoolers are at a vital point in their lives, not knowing why they are mentally, emotionally and physically changing. As educators, we should be educated on how to approach and support these young adults. The only way to reach them is through their needs and interests. We need to figure out the purpose of what we are doing? Are they gaining anything or is it just a time filler? These two questions are what I really tried focusing on while I was in the middle school. I wanted to make sure I actually had them interested. I was able to actually gain feedback since it was my last day in the middle school on Friday and my students told me that they never thought they would enjoy poetry until I made it interesting by incorporating song lyrics to reel them into wanting to write poetry. For me, that was worth it and I knew there was a purpose behind every lesson I taught in this unit.
Olivia
10/29/2014 03:04:03 am
I love the idea of bringing song lyrics into a poetry unit. It can be hard for students to 'get into' poetry, to make it seem familiar, but using song lyrics helps them realize that it's not so foreign at all!
Jack Nielsen
11/2/2014 12:17:55 am
Great point about bringing community assets into the classroom for the students. I agree that the edTPA really focused on incorporating these elements into the classroom. One thing I always try to do is to talk about something the students are interested in at least once during my lesson. Sometimes, it doesn't even have to do with the lesson, I could just be in conversation when the students are working. Asking the students how their game went, or how their weekend was can really show the personal side of being a teacher. Also, relating the students' interest into the lesson will help their engagement in the lesson, and give them some connection to a real life example.
Amber Paradise
10/30/2014 03:16:37 am
Jess, I love how you say "It is about asking questions constantly." I feel like this is a common theme I have been running into lately. There are parents and teachers alike who sometimes seem like they are going to pull their hair out because a child continuously is asking the question "Why?" Sometimes people who interact with children may try to hinder this innate curiosity in children, but what we really should be doing is applauding and fostering it. The Common Core says students should be questioning and analyzing materials, not just taking everything at face value. This is what helps develop life long learners who are the people who never stop questioning.
Nicole Osterhoudt
10/31/2014 01:00:40 am
Questioning is so important because it connects the students to the lesson and to the ideas of their peers. If teachers start to question their students, the students start to make more connections to their ideas and to their peers ideas.
Liz Orbon
10/27/2014 10:41:13 am
As everyone else has kind of said, this book really reminds me of Learning to Kiss a Frog, the sophisticated version. Again, I really like this book so far and the concepts that it lays out for us.
Kyle Savage
10/28/2014 12:09:04 am
Thank you for bringing this to the conversation. Those 4 things are definitely qualities that every single teacher, on all levels, should have. The quality that sticks out the most to me in that list is "responsive." As a teacher, being responsive is one of the most important things one can do with regards to students. Responding to students with positive reinforcement, genuine interest, and constructive criticism is what will motivate these children to go further next time and continue to reach for the stars. We need to show our students that we are very well aware of what they are doing and always responding to them and making ourselves available to them. From the perspective of a student on the college level, I know that if I am putting in a lot of work and effort and feel as if my professor is non-responsive to all of my efforts, I am going to slowly start to disengage. This is even more amplified on the Middle School level and we cannot ever allow this to happen.
Kyle Savage
10/28/2014 12:04:08 am
As I continue to read through This We Believe I feel like I am learning more and more and it seems to directly correlate with what I am beginning to see in my observations. One of the 5 characteristics of curriculum that stands out to me the most is engagement, which is part of the reason that I have chosen to work on this topic for my culminating project in this class. This We Believe instructs that students should be engaged at all times with learning that is active, meaningful, and has purpose. I agree completely. If one takes a moment to sit back and reflect, it is a very simple concept: there is no learning without engagement. If students are disengaged, then they are not learning. What is the point of even sitting a child in a classroom for 7 hours a day if they are going walk out not knowing anything more than when they first walked in. Students that are disengaged are ultimately wasting away their time in these classes as nothing more than shells or empty vessels. They are not getting anything, nor contributing anything to the class. Can we blame the students for this though? Who is to be held responsible, the child who is not interested in his learning or the teacher who does not make said child’s learning interesting enough? I believe that in cases such as these it is the teacher who is at fault. I agree with what the book is suggesting in that students need to be engaged with active and meaningful learning; it is the job of the teacher to find different ways to keep students engaged.
Olivia Tobias
10/29/2014 02:56:06 am
One thing that really jumped out at me when switching from High School to Middle School settings recently was the vast difference in teacher "involvement" with students, and not just in the classroom. In the middle school hallways, every teacher seemed to know every student, asked about their siblings, could call someone by name to ask them to stop running, even if they didn't have that student. Having just come from the high school, where I would often hear teachers mutter, "oh, I don't know that kids name" before shouting after them to stop running, this was a big change, and it really informed my reading of the Community and Cultural assets "chapter" of this research paper. It's not that the high school was unfriendly—I worked with a teacher who had a great sense of humor and rapport with his students—but there definitely wasn't this air of community there that I'm already seeing at the middle school. I don't know if it's a symptom of age, where older students are developmentally less attached to their teachers and more interesting in impressing their peers than forming connections with teachers, or if it's the fact that High school teachers seem to see more students in a day, but the change was definitely there.
Amber Paradise
10/30/2014 03:23:35 am
Olivia, I think what you touch on in your second paragraph here is a point that some teachers may overlook. When you are hired as a teacher although your "placement," so to speak, may be in x classroom with x number of students, just because the door to your room shuts, should not mean that the students who are in your class are your only priority. Sure, we should not feel overwhelmed with the ideal situation of knowing every students' name in the school, yet as teachers what is written in our contracts should not define the roles we play in the schools we work in. In my eyes a teacher is more than a classroom educator, and any school has the potential to be like this middle school is that you mention. It is all about the willingness of the personnel in the buildings to create a culture of school environment where teachers do things beyond their basic job descriptions.
Tara Caprdja
10/31/2014 02:05:14 am
Olivia, I'm curious about the difference in size of each school you have been at. I attended extremely large schools for both Jr high and high school so most teachers didn't know my name, but I feel like high schools tend to be larger and wonder if that has some impact on whether teachers know fewer names.
Amanda Franco
10/29/2014 07:17:20 am
Another idea that jumped out at me during my reading is the importance of human relationships in creating an environment where education is fostered. The "Culture and Community Characteristics" chapter begins with the concept that schools should be "inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive". This is so crucial for the success of the students because if students are in an environment that feels threatening, negative, and unsupportive, there is no way they will be able to learn. In any situation, if one feels some sort of discomfort, the top priority becomes removing oneself from that discomfort - this is true in schools for students as well.
Tara Caprdja
10/31/2014 01:47:49 am
I also noticed the section about schools being a place that is inviting and safe. While reading that I immediately thought to years ago when I applied to the Teaching Fellows. I had to go on an interview at a school in Manhattan that was HUGE. The school was beautifully built, but every person entering had to go through a metal detector. I was considering how I would feel as a teacher in such a school and then as a student. The building itself was stunning and inviting, but I was torn on how safe I felt. Would I feel safe knowing they were checking for any sort of dangerous items, or unsafe thinking there was reason to be checking so frequently? My school now has minimal security which makes people feel free to come in and very much at home, but then I often worry about the safety especially with all these horrible mass shootings we keep hearing about. To sum up my point, while I agree that these characteristics are important, I'm not so sure that there is a good balance anymore.
Nicole Osterhoudt
10/31/2014 12:58:07 am
While reading this book, one of the things that stuck out at me what the idea of creating purposeful learning. This is something that I feel has been lost through the new demand on students and teachers for preparing for state tests. I have recently switched my placement from 4th grade down to second grade and I have definitely seen how this is important. In fourth grade, the teachers were so tied to the curriculum that their lessons got monotonous and boring because they had to make sure that they covered all of the content. It made me realize that the students weren't able to make as many connections to the content of the lessons. In second grade there are no state tests to prepare for. The environment was completely different. All of the students are engaged in the lessons because they are able to make connections to them and express their ideas in different ways. I think this is something that can be applied in all classrooms as long as the teacher takes the time to modify the lessons to allow the students to use their creativity and make connections to their lives.
Samantha Huber
10/31/2014 11:51:34 am
Nicole, I completely agree with you because I observed in a third grade class and the students were not focused on any lessons they were doing because they could tell the teacher was not interested in it. Kids need to have that creativity in order to stay engaged and make connections to their own lives. I feel like this is also the reason why these kids prefer art and music classes because they are able to express themselves and use their creativity instead of just passing a test.
Manjot Khehra
11/1/2014 09:06:06 pm
The challenge here is that even with the standards, we have to make our lessons fun and engaging as much as possible. I truly think you can create that 2nd grade environment in any class no matter what standards are imposed. I'm not saying its going to happen everyday, but the standards shouldn't make creating purposeful learning lost, more difficult probably, but not impossible.
Taylor Barbarino
11/4/2014 12:27:27 pm
Purposeful/meaningful learning is the best type of learning. When information or material is not interesting to students, it is most likely because it is irrelevant to their own lives. Making lessons relatable to the lives of students will make learning purposeful because they will be able to take something away from the lesson, rather than just memorizing information to pass a test. It is a waste of time to teach material that students will not be able to recall a few days after an exam. Take the required information and find a way to relate it back to the students.
Ciaran
11/19/2014 03:28:04 am
The pressure of the test is really hurting students these days, because they become more obsessed with memorizing the information and being able to spit it back out on an exam, rather than retaining the information and being able to make connections and think critically about the world around them, using this new information. In my opinion, state tests should be removed from elementary and middle schools, so the students can enjoy education more, and find out for themselves where their strengths and weaknesses lie.
Tara Caprdja
10/31/2014 01:56:03 am
Under the section titled "Educators use multiple learning and teaching approaches" it discusses some of the topics mentioned in class. We talked about team teaching and collaborating ideas with those of different disciplines, as well as using technology to the fullest to develop higher-order thinking within our students. As we all continue to say in our posts and in class, increasing our own PD is only going to benefit everyone. We now have the ability to use technology in ways that will allow for assessing students and set goals for them as well. There is so much out there for both educators, students and family members. It is also important for us to teach students and their families how to effectively use these resources. Potentially offering night time sessions with parents for such things would also be beneficial because it allows the parents and teachers to develop relationships they wouldn't typically have, and also gives the parents the necessary skills to help their child(ren).
Samantha Huber
10/31/2014 11:48:35 am
Tara, I completely agree with you on how important and useful technology can be in the classroom. There are so many different apps out their that children can download to aid them on any work that they are doing. The kids also get a kick out of using any form of technology because it is interacting and will keep them engaged. I think it would be a great idea to offer a night session to show parents the different uses of technology, and discuss different resources they can have their child use.
Ciaran
11/19/2014 03:25:40 am
Technology is incredible in the ways that it brings people together, no matter the distance. We can use this technology for our own advantage, rather than avoid it completely. I remember reading an article about a teacher that after the school day was over, would tweet information about what the students were doing in class, what they were learning, and what was coming up in the next lesson. It encourages the parents to get involved because the information about their children's education is at their fingertips, and they can become more involved.
Samantha Huber
10/31/2014 11:46:07 am
The few chapters I read this week focused on leadership and organization characteristics in the classroom. It is important for every student to experienced success in the classroom and the only way for a teacher to accomplish this is to get to know his/her students. I feel that students will have an easier time in school if they are able to obtain success in any area in the curriculum. Teachers should find out what their strengths are and use that to ensure they have success. Student-centered programs are also essential in the classroom because it should be all about the students rather than the teachers. Students should have some input into what they will be learning about because this will keep them engaged and interested in what they are doing. My mentor teacher always gives the students choices as to how they will understand the lesson best. If they want to do the work with their iPads, in a certain spot in the room, etc. she allows them to because that is where they will be most comfortable. School climate is very important when teaching students at all grade levels. Students need to feel safe and secure and that they are cared for. I remember walking into elementary school and I was greeted by every teacher I walked past. They all had smiles on their faces, and every one of them knew my name whether I had them or not. I feel that students love being noticed and comforted by adults in school. If they get their hair cut and a teacher notices it just brightens up their day. It is also important for educators to implement rules into the school to ensure that bullying does not occur. If children feel pressured and unsafe, they are going to have a difficult time focusing on what it is they are learning about. I also liked what it said about stopping the academic tracking in schools because this could lower a students self-esteem and make them feel like they aren't smart enough to learn. I hated tracking when I was in school because I was always pushed to go higher when I wasn't ready and I would get very discouraged by how fast the class moved. The most important quality for educators to have is patience and compassion for their students and a passion for teaching.
Taylor Barbarino
11/4/2014 12:20:36 pm
I love the point you brought up about your mentor teacher giving the students choice! This makes all the world's difference in the classroom because if students for example, want to sit in a different spot each day, work with different partners, pick certain assignments/ topics they want to work on, they may perform better because they feel more comfortable within the classroom.
Manjot Khehra
11/1/2014 09:41:19 pm
In the section I read today, one quote really struck out to me at the top of page 24 which was "Digital Tools not only accelerate and simply many routine tasks but potentially change the very nature of instruction, democratizing both content and the learning process." Technology should be implemented into curriculum as much as possible. For a project on early explorers I had middle school students create a fake twitter page for the explorer. Instead of having them create a poster with all the facts, this allowed them to get a little bit silly, because they could use any hashtags, it became fun. They were given 4 days to research in the library and it turned out to be a fun experience for me and the students. Based on their projects I know they actually learned the relevant facts and based on their hashtags and crazy twitter handles I know they enjoyed it too. This was a great learning experience because they were given a lot of autonomy over the final product. In addition to learning the content, this was an excellent opportunity to teach them about technology as well. This was surprising to me because I assume all kids today are plugged into the internet 24/7, but that does not mean they know how to actually use the internet and other programs for school related activities. Throughout this time, students were able to learn content in addition to a lot about Microsoft Word and the reliability of the internet. For example, a particular group had to research John Rolfe, but realized that John Smith came up when they put the name under Google Images. This became a quick lesson on google/wikipedia realiablity for the whole class. I thought this was more important than the content itself because chances are they will forget the facts, but I doubt they will forget that Google and Wikipedia aren't always the most reliable sources. That lesson, which I repeated with all classes, perfectly sums up another quote in This We Believe, "Students need to investigate the many ramifications of what it means to live in a technological society and become fully informed ans wise consumers of modern media." Prior to this lesson, I assumed this generation of students knows everything there is to know about the internet, but after I realized there is still a lot we can teach to them especially at the middle school level.
Jack Nielsen
11/2/2014 12:25:23 am
One of the things I really liked from the reading was when they talked about challenge and relevance to teaching in the classroom. These challenges and relevance of the lessons have a lot to do with the curriculum the students are going through, and especially at a middle school level, the students should be challenged frequently and be taught the relevance of a lesson.
Kristine Gavilanes
11/2/2014 10:16:35 am
In The Importance of Middle Level Education, I really like the opening quote that states "...Intellectual growth means much more than an increasing competence in the academic content of the curriculum. We must endeavor to stimulate in the child a love for learning, an attitude of inquiry...The learning of right answers is not enough..." Often times as math teachers we strive for students to obtain right answers as opposed to helping them establish a skill in procedure (how to obtain that answer). In Major Goals of Middle Level Education, they listed keys to educating young adolescents. What I really liked about this was that they listed ways for US, as educators, to consider when educating young adolescents. Not ways to change our youngsters. Because like Garvin stated in his book, our frogs will go through stages and changes that we have to embrace in order to educate them. Not change them first to our likings and then educate them. One of my favorites was, "Comprehensive guidance and support services meet the needs of young adolescents." That is what educating a child means, to me at least, meeting the needs of our kids, not them meeting ours.
Liz Orbon
11/4/2014 06:22:12 am
I really liked that opening quote also. Stimulating our students to learn is so overlooked. I find this most closely relating to regents prep time. Right answers are stressed above all else!! Students are told they need to pass, not learn and do their best.
Jessica
11/2/2014 01:28:07 pm
When it comes to the major goals of middle level education listed in the reading, I agree that we should be trying to help middle school students become actively aware of the larger world. My 7th graders were too engulfed within their own personal lives, that they really had no idea about what else was really out there. I only had one student who could tell me about what was happening and it was because he wants to be the next president of the United States.
Blessy Thomas
11/3/2014 05:09:23 am
While reading this book the one thing that I came across over and over again was the idea of keeping a relevant curriculum in education today. However, while reading it my mind constantly thought about the Common Core, which makes it much harder to do in schools today. While many may argue that the Common Core does have certain attributes that can do well for schools, I believe it restricts educators and their pedagogy. While we read over and over about the developmental stage for these kids, we must find way to keep our lessons pertinent to these changes. As teachers we must understand our students along with the environment in which surrounds them not only builds rapport but allows the teacher to modify their lessons and units with an updated curriculum that relates to them. Early adolescence is a time of figuring out who they are. Their problems may seem small and nothing to worry about; however, to them it is usually something immense and important. Kids and even adolescents require comfort and support. It is not healthy for these kids to just go to school and have the mentality that teachers and the school are out to get them and bombard them with stress. In fact, as a teacher I believe we should want to make the difference to show them that learning is important and not at all terrorizing and that with proper guidance they can build up a good future for themselves and sometimes a teacher is the only guidance some students may have.
Amber Paradise
11/3/2014 12:00:23 pm
Blessy, I do not know if I am beginning to "drink the Koolaid," so to speak, of the Common Core, yet I am starting to realize that it is not something we can fight against because it is here and it is implemented into our school systems. Although I have not completed my student teaching yet, through my observation experiences and the lessons I have taught, I am beginning to learn that I need to make the Common Core work for my own pedagogy of teaching so I do not get swallowed by it. It is almost as if you are molding it for your own purposes. Obviously this depends on you school district and what your principal will allow you to do, but being a good teacher in relation to the Common Core would mean finding ways to implement and use it without allowing it to change your philosophies and the things you want to see in your classroom. Unfortunately there is no book that says exactly how to do that, we have to get creative!
Tara Caprdja
11/6/2014 10:48:48 pm
Blessy, I am torn about Common Core. I feel that the intention of CC is good but don't really agree with the execution of it. I think that one of the biggest problems is that the standards are now too conceptually advanced for each grade level - the kids are not yet mature enough to understand it all! I have found success though with students who struggle in math when my lessons are as Common Core as I can get. I think that the next several years are going to be hard for anyone teaching middle/high school level students because not all of the kids started off with CC. Things switched around in the middle. For example, my students taking algebra last year didn't necessarily have CC the year before and definitely did not have it in kindergarten etc. As a result there are many gaps in their understanding. It is difficult for us to work around these things and still address the many other things necessary for students to be successful learners.
Amber Paradise
11/3/2014 11:50:33 am
An article I read for another class about building children's' character in schools came to the forefront of my mind as I was reading the section on page 29 called "Leaders demonstrate courage and collaboration." The specific quote, "...students learn not only from the instruction offered but from implicit lessons as well--the ways adults treat each other, set priorities, establish policies, and make decisions," demonstrates the role students and adults in school environments have in students' lives. Whether or not we are consciously aware of it or are specifically setting up ways to incorporate character development in our lessons, we affect the people our students grow up to be. I think some teachers may over look this, or they do not sit and think about the impact using a certain word or making a comment to another teacher in front of a student can have. If we want our students to grow up to be contributing members of a perpetually moving forward society, then we need to help them find themselves. This holds especially true if we are working with students in middle level grades where they are dealing with sorting out so many aspects of their changing lives.
Liz Orbon
11/4/2014 06:35:59 am
Students are always paying such close attention to every detail of our lives. They are almost creepy about it! They want to know what your doing this weekend, who you're friends with, and what you're saying to your coworkers. We need to set a good example for them to learn what is right from wrong and most importantly how to speak to your peers. If students see you cursing and being inappropriate, what do you think they are going to do? the same!! By setting good examples, students may grow and become more mature in their ways.
Liz Orbon
11/4/2014 06:47:54 am
One thing I want to focus on in this post s that middle school educators should ENJOY being with young adolescents. They need to be able to understand the dynamics of their ever-changing youth. Things are not the same as they were 10, 5 or even last year for that matter. We need to be understanding and show some enthusiasm in our work/students. We need to send influential messages to them and set good examples for them to live up to. Involving each student personally will allow the students to grow and enjoy learning. We can be "hands-on" with the activities we do with them. Also, if we as teachers show that we are still learning, then the most genuine types of learning will occur in our classrooms. At the same time, we must remember to challenge our students and to allow the material to be able to be deeply explored and relevant to their lives. Geer the curriculum towards the students' levels of understanding as well, which may include differentiating the lesson as we spoke about in class or even offering some choices to different types of assignments they may complete, all of which reach the main goal of learning in the long run.
Kyle Savage
11/5/2014 05:11:54 am
I think that this is such an important post because while it addresses something that would appear to be very basic, many teachers unfortunately forget it. Enjoyment is one of the keys to being a good educator. As "This We Believe" points out, if you are working with middle school students or adolescents, you need to make sure that you actually ENJOY doing it. Educating a young adolescent is a completely different frame of mind than educating a young child or even someone college-aged. Adolescents are their own breed of student because they are undergoing so many different changes and challenges, on a variety of different levels. Furthermore, no two adolescents are exactly the same. There is not a standard method that can be applied and incorporated for working with all adolescents; it is nowhere near that formulaic. Additionally, adolescents are very perceptive. If a teacher is just working in a middle school for the pay check at the end of every two weeks or because they need a filler job, the student will pick up on this and quite possibly even question this. A middle school teacher needs to physically exert the love he or she has both for the profession and for the students on a daily basis.
Tara Caprdja
11/6/2014 10:38:32 pm
It's really interesting that you made this point. I think that those of us who really are invested and WANT to work with adolescents don't think about those who don't enjoy it. I am sure that there are people who go into the field of education simply for the hours involved. So many people assume that we're in and out in 6 hours with tons of days off (especially summer) and don't take into account the amount of emotional wear and tear that can occur. Personally, I go home every day exhausted. Between trying to accommodate every student in terms of their learning and supporting them emotionally through the day - I'm wiped! Then there's planning and preparing lessons and activities at night and on the weekends, and all summer… You have to really be dedicated.
Nicole Osterhoudt
11/7/2014 02:46:00 am
Liz-
Michael Blinn
11/14/2014 10:26:21 am
Liz, there was nothing that was more disheartening when I was in the middle school than hearing some teachers talk about their students. It was absolutely horrifying. They said some of the most heinous things about their kids and it made me wonder why they were teaching in a middle school. But, I also experienced the flip side where I got to speak with teachers who loved being in a middle school and could not imagine teaching in any other place. I was fortunate enough to develop a good relationship with many students, some of whom I did not even have in class. When I would ask them about their other classes, the classes they didn't enjoy had teachers who didn't always seem happy to be in a middle school. I feel bad for those kids and I wish they could have someone teach them that wants to be in the front of the classroom.
Ciaran Fox
11/19/2014 03:21:38 am
Some teachers don't realize how important they are as role models for students, and how big of an impact they can have on a students life. In my opinion, some of my favorite teachers were the ones that could accept when they were wrong, or admit that they don't know the answer to a question. I'd rather a teacher tell me they don't know the answer but will do their best to find the answer, rather than hear some made up half assed answer. Student pick up on these important qualities; honesty, integrity, and maturity.
Taylor Barbarino
11/4/2014 01:14:40 pm
In this post, I want to focus on the importance of curriculum. "An effective middle grades curriculum must be challenging, exploratory, integrative, and relevant" (p. 17). It is a complex task to implement all of these expectations into one lesson. Lessons need to both diversified and individualized. This meaning that material needs to meet the needs of ALL students academic abilities and interests. This can be done by differentiating lessons/ assignments, giving students choice, and providing time for students to voice their own ideas and opinions. I believe that the way curriculum is presented and given in the classroom plays a huge role in student learning. Learning tasks and curriculum should be perceived as achievable, as well as challenging. This is a challenge as educators because you don't want to discourage students if they find material too difficult, bore students if material is too easy, or let them slide by because material just fits their learning ability. Teaching, even after years of experience and practice is a continuous learning process!
Kyle Savage
11/5/2014 05:06:12 am
I think that this is one of the hardest things for teachers to do, or at least do well, but it is also one of the most important. Differentiation can either make or break a classroom. As you have pointed out, different students learn at different paces and levels. Education is not intended to be this unified force that provides students with the same generic material no matter what a child's academic ability or interest is. Just like all of our students are different and diverse, our methods of educating said students should be equally different and diverse. What makes this so difficult is that while some students may be challenged by a particular exercise, other students may be bored by it. Ultimately, I believe that the key behind differentiation resides back in the idea of truly knowing your students on a personal level. We need to become concretely familiar with each and every student in order to know what type of lesson, homework, or material they need to be successful. As teachers, we cannot blame our students for doing poorly in school if we are not implementing the proper amount of differentiation to allow them to do well.
Amber Paradise
11/6/2014 03:19:27 am
Taylor and Kyle, I really enjoy what you both are saying here. Specifically where Kyle says "we cannot blame our students for doing poorly in school if we are not implementing the proper amount of differentiation." Some students on the path to being teachers and even some teachers argue that you cannot differentiate for every single student in your classroom. However, as we become more experienced teachers in addition to the effort we put into getting to know our students, differentiating is not something that always has to be written out in detail on a lesson plan. Teachers have to think on their feet, and once you get to know your students and their learning needs it is easier to say what works best for each individual student. In addition, the more knowledge we have as educators, the better equipped we are to differentiate quickly and efficiently.
Samantha Huber
11/7/2014 07:42:53 am
Taylor, I completely agree with you about how important it is to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students. Every student learns at a different rate, and I can't count the amount of times I have seen teachers move on with the lesson when not every child in the class understands the concept. The only way children will learn effectively is if the lessons pertain to what they would like to learn about as well as how they learn best.
Liz Orbon
11/10/2014 05:48:08 am
Taylor, it really is hard to try to meet the needs of all of our students different academic abilities and interests, especially at the middle school level. We need to keep them engaged by challenging them while still holding their attention. It will be a challenge to try to do this for each of our lessons, but if we do not try, we are not doing everything we can possibly do to keep our students interested in learning.
Kyle Savage
11/5/2014 12:01:04 pm
Something that really stuck out to me as I continued my reading this week is the section discussing adult involvement in student development so far as the way that adults react with one another and make important decisions. This is addressed between pages 28 and 30 and I found this to be exceptionally insightful; I have been reflecting upon it constantly in my head since I read it. The role of a teacher is one that constantly is under the spot light. Unlike many other jobs, when you are a teacher, you are essentially working 24/7. Every single little thing that you do, both in your professional and personal lives, are reflections of who you are as a person to your students, and this can either make or break a teacher’s reputation. It’s important to remember that our students are always watching, even if we think that they are not. When we are up in the front of the room trying to teach a lesson about Math or English, they are sitting there in their seats and secretly sizing us up for every single thing that we do. They are studying the way we dress, the way we interact with people who come in and out of the classroom, our mannerisms, our humor, every single little thing. We, essentially, become the role models of these students in a way, and we wind up teaching them lessons about not only our content area, but also about life in general. This is one of the beauties about the gift of teaching, we truly have the power to impact young minds on so many various levels.
Amber Paradise
11/6/2014 03:33:05 am
Kyle, here you speak to a lot of what I touched on in my most recent post. Teachers are more than just teachers in the eyes of some of our students. Even if a teacher does not extend themselves further than the means of their basic job description, they still have the power to influence their students' lives whether they are trying to or not. To some students we are role models, to others we could be father or mother figures if they come from a broken home, if we allow ourselves we become social workers to some extent, as well as a source of comfort. This is why there is passion linked to wanting to become a teacher, because our jobs do not just end at 3:00 pm.
Blessy Thomas
11/8/2014 10:44:28 am
I agree with Amber and what she was saying about us taking on the roles of a social worker. But I don't think our job ends there. To some of these kids we become their mother, father, brother, sister, role model, teacher, caretaker, etc. Sometimes we can be the only person who may care for any one of our students and that is why they say teachers encompass a variety of different roles. They are never just a teacher in a classroom.
Christina Lucci
11/9/2014 12:36:00 pm
I agree wholeheartedly! While I know each profession has its trials and tribulations, you make an excellent point in that teachers are essentially being watched all day, everyday. We are role models for students and not just the ones in our classes but all students in general. Our actions speak volumes to our character and the last thing we need is to have a parent, co worker, administrator, or student view us in a less than positive light.
Tara Caprdja
11/6/2014 10:05:39 pm
Within the section titled "Organizational structures foster purposeful learning and meaningful learning and meaningful relationships" the book discusses the idea of teaming. Research shows that teaming not only allows school faculty to work together and meet the needs of the students, but time is also available for trips and other activities that would require blocks of time. It has also been shown that contact with parents increases as well. Parent involvement is extremely important for students to find success. Parents must be part of our "team" too so that children feel supported in all aspects of their lives.
Samantha Huber
11/7/2014 07:40:35 am
Tara, I completely agree with you about how important teaming is in schools because communication is the best way to help children learn at any level. Teachers need to be able to speak to each other about different lesson plans as well as communicate with the families of the children. This will form a support group for children both at home and in the classroom.
Blessy Thomas
11/12/2014 06:16:26 am
I feel this is best seen especially when schools are team taught. Team taught schools places kids in a specific team where a good portion of kids are with each other throughout the day and have all the same classes and teachers. This makes it easier for teachers to focus on a student and see how they do through out their different classes. When a meeting is called with any particular student's parents, the teachers can understand where a student is having trouble and same patterns that can be seen in each class. It also allows the teachers to collaborate with the parents on how they can help make a difference for the student and have them do better.
Nicole Osterhoudt
11/7/2014 02:38:25 am
While reading this week one thing that really popped out at me was the idea of authentic assessment. (Since I have the Kindle version of the book, it does not list page numbers so this portion that I am referring to is 40% into the book). In our class as well as many of my other education courses, we go into great detail about meaningful assessment that measures students ability and potential without discouraging them or giving them a grade they are not able to learn anything from. This past week, I sat in on a small conference with Mary Cowhey (author of the book Black Ants and Buddhists). She was explaining her point of view of assessment and the way that she described it was one that stuck with me. She said "we need to make assessments FOR learning instead of assessments OF learning." This is important to keep in mind when teaching in the classroom because assessments should be used not to categorize or "give a grade" to children but they should be used to develop the appropriate method of learning to assist and challenge each student individually. Just as mentioned in our book, This We Believe, assessments should be a balance between formative and summative.
Christina Lucci
11/9/2014 12:33:05 pm
You make a great point and I love the quote "we need to make assessments FOR learning instead of assessments OF learning." I think that "giving grades" is something that students constantly fear and that if we placed less emphasis on grading and more emphasis on developing students' learning, our assessments would be so much more productive.
Liz Orbon
11/10/2014 05:45:38 am
Nicole, I agree with the quote Mary Cowhey said in your meeting. Assessments can almost be the downfall of some teachers, if they are not "tackled" in the right way. We need to have a good variety of assessments, versus giving tests and quizzes every day to see how our students are learning. We should want these assessments to benefit the understanding of the students as well. I also agree this is a huge factor to consider while completing our edTPAs.
Taylor Barbarino
11/16/2014 02:39:03 am
This is so true! Assessments should not be given out for a grade, but should be used to further help students understand the material. In the classrooms that I have observed in, some of the teachers give students group projects or presentations as either a formative or summative assessment. This way students are doing more research on the material and can have fun with the assignment. It is not your typical "sit down and take a test" assessment.
Samantha Huber
11/7/2014 07:38:04 am
This week I was able to finish this book and I can't believe all the different lessons I have learned from it for teaching middle school children. I never realized the different characteristics each child possesses at this level and the best way to work with them. Every child is different and learn at different rates so it is very important for middle school educators to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of each student. Children at this level are looking for support and an adult role model that they might not have at home. The only way we as educators will know this is if we take the time to get to know our students and their backgrounds. This book has also taught me that these children desire recognition for their efforts. It is not just about getting the correct answers and doing something right the first time, but the effort these students put into doing the work whether it is right or not. This will boost their self esteem and make them realize that they are capable of doing anything they put their mind to. This book has been a real eye opener for me, and I feel that this book will make me a better educator in the future.
Blessy Thomas
11/12/2014 05:49:10 am
I agree with you Sam. Working in the middle school I see firsthand that each student learns at a different rate. I also come to see that many students have various different issues going on at home that they are sometimes not able to finish homework they were assigned because of these problems. I think as a teacher our job must be to accommodate and work with the curveballs thrown our way. The teacher I mentor now actually did this in my class today where she asked students who had done the homework that was assigned on Monday. A little more than half the class did it, but the other students who were behind would have no idea what they would be doing in class today without reading the story. So instead, she took the students who didn't read and put them in another classroom with me and we read the story together and did what she would have originally done all together, while the students who did read did the assignment they were supposed to do.
Blessy Thomas
11/8/2014 10:00:40 am
I personally believe that choosing a career in teaching is the most imperative occupation one can hold. Teachers mentor and guide those future lawyers, doctors, and other important people, which make our society and world as powerful as it is to this day. Teachers may also be the only people that can help a troubled child and keep them from crime and abuse. No matter the background of the child, their race, gender, or personality, a teacher is able to give the child a chance at future success. Having chosen this path it is our job to address and create world learners/life long learners. I believe students are more interested in what goes on in the world and how they can relate what they have learned to aspects of their daily life. And by choosing to be teachers we must understand that we chose to become role models for our students. We have to find a way to establish rapport as well as respect with each child and within your classrooms. It’s known that students learn better from people they interact with and information should be used to set up a classroom and curriculum, not based off a lecture but a student interacting with the teacher and his/her peers.
Christina Lucci
11/9/2014 12:27:18 pm
I agree with you in that being a teacher is an incredibly important position. You serve as a huge role model for students year after year and I'd like to hope that anyone who is a teacher does it for more than just getting summers off. I also love the way your cooperating teacher doesn't demean students by treating them as though they're immature. My cooperating teacher does this as well and I think that treating students as adults really resonates with them.
Jessica
11/9/2014 11:24:50 am
When talking about curriculum being the driving force for achieving success in middle schools, we need to make sure that the content is relevant to them. When I started my poetry unit, I made sure to get them excited by explaining that lyrics are poetry. I created a lesson plan where they got to bring in their own song lyrics and we looked for figurative language within them. They found this much more interesting than me providing random poems that don't pertain to their lives at all.
Amber Paradise
11/12/2014 07:04:32 am
Jess I really agree with you that we need to make content relevant to our students. Even in districts where, for me, elementary school teachers have to use Common Core and engageNY Modules where every step including what the teacher and students should say is outlined, it is easier than one would think to make the content relevant and merge disciplines. For example, a 5th grade lesson about the the Human Declaration of Human Rights can be easily made relatable to students by asking them about the "freedoms" they experience on a daily basis and the "luxuries" they have compared to other areas of the world. This topic is then easily translated to math by simply changing the descriptive words in a word problem. Text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections are the crux of learning at the elementary school level, and the same could be said for middle level and high school education.
Michael Blinn
11/14/2014 10:17:31 am
I absolutely agree that middle school is an exploratory time. After completing three weeks in the high school, I find myself more hesitant about the risks I want to take in the classroom. Relevancy is always important. I found that when I've had lessons or motivations that allowed the kids to reflect on their own life and take true ownership of the material, I could see that they enjoyed the learning process and they were able to answer my summary questions at the end of the lesson with relative ease.
Christina Lucci
11/9/2014 12:23:34 pm
While I hadn't had the time to pick up This We Believe in a while, I read a good chunk today and realized I almost had it finished. Two of the points made that really resonated with me. The first was regarding technology in the classroom. Through this course, I've learned the most about how to incorporate technology and media in the classroom than I have in any other setting. This text really reinforces that. Nowadays, the vast majority of people are consumed with social media, attached to their phones, and are glued to the television. Incorporating these within a classroom will help engage students and will motivate them so that learning will be more enjoyable for them. By using these outlets, they feel as though they're almost "getting away with" something when in reality, they're simply being educated in a different and innovative manner. This relates to another point made in the text that mentioned making lessons and curriculum relevant to students' lives. They'll be much more likely to focus and pay attention if it has to do with what's going on in their lives and what they're interested in.
Kyle Savage
11/12/2014 03:15:50 am
I completely agree with you and I think that this is a point that comes up a lot in this class. Social media is such a major part of the lives of our soon to be students. If we want to engage these students and get them excited about learning we need to appeal to them on their own level. The twitter assignment that we had is such a prime example of how social media can most absolutely be used in an educative manner. Teachers can assign social media forums to be a venue for extended instruction and keeping conversations going outside of the classroom. I know that if I was a student in a middle or high school today and my homework was to tweet or create an instagram post that had to do with what I learned in class, I would be excited and eager to do it. This always come up in class and on this blog, but it is essential to acknowledge that times are changing and social media and technology are becoming very prominent forces in the world, more so now than ever. As future educators, we need to begin thinking about multiple ways we can include such advancements into our classrooms someday.
Amber Paradise
11/12/2014 07:07:41 am
Christina, the second point you make about teachers loving their jobs is something I have thought about so many times throughout my education here at Adelphi. Just as you said, it boggles my mind to find teachers who are not enjoying what they are doing. It may seem idealistic, however I am not going into the teaching profession because I am trying to make a lot of money. I tell people all the time that if I was only looking at teaching as a job, where the end result is money, I would have pushed myself to become a doctor or lawyer. I sought out this career because I felt that this would be the way I personally would be able to "change the world" and affect the lives of the leaders of our future. I think teachers need to be passionate about what they do to be effective in what they are trying to accomplish with their students.
Jack Nielsen
11/12/2014 09:05:18 pm
I also agree with you about teachers loving their jobs. When I walk around my school and I hear teachers complaining about different things in the work place, it really bothers me because I feel like they are taking for granted how great of a position they are in. And for the teachers that hate their jobs, they should seriously reconsider their career because their poor attitude doesn't just affect them, it affects all of their students. If I was in a class with a teacher that didn't like their job, it would cause me to hate the class and not work hard. The reason is because if the teacher doesn't want to be there, why should the kids? A positive attitude can go a long way with students, and there is absolutely no excuse for the teachers to feel any different, or at least pretend they care.
Taylor Barbarino
11/16/2014 02:45:35 am
I completely agree with the second point you made! Being a teacher is not an easy job. A good teacher has to be a person that loves kids and has a passion for their subject area/ grade level. Meeting these two requirements does not always mean that the teacher will be effective. I believe that if a teacher is not willing to challenge themselves and become that "effective teacher", then teaching may not be the career for them.
Tara Caprdja
11/16/2014 09:33:24 pm
I agree with you that this class has shown us new ways to incorporate not only technology but social media into the classroom - something I never thought I would do! I find that the few times I have worked in the students cell phones into class they are super excited and almost feel like they're "getting away with something" making them more involved. With the proper supervision, these things can become a beneficial part of learning.
Liz Orbon
11/10/2014 05:55:47 am
The next sections I read in this book were about leadership and organization characteristics as well as culture and community characteristics. It is ideal for each and everyone of our students to be successful in their individual performances. We can do this by developing a criteria to guide decisions and a process to make changes where needed, based upon our students. Being able to do this shows that you are a leader, who wants the best for his/her followers (our students). If we need to change practices in order to challenege our students, we will do so in order to serve their interests. We will need to differentiate when needed to make sure each student understands what is being taught on their own academic level, while still being slightly challenged. I also like the idea of "teams" set up in schools with a small group of students and one or more teachers. I never had this in middle school, when I think I would have really enjoyed these meetings. This leads to a more comfortable community amongst students and teachers, making it easy to interact with all and easy to learn. Most importantly, we must act as advocates, advisors and mentors, along with our teacher title. By showing we care and support them, our middle schoolers will succeed in life.
Kyle Savage
11/12/2014 03:22:51 am
I like that you brought up the idea of "teaming" into the discussion. Teams also did not exist in my middle school or high school, but I always wonder if they are something that I would have enjoyed. I can totally see what you mean when you talk about how teams lead to a more comfortable community with students and teachers. The meetings not only pave the way for open discussions, but they create stronger relationships between student and teacher. These relationships are very integral, especially in the middle school years. I think that it is so important that students truly know that their teachers are there for them and that they can be used as resources. If a student feels as if his or her teacher is approachable and interested, said student will be more likely to participate with and engage in the school. Very good point in saying that we need to show our students we care. At the end of the day, I would argue that that is the most valuable thing we can do for our students on a daily basis. No matter what else happens, we have an obligation to these students to make sure that they feel loved and cared about when they are in our classes.
Kristine Gavilanes
11/19/2014 02:27:24 am
Teaming is actually something I too did not see in my school but it is something I see in our student teaching school. I think it's a very useful thing especially for students transitioning from elementary to middle schools. I observe a Pre-Alg 7 class where there are two teachers in the room and I feel that it is very beneficial for students to have that support from two teachers, because while one is teaching you always have the support and help from the other teacher in the room.
Kyle Savage
11/12/2014 03:08:24 am
This weekend I was able to read a lot of “This We Believe” and I find it very interesting. I am starting to find a lot of the content redundant, based on “Learning How to Kiss a Frog,” “This We Believe,” and all of the twitter posts. I do, however, think that this is good because we are having important information about teaching effectively drilled into our heads. Something that really stuck out to me the most throughout this book (I am almost at the end,) is with regards to assessments. I think assessment is something that frequently can get overlooked when talking about teaching, almost as if it is an after-thought. I think another common misconception is that assessment is something that happens after a unit or a lesson has been taught, when in fact, this is not always necessarily true. As good teachers, we should be assessing our students all the time. Pre-assessments are essential and I am glad that Adelphi classes and professors stress pre-assessments so heavily. In doing a pre-assessment, we can easily see where our students stand and what their needs are with regards to the curriculum and future assignments. Personally, I don’t think that pre-assessments always need to be a formal type of thing. In fact, sometimes the best types of pre-assessments may in fact be informal. For example, assigning a pre-writing activity before a novel begins just to get students thinking about some of the major concepts and to get them familiar with writing could be a great way to access students; from there, we could take the writing sample and study it so we know where each individual student is at, since they are all on a variety of different levels.
Christina Lucci
11/16/2014 09:21:12 am
I agree that a lot of the topics seem to overlap, Kyle, but it's true that having them repeated definitely helps them stay ingrained in our brains. I also love your theory on assessments. I think that allowing students to have somewhat of a say in how they are assessed would definitely help them become more interested in the assignment. I don't think they should necessarily be able to choose it entirely on their own, but perhaps giving them options or something along those lines could work.
Amber Paradise
11/12/2014 07:28:45 am
One of the Essential Attributes and Characteristics for middle level education that the book states is, "The school actively involves families in the education of their children." Regardless of the perceived characteristics of a school district, for example the socioeconomics of a neighborhood, parents of all students should be involved in the education of their children. Although we may see students who come from lower income households as the students whose parents we need to get more involved in the education of their children, the same amount of care needs to go into drawing support from middle and upper class parents. This involvement should be facilitated by teachers as well as schools as a whole, and goes beyond the traditional phone calls home, report cards, and parent-teacher nights. There is a tendency for students to want less to do with their parents while they are going through this major change in their life, as well as a tendency for parents of middle level children to be unaware of how and hesitant to get involved at their child's school. "This We Believe" gives a handful of ways school can help improve the home-school relationship. It is even stated that, "Research studies clearly link the involvement of both family and other adults in the community with higher levels of student achievement, improved students behavior, and greater overall support for schools." As previously said, some parents may be hesitant to get involved in their child's education and the school needs to show parents that they not only want, but need that relationship. Immigrant parents of certain students may be afraid to be present in the school environment because they cannot speak English, or other parents may not believe their opinions will matter to a teacher or an administrator. There is a culture of the school that needs to be developed in order for parents to feel comfortable will participating and supplying their input.
Michael Blinn
11/14/2014 10:12:02 am
Amber, I agree with your assertion that no matter the socioeconomic status of the parents, they need to be involved in their child's education. Although the students may want less parent involvement, you're absolutely right that they need it more during this time period. While I was at my middle school placement I was able to be apart of several parent meetings, which was a higher number that what the teachers on this academic team had experienced this early in the years past. The meetings with proactive parents who were involved with their kids at home made a difference. After the meetings, I was able to see a change, whether it was asking for a little more help during a lesson or coming to extra help after school. There were two meetings in which the parents were uninterested. One mother wanted the teachers to do the parenting for her and another meeting the parents sent the sister and did not come at all. Minimal change happened after those meetings.
Amanda Franco
11/12/2014 10:25:53 am
I love that this book is stressing the importance of utilizing the community. On page 41, it emphasizes that the community surrounding a school can be an excellent resource for teaching students and allowing them to have experiences that they cannot necessarily have in a classroom. The community is also a great source for finding materials and "guest experts".
Christina Lucci
11/16/2014 09:29:01 am
This is so incredibly true! In so many of my math classes, there's always a student or two who argue with the teacher that the material won't be beneficial for them in the future. Relating curriculum to the real world is vital, especially for middle school students because they're the ones who frequently question everything. Connecting what's being taught to what's going on in students' lives will definitely help them relate to the material and get them more interested in learning.
Amanda Franco
11/18/2014 08:22:46 am
I actually just read an article recently about using social issues in Math classes! In case you're interesting: http://www.nctm.org/resources/nea/MT2008-02-456a.pdf
Amber Paradise
11/17/2014 12:14:29 pm
There seems to be a common theme of utilizing community resources throughout my classes this semester. Mary Cowhey, author of "Black Ants and Buddhists," who came to Adelphi not too long ago to give a presentation on Common Core, says in her book that she compiled a list of people she knows and how they can be useful if she was to ever call upon them to come into her classroom. The people on her list range from peers she went to college with, to parents of past students, and even different people that play a role in the community. It just goes to show how important reaching our to your community and people you know, resources that are not always at the forefront of our minds, is when it comes to connecting education to students' real lives.
Amanda Franco
11/18/2014 08:18:56 am
I really like that idea! I think all teachers should have a list of resources like that because you never know when it could come in handy and be extremely helpful to the students.
Jack Nielsen
11/12/2014 08:57:45 pm
When I was reading the book, I was focused on the community standpoint of a school. And it is not only this book that has talked about the integration of community assets with the classroom. Incorporating the community and the students' culture can help and encourage the students to participate in the lesson, because they will be focusing on a topic that is relevant to them. For example, just this week, for Veterans Day, the school I am at had veterans from the community come in and speak in every social studies class. This is a great example of using the community in school because the students' get a first hand glimpse into the history of the country through these veterans.
Michael Blinn
11/14/2014 05:54:21 am
Jack, I agree with you and the book in that building the community and incorporating it is vital to the middle school experience. One of the clubs at the middle school I student taught at does a food drive during Thanksgiving. This club happens to be the largest one in the school and they are able to provide food and gift cards to supermarkets for families in need in their town. Although I won't be there to see it, from what I understand the kids get very involved in the activity and it is always a great success. I think it also shows them at a young age that not everyone has the same luxuries that they do and it shows how close to home it can be. The community and culture of the school is great. Another example is the school gets really involved for halloween and the students love it. The teachers, for the most part, dress up and they're really creative with it too. It shows to the students that the teachers are human and they can feel more connected to the school that they go to.
Jack Nielsen
11/18/2014 08:55:46 am
Wow I think that is great that there is so much involvement with schools and the community. The school's participation in helping the less fortunate during Thanksgiving is inspiring, and it is great to see students and families helping out. We actually have something similar in my hometown, except it is a toy and gift drive for families in need, and it is a great way to get involved. I also liked how you mentioned that the teachers dressed up for Halloween, because it is a way for the students to see the teachers as regular people who celebrate holidays like anyone else. We have a "spirit week" when the students dress up differently for each day of the week to show their school spirit. I think ideas like this are great way to promote a strong community in school.
Liz Orbon
11/16/2014 04:36:44 am
Jack, I thought it was really cool that your school brought in veteran's during their social studies classes. These type of guest speakers were always my favorite part of middle school. It is so much more interesting and always students to be way more engaged in learning and even in question/answer type conversations that occur after the speaker is done. I also found this true for the assemblies and activities that are set up. Since real life people come in to speak FIRSTHAND versus through a story told in a textbook, the students can see the emotion of the speaker on the topic, which allows them to be impacted by it much greater. When they are asked to work together on projects or activities that benefit their community, they also seem more engaged since they are able to see first hand how much of a positive impact they are having. Emphasizing community and culture is definitely a great way to bring the students and faculty together working as a team.
Tara Caprdja
11/16/2014 09:29:32 pm
Jack, I think the idea of community within the school is wonderful. My school has a really difficult time doing this because my students are bussed in from all over NY. They often find it difficult to join together because they are not from the same area and don't even get to see each other outside of school. We tried to get them involved in the community of the school but that was also difficult because they felt such a disconnect.
Amber Paradise
11/17/2014 12:17:14 pm
It is so important that teachers take advantage of speaking and assembly opportunities that can be brought to their schools. In addition, assemblies are great alternatives in environments and schools where field trips are not possible for students. The quality of assemblies and presentations must be assessed, and student interest should be taken into consideration. I can still remember assemblies that I attended in middle school and high school that have had an impact on my life.
Michael Blinn
11/14/2014 12:00:01 pm
Over the course of the past week I finished reading this book, but with the demands of student teaching I wasn't able to post earlier, so I apologize in advance for the length of this post.
Liz Orbon
11/16/2014 04:46:23 am
In reading the last few sections of the book, I must say that this was a really great book that gave a lot of good pointers that I will always keep in the back of my mind as a teacher. It is so important that we never forget that as a teacher, we must always offer comprehensive guidance and support that meet the needs of the adolescents. Consistent communication will assure that each student is behaving, learning, and growing in a proper setting for their individual needs. This is why guidance counselors, social workers, and school therapists are really so important in schools, and their job must be done to its best for each and every student in the building. Also, health and wellness programs are important, and they should be supported through the curricula and school-wide programs.
Christina Lucci
11/16/2014 09:06:57 am
I finished the book this week and have to say that I really enjoyed reading about the different ways to effectively teach young adolescents. It was definitely similar to Learning How to Kiss a Frog but I think that this reading was a bit more straightforward and more in depth. I loved that this text focused on the fact that not only are we important role models in students' educational careers, but that because adolescence is such an important time in a student's life, that we are simply important role models for them overall.
Jessica
11/16/2014 12:00:18 pm
This week I read on about how the best way for our middle schoolers to learn is through engagement and interaction, especially the dialogue that occurs between us and them and their own peers. I tried very hard to always have my middle schoolers talking to each other and working together during their poetry and short story units. Even if I had them working individually, I would end up having them share in pairs or do some sort of peer editing after (poetry projects).
Tara Caprdja
11/16/2014 09:23:39 pm
In the section titled "The school activity involves families in the education of their children" the book discusses how it is important for parents to remain involved in the educational aspect as well as other areas of their childs life. The book says that parents often think that this is a point in life where their child(ren) are capable or should be encouraged to be more independent. We know that this is a huge transitional period and that they need adult guidance more than ever.
Kristine Gavilanes
11/19/2014 02:22:39 am
I completely agree, and as I stated before in my post, this is also another benefit of student led conferences! It helps the student and parents become active participants in the child's learning. It helps show the teacher how much the voice of the parent and student matter greatly in the child's academic progress.
Blessy Thomas
11/17/2014 01:33:24 am
Something we find being implemented in classrooms today is technology. Back when I was in high school and middle school we were not allowed to have our cellphones within the classrooms but instead they had to be put away in our lockers. If a phone was found during a period, it would be confiscated and would not return to us until the end of the day. Today, the district I currently student teach in has implemented the use of technology within its classrooms by adapting to BYOD “Bring your own device.” This new “rule” you may say allows students to have their cellphones in class and use them within a lesson. My cooperating teachers have implemented this within their classes and now design lessons where students must find information through the use of their phone or ipads, which allow them to take responsibility for themselves to get the answers and figure out what it means to them. The use of social media is also huge in the classroom peeking the interests of these students. Many projects you find done in a classroom is done through facebook, twitter, or even instagram where kids can make profiles for a character from a book and look through their eyes. Some districts are even updating their curriculum and changing it to a flipped classroom where students are watching the lessons at home and time inside the classroom is used to elaborate what they have learned. Not only is technology being implemented within the schools but school are trying to get parents more involved with their child’s work and their academic progress. The school I student taught at had a website where parents would get an access code for each of their child’s classes and with that they would be able to see the assignments their children have and their grades exams and projects as well. This allows parents to be included on their child’s academic progress especially if their kids do not include them and fill them in on what they are doing.
Kyle Savage
11/18/2014 10:13:25 am
This has been discussed so many times in this class, but it never gets old. We need to adapt to the world that we are in and technology is a huge part of this. The incorporation of so many technological devices into education is very beneficial and is doing a tremendous service to students these days. I am so happy that I am coming into teaching in a time where technology is being utilized instead of banned. I remember that when I was in high school we were not even allowed to have our phones on our person during the school day. In retrospect, I see how stupid this is! Today in the class that I was observing, a freshmen girl forgot the poem that was assigned in her folder, which she had lost. The teacher instructed her to take out her cell phone and google the poem; the girl did as she was told and was able to therefore contribute positively to the class. What would have been the point of disciplining or reprimanding the girl for forgetting her folder? Would she have gained anything on an academic level from such actions? No, she would not have. I was so glad to see a teacher use technology in such a positive, yet simple, way in the classroom. It is my hope that more of this can occur and I definitely plan on using technology in my own classroom.
Taylor Barbarino
11/18/2014 02:59:03 am
It took me a while to start getting into this book because I have been so busy with school, but I am almost finished with it! While reading, I found the chapter on Leadership and Organization Characteristics to be very interesting. Leaders in a school district, include teachers, administrators, principals, etc. As it also says in the book, it is so important that these leaders set good examples, and act as "role models" for these children. For a school to have a strong collaborative team, school leaders must "facilitate and model learning, listen thoughtfully, and build a school culture that supports faculty as they engage in reflective practice" (p. 30). It is crucial that teachers act as positive role models for students inside and outside of the classroom. The way a teacher/ leader interacts with other adults in the building, as well as other students plays a huge role in leadership. In the classroom, teachers should be sure to "integrate the curriculum, analyze assessment data, examine student work, and reflect on the effectiveness of instructional approaches being made" (p. 32). I believe that they should also focus on individualized student needs/ differentiated instruction. With this, teachers will be effective leaders in the classroom. A point was made on page 32 that large schools divide into "houses" which separate students based on their grade level and ethnic and socioeconomic groups. My high school actually also did this. Students were broken up into teams of "color". (ex: red team, green team, blue team). There were specific teachers assigned to these teams so that students could build student-teacher relationships with these team leaders. I truly believe that this is a great idea because all of the subject area teachers have the same students on that specific team, which makes it easier for them to collaborate with the other teachers and discuss the curriculum, a student, an issue, or a situation with the other team leaders. Going off of this, positive school leadership (a successful school) will then lead students into an inviting, supportive, and safe learning environment. Leaders in a school building can positively or negatively influence and affect the teacher/student/school environment.
Kyle Savage
11/18/2014 09:47:27 am
Taylor, I completely agree with you! I always say that the job of a teacher is a 24/7 job. We always need to model proper behavior because our students will absolutely look at us as role models. As teachers, we are almost in a fishbowl. If they see that we are not treating people with respect, they will pick up on that and therefore emulate said behavior. It is important that we make conscious efforts to lead by example. If we want our students to do something, than we also must do it. It is not fair for us to ask them to show respect if the respect is not mutual. Administrators also share this responsibility and I am really glad that you brought this up. I think that sometimes administrators think that they are above the rules and do not need to necessarily watch their behavior all of the time.
Kyle Savage
11/18/2014 09:38:52 am
I am happy to say that I’ve finally finished “This We Believe,” and it was definitely a beneficial read as a new teacher. I am so happy to have the information taught in this book under my belt as I get ready to begin student teaching next year. Overall, I think that “This We Believe” was a very useful tool and I plan on bringing to life many of the ideas it suggested in my classroom next semester and beyond. In my final days reading his book, a few key points really stuck out to me that I deeply want to stress in this post. While teachers are the key factors in educating adolescents, there are two other components that play major roles as well.
Andriana Andriopoulos
11/19/2014 02:53:05 am
Kyle, I strongly agree with you that family involvement is an essential part of education. I think the more the parents are involved in their students the more students will be involved in the classroom. This relates to the theme of community mentioned in the book as well. Building partnerships is essential for learning.
Nicole Osterhoudt
11/19/2014 04:33:54 am
Kyle-
Amber Paradise
11/18/2014 10:13:49 am
To wrap up my thoughts on my reading of "This We Believe," I am going to touch on a point that is brought up at the end of the book, and then back track a little to a topic that was discussed earlier in the book that I reread. As many people have already discussed, the community influence on a student's education is an under utilized resource. The book claims, "Schools do not presume to educate children alone." Although this should be the ideal situation, there have been some school settings that I have had the opportunity to observe, where it feels as if the culture of the school is to not go beyond the doors of the school when looking for resources, learning opportunities, or even when it comes to using students' personal experiences to enhance their learning. Some administrations may feel as if they are extending their teachers too far by expecting them to create partnerships with community and business partners. Teachers themselves may feel like they do not want delve into the personal lives of their students in the general classroom environment, or they may feel hesitant to explore the area where there school is and search for those resources. Yet the reality is when schools, communities, and business partners develop relationships, all parties benefit. Bringing the community into the classroom can further enhance and engage student learning.
Jessica
11/18/2014 10:48:09 am
Effective leadership doesn't just mean for teachers, but for administrators as well. When I think of an effective leader in a school, it is one that is there solely to better the lives of the students. They contain a deep understanding of their students and adolescents in general. They recognize strengths and weaknesses of the students and make sure that they are constantly challenging the strengths and helping to strengthen the weaknesses.
Manjot Khehra
11/19/2014 01:49:03 am
The last chapter we had to read for This We Believe focused on leadership and the role it plays in the middle school. I thought this section brought up many great points but while it focused on the role of the principal, I think many of the things discussed could also be applied to teachers. For example, while having a unified vision from the top down, principal to teachers, is ideal, its not always the case. We should take on that role and try to unify as much as possible. This can start at the department level, the team level or maybe even just collaborating with a teacher that teaches a grade below or above yours. Even this can be beneficial to students, even if it is at a small level. Obviously the more people that are involved, the more successful this policy is, but even in the most hostile situations I am confident you can find at least one person to share a common goal with and implement it. The section also states that principals should keep up with current research, the same goes for teachers. We have heard the analogy of a surgeon operating with outdated information, research is crucial for us to stay innovative and explore strategies that might help more students learn at a higher level. Like the section states, this can be done through Professional Development, but that doesn't mean sitting in the auditorium watching a powerpoint. Professional Development should be relevant and individualized. In the school district I am currently student teaching for, the last professional development gave the teachers many choices across different mediums. Some teachers came to the school for a presentation, others went to the city for a lecture on their particular discipline, some learned a new technology, and some worked online. Hearing many of the teachers talk about their professional development was refreshing because for many of them it was relevant and applicable to their classroom. Even if this type of PD is not at the school, I think as teachers we should be signed up for at least one journal related to teaching our discipline. This is valuable resource for all teachers because it can provide valuable new insight that might not be available to them otherwise.
Kristine Gavilanes
11/19/2014 02:19:11 am
I am halfway through the book! My apologies!
Andriana Andriopoulos
11/19/2014 02:46:52 am
In the book "This We Believe" it is stated that, "lifelong learners know that moving beyond their own immediate comfort zones as learners is important for themselves and their students. They also know that one does not just learn "thing" but also develops an appreciation of what and how behind the learning". I strongly agree with this quote; this book left me with the idea that middle school is about community. Faculty, staff and students must work together to form strong bonds. The book highlights that these bonds need value and engagement. Teachers must value their students and be able to engage them to help them be life long learners. We must form our lesson to help students become actively aware of the larger world. Wrestling with big ideas and questions allowing them to not just think but to critically think. The book also talks about the curriculum being challenging, exploratory, integrative, and relevant. In order to do this everyone in the building must "Take Action". The Call to Action requires a commitment. There must be specific actions individuals can take appropriate to their role in the middle school. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I think it has some strong points to think about.
Ciaran Fox
11/19/2014 03:11:45 am
When looking at the five characteristics of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, what stands out to me the most is that middle school is the important turning point in a child's educational journey, and that the difference between a good teacher and a bad teacher can affect that student's own ideas of the importance of education. Good teachers facilitate learning in such a way that they get the students excited about it, and the students will learn skills that will become important in their education in later life. Another important point is being able to craft a curriculum that challenges the students, but in a way that they can still complete the tasks without giving up. The key to a good curriculum in my opinion is that it challenges students enough that they can still succeed with some hard work, but doesn't challenge them so much that they give up immediately.
Ciaran Fox
11/19/2014 03:17:46 am
One of the growing problems in schools today is the bullying problem that seems to run rampant in some schools, with administrators and teachers unable or unwilling to fix the problem. For some of these students, the school isn't a place to learn and to grow, instead it is a place to be attacked, whether it be verbal, physical, or mental. How can students learn in an unsafe environment? As teachers, we need to be more aware of whats going on in between classes, and be able to recognize students that don't feel safe in the classroom. Effective school counselors are very important for students, not just as someone to ask for help if they don't feel safe, but also to help them make decisions about their education. Counselors become the important link between students and teachers, and it makes it easier for everyone to work together.
Nicole Osterhoudt
11/19/2014 04:58:57 am
I apologize that I haven't posted for a while but I have thoroughly been enjoying this book. I am almost finished and there are so many different topics in this book that are thought-provoking and that I realize I reflect on while I am in my fieldwork.
Rahad Rahman
11/19/2014 12:34:21 pm
The importance of Middle Level Education is a meaningful topic; Adolescents aren't always interested in the topics adults consider important for them to learn. Ten- to 15-year-olds, we declare, rarely inject anything but minimal energy into their studies. Instead, they demand, "When are we ever going to use this?" "Don't you take us seriously?" and "How can I make Sara like me?" It's easy for adults who've forgotten the wonder and uncertainty of the adolescent years to declare that students today are more uninterested in school and undisciplined in life than they were at that age. The many transitions individuals undergo during early adolescence would make growing up difficult enough in an unchanging world. Today, the changes abound in every aspect of society. Teachers have to keep in mind provide a path to learning that's sensitive to students' developmental stages. When asked which teachers motivate them, young adolescents immediately mention teachers who "get" them; who accept them unconditionally (mistakes and all); and who empathize with them (as if remembering what it was like to experience certain concepts for the first time).
Rahad Rahman
11/19/2014 12:47:43 pm
Rahad Rahman
11/19/2014 01:07:54 pm
Rahad Rahman
11/20/2014 12:14:20 pm
Usually teachers have questions on, how can we determine not only who is a competent leader, but a good leader? It is important to be oriented toward an ethical way to behave; the latter refers to the essential importance of having the skills to carry out one's values. In order to form leadership in classroom teacher should have sense of purpose; the values of an organization must be clear, members of the organization should know them, and they should exemplify and uphold them in their own actions. Justice, Everyone in an organization should be held to common standards, with rules and procedures that are clear, firm, fair, and consistent. Temperance is when a leader must strive to maintain a proper balance of emotion. There are time for passionate advocacy and times for quiet reflection and reconsideration. Balance is the key. Respect is the dignity of each individual is the concern of any leader, and this is preserved by treating all members of the organization with respect and ensuring they treat one-another similarly, regardless of differences. Empowerment, the more skilled they are, the more they feel confident in their abilities and competent to make decisions, raise questions, see new possibilities, and disagree respectfully with others at all levels of the organizational hierarchy, the stronger and more successful the organization will be. Courage, students have to be willing to follow their convictions and bring their organization to new places. In education, this is most sorely needed in response to the test-based regimen that has taken over our schools at the expense of true education and social-emotional and character development. Deep Commitment: makes leadership in schools so challenging, because it requires a commitment to every employee, student, and parent. I believe that in order to be a good leader the people you are leading must be able to trust in you and put their faith in you to make the correct decisions for the best of everyone. I feel when students observe their teachers remaining vital and engaged with their own learning the model has been presented. I feel that this encourages an environment of active learning that benefits all stakeholders.
Rahad Rahman
11/20/2014 12:33:20 pm
It is important to have collaboration in culture and community. In a collaborative culture, members of the school community work together effectively and are guided by a common purpose. All members of the community teachers, administrators, students and their families share a common vision of what the school should be like. Together they set goals that lead them toward this vision. In doing so, they create a culture of discourse in which the most important educational matters facing the school are openly and honestly discussed.
Taylor Barbarino
11/21/2014 12:45:07 am
I finally completed "This We Believe" and found it to be a very insightful book! Yes, this book addressed many of the same concepts as "Learning How to Kiss a Frog", but I personally enjoyed reading Garvin's version because it was more of a catchy and easier read. Just like "Learning How to Kiss a Frog", this book ends in a similar way. It is stated in "This We Believe" that "Thoroughly preparing all young adolescents to succeed in a demanding and evolving global culture makes the transformation and improvement of middle level education an imperative" (p. 44). In other words, motivating and loving these "young frogs" will help them make a successful transition into adulthood.
Nicole Osterhoudt
11/22/2014 12:11:16 pm
I am excited to say that I have finally finished reading This We Believe. It took me a lot longer than expected but I am glad that it took me this long. Just yesterday as I was finishing up the book, I received an email that let me know that I had finally passed the impossible Spanish CST. My first instinct was to text my 7th grade Spanish teacher and tell her about my exciting news. She seemed to be just as excited as I was. She then explained how she wanted to give my resume to her principal as soon as I graduate. At that very moment I paused and realized the thought of me ACTUALLY being an educator in a middle school was more than a slight possibility.
Blessy Thomas
11/24/2014 04:43:45 am
Finishing this book, i realized that along with an updated curriculum the book heavily emphasized that necessity of an “"inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive”. I think this is more important than a curriculum because in order for a student to learn they must be comfortable to attending school on a daily basis. If a child is bullied (only if for one day) the environment for this child is no longer safe and supportive. Instead children at this age may see themselves as being targeted which in turn, turns them off from school and dreads going there. While the safety of the children is a main concern in school in general, I think as teachers we must take this a step further and make sure it’s safe in our own individual classrooms. Today derogatory terms, such as gay, homo, fag, retarded, are all still said within classrooms and teachers allow kids to say it with no repercussions or act as if it was not said. Mission statements for school all across the country usually state that students and teachers are agreeing to be respectful, responsible, and empathetic. I believe that if we actually want our schools to be “inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive” we have to take it upon ourselves to be respectful and then make sure its the same way within our classrooms. I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read this book and I definitely hope to use everything I learned and read from there within my future classroom.
Jack Nielsen
12/1/2014 02:21:04 am
Nicole, I agree with you that middle school is completely different than an elementary school or high school. During student teaching, I moved from a high school to middle school and it was such a big adjustment. I have to be much more patient with my middle school students, and run my class in a very different way. Some students are still adjusting to adolescence, and are a little less mature than others. This was a big change for me. In the high school, the students were very responsible and could work effectively in small groups. However, in the middle school, because the students are a bit more immature, I have to provide more guidance and create an environment in which students can work effectively.
Jack Nielsen
12/1/2014 02:17:35 am
After finishing "This We Believe", there are certain ideas that have certainly resonated with me, and that I will keep in mind during my teaching experience. As well as finishing the book, my student teaching is coming to a close. During this semester, I have had experience with both a high school class and middle school class. "This We Believe" does not only cover topics that are specific to middle school, but they also talk about how to effectively manage a high school class as well. Leave a Reply. |
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October 2023
Whittney Smith, Ed.D.Dr. Smith is the Principal of Mineola High School in Garden City Park, NY. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Ruth Ammon School of Education at Adelphi University. 
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