Visions and Practices in Middle School Education
Class Information:
Meeting Days: Wednesdays
Dates: September 3rd - December 10th
Time: 4:30-6:20pm
Room: Blodgett Hall / Room 209
Instructor: Dr. Whittney Smith
Website: www.whittneysmith.com
Phone: (516) 237-2650; email: wsmith@mineola.k12.ny.us; wsmithatc@gmail.com
Office Hours: By appointment; 516-237-2650
Meeting Days: Wednesdays
Dates: September 3rd - December 10th
Time: 4:30-6:20pm
Room: Blodgett Hall / Room 209
Instructor: Dr. Whittney Smith
Website: www.whittneysmith.com
Phone: (516) 237-2650; email: wsmith@mineola.k12.ny.us; wsmithatc@gmail.com
Office Hours: By appointment; 516-237-2650
Objective:
This course provides candidates with a deeper understanding of the nature and instructional needs of the pre-adolescent and adolescent child, the regulations that drive Middle Level education and best practices for teaching and learning. Topics include home/school communication, middle school structures including scheduling, teaming, technology integration, data and classroom management.
This course provides candidates with a deeper understanding of the nature and instructional needs of the pre-adolescent and adolescent child, the regulations that drive Middle Level education and best practices for teaching and learning. Topics include home/school communication, middle school structures including scheduling, teaming, technology integration, data and classroom management.
Syllabus:
| visions_and_practices_in_middle_school_education_syllabus.docx |
Course Outline: Please note that the agenda for each class session and the specific assignments are subject to change
Date / Topic:September 3: Introduction
October 8: Mindset & Grit
October 22: Project / Problem Based Learning & Differentiated Instruction
November 19: "Classroom Management"
December 10: Conclusion
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In-Class Focus:
Discussion: This We Believe... and how it relates to the work of Carol Dweck and Lisa Blackwell as well as the work of Angela Lee Duckworth
"Relevant vs. Real"
"Carrots and Sticks" "Punished by Rewards" Presentations
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Online Focus:Read Learning How to Kiss a Frog (see file below). Post your comments on the class blog. You should be finished with this book by class on October 22 and provide me a "creative" one page summary of key points.
Choose one or more weekly Twitter Chat to follow and participate in. Comment about the chat and on your own learning as a result. on the class blog.
Begin Reading This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents (Due Nov.19) Begin to think about a current middle school structure / strategy / model to research and a group of 4 to work with. (The assignment is detailed below).
Finish Learning How to Kiss a Frog and remember to blog...
Presentations due next week!
Good Luck!
Have a nice Winter Break! | ||
Culminating Project Description:
You will work in groups of four to research a current middle school structure/strategy/model that you would like to learn more about and determine how you would implement it in your class/school. You will then present your group’s research as well as the implementation plan (what it will look like in you class/school) You can choose from the following: homework, scheduling, teaming, student-led conferences, flipped classroom, PBL, Engagement (Student-centered instruction), etc. Please review your topic with me prior to beginning this project. Your final multimedia presentation should include a works cited.
Grading:
Learning How to Kiss a Frog (Blog Posts and Summary of Key Points) - 20%
This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents (Blog Posts) - 15%
Weekly Twitter Chat Posts -15%
Culminating Project - 40%
Class Performance & Preparedness - 10%
This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents (Blog Posts) - 15%
Weekly Twitter Chat Posts -15%
Culminating Project - 40%
Class Performance & Preparedness - 10%
Required Reading:
Learning How to Kiss a Frog: Advice for those who work with pre- and early adolescents by James P. Garvin
This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents by Association for Middle Level Education
This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents by Association for Middle Level Education
| learning_how_to_kiss_a_frog.pdf |
| learning_how_to_kiss_a_frog_chapter_3.pdf |
Additional Resources:
Presentations:
| visions_and_practices_intro_and_structures.pptx |
| mindset__grit.pptx |
| differentiated_instruction.ppt |
| differentiated_instruction.pptx |
| classroom_community.pptx |
