TO MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. FROM THEIR TEACHER.

Your Middle School Student

By: Melissa Larew

Think about your child Who are they? What do they like? What are their interests? Who are their friends? Do they enjoy school? How much communication is there?

What I know about your child

Strengths
Areas Humor Interests Friend

to improve

group Learning strategies that suit them

What we can do together, along with your student

But first

WHO IS A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT?

This age is a lot different than Elementary school years and High school years. Students brains are still developing but can begin to understand abstract ideas. - Concrete examples are still beneficial

This is a time when emotions and feelings come into play regarding your student.

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOUR CHILD?

Constantly hungry? Spend hours on the computer? Plagued with acne? Outgrow their clothes in a few months? Want to be independent? Care about friends and socializing?

PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE GROWTH

Growth spurts- muscular and skeletal systems are growing, sometimes rapidly Hormones- causing them to feel tired and experience emotions and feelings they cannot explain Males and females grow differently Need nutritious food Need sleep **

**Sleep deprivation can lead to Poor reasoning Difficulty focusing Affects alertness And can cause weight gain

Middle school students need nine hours of sleep every night.

WHAT THEY NEED FROM YOU

Middle school students can feel split between friends and family due to peer influence Allow them to make own choices, but be there to guide them to make good ones Support them Stability and security

When asked who the most important person was in their life, young adolescents almost universally picked one or both of their parents . (Brown, Knowles pg 45)

WHAT THEY NEED FROM ME

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7.

Sense of humor Flexibility in school with assignments and curriculum A good listener Place them at the center of the learning Wealth of knowledge about adolescent development Skills to help them succeed Kind, caring, trustworthy role model who values them

MYTHS ABOUT TEACHING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

-

All students have similar learning characteristics Teaching simply fits all students needs Learning has a limit Learning means memorizing facts Creativity and thinking critically are not valued The different subjects do not relate to each other Teachers are only decision makers All students must fit the norm classroom

MY PLAN TO TEACH YOUR CHILD; MY STUDENT

Include parents, administration, staff, and the community to provide meaningful opportunities for students to experience new things

Learn about your student; what he/she likes and does not like
Practice skills with your student to further them in school as well as what they will take with them into the real world

Challenge them to go beyond the textbook and worksheet Use different levels of thinking making them critical thinkers Show them ways to gain information meaningful to their questions and inquiry

- Never just tell them the answer, but prompt them

Bridge all subjects together, giving your student multiple exposures to new and relevant information
- Example: Bring art into Science, or math into S.S.

Include students in planning curriculum Include students in decision making that affects them

Celebrate and bridge all cultures valuing each and every student

WHO WE WANT MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BE

An intellectually reflecting person A good citizen Caring and ethical individual A healthy person

We live a Democratic way, shouldnt our students have a curriculum that promotes Democracy???

ELEMENTS YOUR STUDENTS WILL ENCOUNTER IN MY DEMOCRATIC CLASSROOM ARE:

Shared decision making from students Students needs, interests, and social skills are central to creating a curriculum that suits them Students will inquire and investigate All voices are heard and respected

First day/week of school

Rest of school year

Students will create class rules Students will freely and openly share their thoughts and and procedures to be followed opinions about their learning. by all and hung up in class. They will be apart of decision Students will design seating making that affects them. arrangement. We will continuously look for Students will brainstorm and ways to improve classroom implement techniques for the environment. classroom. Example: How to Students will create more goals line up. (individual and as a whole). Students will decide how to Students will ask questions to turn in homework and when. further their interest and learning on a topic. We all will create class goals Students will work and how to reach them. collaboratively with other Student will create class jobs.
peers, staff, teachers and administration.

AS THEIR TEACHER I WILL

Allow for alternative and multiple forms of assessment Connect assessment to curriculum and instruction Provide meaningful feedback at appropriate times Communicate with parents/caregivers and students in order to ensure students are receiving best education

(CONT) Provide them with a schedule that fits their needs Provide them with help and advisory time Create a positive and safe environment Help them create their identity Create a team atmosphere Continuously reflect and improve my skills.

MY GOALS
Every

student has the right to learn and can learn! - All students, no matter background, can be successful - I will place respect of all cultures as my top priority to ensure your student feels safe and valued.

MY GOALS

All students are well prepared with 21st Century skills. - I will provide opportunities for students to work on 21st Century skills. - Students will use these skills in all areas of their learning; bridging all subjects together. - Students will feel confident and informed allowing them to take their knowledge with them once they leave my classroom.

MY GOALS

I will further myself to ensure you student receives research-based and beneficial methods to help them learn. - I will attend professional development meetings and conferences. - I will read up on what is new in Education. - I will reflect on my own teaching every day to make sure the activities, concepts, units, and learning your child receives is appropriate and meaningful to them.

QUESTIONS I WILL ASK MYSELF

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

What kind of teacher do I want to be? What quality of experience do I want my students to encounter today? How will what I do today, impact my students learning and attitude in the future? How will todays learning changes my students ways of acting, thinking, and being? How will I engage students in learning?

 A true Middle School reflects much more than program or structural reforms, however. It is more than just a place of learning. It is a place where students experience the support of caring adults who provide liberal amounts of prodding, encouragement, understanding, and celebration to the experiences that young adolescents encounter. (Brown, Knowles pg 261)

REFERENCES
Brown, Dave. E, Knowles, Trudy. (2007). What Every Middle Teacher Should Know. 2nd Edition. New Hampshire: Heinemann. All images taken from Word Clip Art.