Thursday, January 31, 2008
Eileen's In This We Believe Blog
Eileen's In This We Believe Blog
This last section gives a more detailed description of the roles of people affected by the school and those affecting the school and the students. I enjoyed this section as it went along with a class that I am taking called “Fundamentals of School Health”. Both this book and my health text stress the importance of the whole child. It is important to make sure the students are supported in all of these areas; physical development, cognitive development, moral development, psychological development, and social-emotional development; so that they are able to reach their full learning potential.
This book stresses that there is much more to the roles of the teacher, principal, staff and students than in years before. Education needs to mean something and has a purpose. I enjoyed this book very much; it is also small enough to carry around and reference from!
(19-34)
This section of In This We Believe dealt with things we had seen in TP2000. The aspect of block scheduling is always a concern for middle school teachers as the time used for teaching should be a constant and should be used wisely. Scheduling not only means when your classes are but when you plan as well as when you have time for students beyond the normal class time.
What I liked about this section was that it talked about integrating academics and making that bigger connection to the outside world that our students live in. Getting students interested in the subject matter is a great feat but having them apply in after they leave the classroom means that they have truly learned the subject matter. Remembering it for the next class or test doesn’t mean anything; if the students can not relate the material to themselves as individuals they will probably not remember it for long. I also liked the self monitoring and having student set their own goals. I feel that it is important to guide the students in this process as they may set the goal too high or too low, and we want all students to reach their potential.
The sections about advocacy programs and specialized professionals made sense to me. Every student needs someone in their corner to ensure that hey are receiving all the support they need, and often there needs to be a professional on board to address those needs.
I am still unclear on the distinction that was made between assessment and evaluation. If anyone out there could help make it clear I would appreciate it.
Eileen’s In This We Believe 9-19Middle school educators need to understand the uniqueness of the development of middle school student. They know how to form relationships and learning partnerships with their students. A successful middle school has a vision that guides their decisions, they share this vision with the school district and it also includes relevant state and federal guidelines.The above is some notes from the section of “In This We Believe”; I tend to agree with the intentions of the book and hope to be working in an atmosphere similar to this. However, the relevant state and federal guidelines part makes me nervous. I know in my logical mind that their term relevant did not mean that the school picks and chooses what guidelines they could or would follow. The language still makes me uneasy.Creating a safe and supportive environment for students is extremely important today. It is difficult when we think of all that is out there and what the students need. It not only means to keep them safe from drugs and violence in the school but often in the home as well. The support that some students need comes in the form of creating a healthy environment by providing information so they are able to make informed decisions. This helps them make good decisions that help them lead healthy productive lives.Good leadership is essential to a good school. The leadership is demonstrated in many ways, by the teachers, the principal, the administration and the community. If all of the leaders or role models come together to achieve a common goal things fall into place quicker. The teachers are role models for the students, the principal a role model for the teachers, the administration a role model for all the schools in the district and the community a role model for its entire population of all ages.Overall I liked the aspects of the book in this section. It was informative and thought provoking.
Posted by EILEEN at 10:02 PM 0 comments
The explanation of the characteristics of a successful middle school culture that were listed on page 7 was helpful. When looking for schools to teach in it is important to take into account the atmosphere of the school as well as the programs it may be using or implementing. Often in our society we look at the performance scores of a school and if they are good we assume the school is successful. This may not be the case, though students seem to do better when all their needs are being met and there is support for them physically, emotionally, socially as well as academically. Too often a school will teach to the test and actually prepare for an extended amount of time before having the students take the state tests. This produces good results on paper, but we have to remember that even paper if not kept in the best environment is likely to be damaged or worse. It is important to think of our students in a similar way. Their environment affects their well being and ultimately their lives.
A good education is an ideal that we constantly struggle to provide to our children. The shift to include families and communities has greatly improved our ability to reach that elusive goal. Also helping, is that inclusion of programs that benefit a child’s basic needs, and also educating families on what will help their child be more prepared for school. The encouragement for parent involvement at the middle school level is far better today than when I myself attended one. By listening to my classmates and reading In This We Believe, I find myself not only wanting to help my students succeed in school but looking forward to working in an enriching environment which includes caring and concern for everyone from students to faculty and staff.
Audra's This We Believe Blog
Abstract A:While I thought that this section was repetitive at times, I think it had some good ideas about what true middle schools should be like. Like the Turning Points 2000 recommendations, the ideas given in this book need to be used as a whole and not be used selectively. Tying into Wormelli's belief, in This We Believe, one of NMSA's main beliefs is having educators who value working with adolescents. It goes on to to say that middle level educators are role models for their students and should demonstrate the qualities that they want their students to possess. I think that this idea is critical for educators to understand and demonstrate if they want a successful and meaningful classroom. I also really connected to the idea of having high expectations for everyone in the school community.
Reflection A: Coming from a school district where the expectations of students were very low, it was easy to see how this affected the morale of the entire school. By having high expectations of your students and coworkers, they will be more motivated and have a higher chance of succeeding. The last main section that I connected with was the part about the school initiating partnerships with the families and community of the students. So often teachers assume that they are solely responsible for the education of students while in reality is should be a mutual effort. As the book points out, there is a direct correlation between family/adult involvement and greater student achievement and improved behavior.
Abstract B:I thought that this section of the book (19-34) had very similar ideas that were listed in Turning Points 200 such as teams, block scheduling and houses/schools-within-a-school." Another reoccurring theme that I found in this book was the need for integrated academics. Not only should teachers at the middle grades level integrate other academic subjects into their classroom, they should also model to the students how the information being presented can be applied to their daily lives out in the "real world." The portion dedicated to assessment I found very useful though. Because adolescents are at a time in their lives when they are building a clear self-concept, all assessment and evaluation should be focused on individual progress and not an individual's progress in regards to his or her classmates. The need to avoid extrinsic motivation is also another indicator of adolescence that should be recognized. Another reoccurring theme that I found in this book was the need for integrated academics.
Reflection B: Not only should teachers at the middle grades level integrate other academic subjects into their classroom, they should also model to the students how the information being presented can be applied to their daily lives out in the "real world." However, I found it lacking in concrete examples when the book dealt with many various topics. I would have liked to have more examples of how to make curriculum more relevant, challenging, integrative and exploratory instead of the author simply telling me the benefits of doing so.
Abstract C:It is possible that this section of the book (39-51), even though it was rather short, was the most useful to me personally. Truly understanding the changes, needs and thoughts of adolescents is the basis needed to teach and support them most effectively. Having been out of middle school for several years, I had forgotten some parts of what it was like for me at that time.
Reflection C: Reading about the physical, cognitive, moral, psychological and social-emotional aspects of development that were discussed, I was able to recall much more of my time as a young adolescent. I think that this was very important as it will help me to emphasize with and support the adolescents that I will have in my classroom. In particular, I will be able to reassure my students that what they are going through is normal, which according to the book, is something that all adolescents will need at some point in their development. After having read this class, I thought that it would be a good idea for colleges to offer psychology courses specifically geared toward the development of adolescents as a typical college level psychology course is required to cover much material and does not provide enough in-depth information for this topic.
Reflection A: Coming from a school district where the expectations of students were very low, it was easy to see how this affected the morale of the entire school. By having high expectations of your students and coworkers, they will be more motivated and have a higher chance of succeeding. The last main section that I connected with was the part about the school initiating partnerships with the families and community of the students. So often teachers assume that they are solely responsible for the education of students while in reality is should be a mutual effort. As the book points out, there is a direct correlation between family/adult involvement and greater student achievement and improved behavior.
Abstract B:I thought that this section of the book (19-34) had very similar ideas that were listed in Turning Points 200 such as teams, block scheduling and houses/schools-within-a-school." Another reoccurring theme that I found in this book was the need for integrated academics. Not only should teachers at the middle grades level integrate other academic subjects into their classroom, they should also model to the students how the information being presented can be applied to their daily lives out in the "real world." The portion dedicated to assessment I found very useful though. Because adolescents are at a time in their lives when they are building a clear self-concept, all assessment and evaluation should be focused on individual progress and not an individual's progress in regards to his or her classmates. The need to avoid extrinsic motivation is also another indicator of adolescence that should be recognized. Another reoccurring theme that I found in this book was the need for integrated academics.
Reflection B: Not only should teachers at the middle grades level integrate other academic subjects into their classroom, they should also model to the students how the information being presented can be applied to their daily lives out in the "real world." However, I found it lacking in concrete examples when the book dealt with many various topics. I would have liked to have more examples of how to make curriculum more relevant, challenging, integrative and exploratory instead of the author simply telling me the benefits of doing so.
Abstract C:It is possible that this section of the book (39-51), even though it was rather short, was the most useful to me personally. Truly understanding the changes, needs and thoughts of adolescents is the basis needed to teach and support them most effectively. Having been out of middle school for several years, I had forgotten some parts of what it was like for me at that time.
Reflection C: Reading about the physical, cognitive, moral, psychological and social-emotional aspects of development that were discussed, I was able to recall much more of my time as a young adolescent. I think that this was very important as it will help me to emphasize with and support the adolescents that I will have in my classroom. In particular, I will be able to reassure my students that what they are going through is normal, which according to the book, is something that all adolescents will need at some point in their development. After having read this class, I thought that it would be a good idea for colleges to offer psychology courses specifically geared toward the development of adolescents as a typical college level psychology course is required to cover much material and does not provide enough in-depth information for this topic.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Angela - this we believe
pages 1-7
I think that the ideas that middle schools started with were a good start. They were seen as advisory boards and they were meant to show teenagers how to be responsible. Middle schools didn't really stress the importance of education until later on. I'm not really sure what the point of any school is if there isn't any teaching or learning going on. It is important to have advisers and life lessons, but there needs to be the added element of education.
There is an additional challenge to middle schools where the advisers are needed. children ages 10-15 are going through a lot of changes physically, mentally, and emotionally. Plus a lot of families aren't what they used to be. Divorces and single parent homes make it really hard for all students to deal with, but especially for those students that are going through major changes.
pages 9-19
There were two big ideas that I got out of pages 9-19. "A successful school for young adolescents is an inviting, supporting, and safe place, a joyful community that promotes in-depth learning and enhances students' physical and emotional well-being".
This is saying that a school cannot be successful if it is not supportive. I think that a supportive and happy positive environment is just as important as having good teachers that know what they're doing.
The other idea that I liked in this section was "schools do not presume to educate children alone. In today's society, genuine family and community involvement are fundamental components of successful schools for young adolescents". All teaching and learning does not take place in the classroom. It is vital to have some lessons take place in the community and have some life lessons taking place with it. The best teachers are the ones that can bring the lessons to real life and involve real problems.
pages 19-34
I liked that this section talked about relevancy to the students. If the students aren't interested or the subject doesn't pertain to the students than they aren't going to care or be interested in learning. It is important to make the lessons that are being taught relevant to the student's lives because "it allows students to pursue answers to questions they have about themselves, content, and the world". Most middle school students are still thinking and wondering about how they fit into the world that they live in, so making relevant lesson plans makes it easier for them to maybe figure it out.
The other big idea that I came across in this section was the idea of having student's set their own personal goals and keep track of their progress. This shows them if they are reaching a high achievement or their full potential in their classes. Charts are good because they can see how they are doing and they can also see how their classmates are doing too. Its not good to compare themselves, but sometimes it is a motivator to see how much your peers have done compared to you.
pages 35-51
These pages give a few bulleted points about what pretty much everybody in the school should be doing at a certain time. It gives guidelines and ideas to help all of the people in these positions. This list includes pretty much everybody except for the janitors and the librarians, but i am sure there is a list somewhere for some protocol for them to follow when dealing with middle grade students because they need to know too.
In the second half of the reading it characterizes middle school students into groups of development: physical development, cognitive-intellectual development, moral development, psychological development, and social-emotional development. each group gives some characteristics of these children. I think that this is helpful because teachers can look up how a particular student is acting and figure out what part of development that they are in. These characteristics could also give the teachers pointers on what steps to take to help their students.
I think that the ideas that middle schools started with were a good start. They were seen as advisory boards and they were meant to show teenagers how to be responsible. Middle schools didn't really stress the importance of education until later on. I'm not really sure what the point of any school is if there isn't any teaching or learning going on. It is important to have advisers and life lessons, but there needs to be the added element of education.
There is an additional challenge to middle schools where the advisers are needed. children ages 10-15 are going through a lot of changes physically, mentally, and emotionally. Plus a lot of families aren't what they used to be. Divorces and single parent homes make it really hard for all students to deal with, but especially for those students that are going through major changes.
pages 9-19
There were two big ideas that I got out of pages 9-19. "A successful school for young adolescents is an inviting, supporting, and safe place, a joyful community that promotes in-depth learning and enhances students' physical and emotional well-being".
This is saying that a school cannot be successful if it is not supportive. I think that a supportive and happy positive environment is just as important as having good teachers that know what they're doing.
The other idea that I liked in this section was "schools do not presume to educate children alone. In today's society, genuine family and community involvement are fundamental components of successful schools for young adolescents". All teaching and learning does not take place in the classroom. It is vital to have some lessons take place in the community and have some life lessons taking place with it. The best teachers are the ones that can bring the lessons to real life and involve real problems.
pages 19-34
I liked that this section talked about relevancy to the students. If the students aren't interested or the subject doesn't pertain to the students than they aren't going to care or be interested in learning. It is important to make the lessons that are being taught relevant to the student's lives because "it allows students to pursue answers to questions they have about themselves, content, and the world". Most middle school students are still thinking and wondering about how they fit into the world that they live in, so making relevant lesson plans makes it easier for them to maybe figure it out.
The other big idea that I came across in this section was the idea of having student's set their own personal goals and keep track of their progress. This shows them if they are reaching a high achievement or their full potential in their classes. Charts are good because they can see how they are doing and they can also see how their classmates are doing too. Its not good to compare themselves, but sometimes it is a motivator to see how much your peers have done compared to you.
pages 35-51
These pages give a few bulleted points about what pretty much everybody in the school should be doing at a certain time. It gives guidelines and ideas to help all of the people in these positions. This list includes pretty much everybody except for the janitors and the librarians, but i am sure there is a list somewhere for some protocol for them to follow when dealing with middle grade students because they need to know too.
In the second half of the reading it characterizes middle school students into groups of development: physical development, cognitive-intellectual development, moral development, psychological development, and social-emotional development. each group gives some characteristics of these children. I think that this is helpful because teachers can look up how a particular student is acting and figure out what part of development that they are in. These characteristics could also give the teachers pointers on what steps to take to help their students.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
John's This We Believe
This we Believe
Abstract pp 1-51
This we Believe begins by describing the importance of a middle level education, and the effect it has on youths. The National Middle School Association (NMSA) strongly believes that because this is such a highly influential period the right education can change how a students life turns out. The years between 10 and 15 are those when the young minds are able to be affected by peers gone astray, as well as the influence of the media. Middle school teachers need to realize this and do what they can to have a positive influence. Society is evolving and broadening with the introduction of technology and the loss of traditional family atmospheres. It is left up to educators who understand the situation and make the decisions needed to change the direction.
Successful schools for young adolescents are characterized by a culture that includes most importantly effective teachers. Those who are able to reach out to students and create intellectual curiosity. These teachers must understand the uniqueness of middle grades students, and must design lessons effective to their needs. These teachers need to present themselves as professionals, effective leaders, and inspirational instructors. They must create an effective, safe environment. One that allows students to feel comfortable and voice their concerns, or not be afraid to speak their mind. They need to be enthusiastic about their subject and lesson plans. This is the most important of all , a lack of enthusiasm can make even the best students shut down.
Schools must provide a curriculum that is not only challenging, but also mentally stimulating. Students must want to think about the subject rather than feel forced to. The subjects need to show some sort of relevance. whether it be toward their lives, or on a broader scale something they can some how relate to. The curriculum must be challenging, however it must not be overbearing, students shouldn't be shutdown because the work is just too hard. The keys to accomplishing this are be a creative and effective teacher. You must be able to understand your students, no two are ever alike.
The final passage of This We Believe shows the importance of a strong education in the development of youth and how it can really make a difference as to whether they succeed in life. It discusses the importance of the ideas of both the book it self and all of the resources and research in all aspects of education; from principals to parents. The books ends by discussing the importance of the development of the youth as a whole. physically, psychologically, morally, socially, and emotionally. Middle school is an important period of growth and by developing all of these characteristics students will do well.
Reflection pp. 1-34
The first section is interesting because it provides a sound background as to all the problems middle schoolers are facing. It made me reminisce the decisions i made and middle school, and how they have affected me, as opposed to my peers. I grew up in a higly urban society, and some of my peers have not become as successful as I have because they got involved in drugs and alcohol. A few have been arrested, and some even have children of their own at age 20. I feel like positive influences in my life are what allowed me to travel down the best possible path and allowed me to come out on top.
It is important to plan how one wants to be an effective teacher, without a plan or philosophy, there is no real reason to be instructing. I have been constructing mine over the past couple years and I feel now that i have a strong philosophy towards effective instruction. Comfort for students is pinnacle, but second to that is interest level. If these two things can be harnessed becoming an effective teacher will be just like riding a bike.
By affectively listening and observing to the students needs, and trying new tactics to develop interest a regular history, or math class can become a truly memorable experience. Lessons and curriculum help to determine this, but do not limit instruction. Engaged students will learn the material it is a simple fact.
The last section was a little less interesting than the book as a whole, but that was mainly because they were restating the importance of what they had already said. I do however feel it is crucial for schools to develop the whole student, this was one of my primary reasons for the mission statement being longer rather than shorter. The whole student, athletics, drama, and any other aspects to school life are what help to develop good genuine people. The Research presented in this book was very informational and I see using it as a resource for a long time to come.
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