Steph's This We Believe

Middle school is the time for change in every students life. They change emotionally, cognitively, and physically. This is the time when they begin to think about who am I? Where do I belong? What group do I fit in with? Physically, especially with girls, maturation is happening in the body. A lot of the time there is a stereotype of middle schoolers being walking hormones, which this comes from all of the hormonal change going on in the young adolescents body. Girls are growing hair in "different places", developing in different areas and starting to gain weight. Boys are getting bigger, voices are getting deeper, they start to grow body hair. Emotionally students still are figuring out who their role models are and what group they want to be with. Cognitively students are going from concrete thinking to abstract thinking. They are starting to look past what is right in front of them which is crucial to students at this age level. This We believe discusses the the culture of what the classroom needs to be like in order to teach this diverse population of students. There are eight facets, that This We Believe, considers to be important for the classroom. The first one is that the people teaching middle level students, need to want to be a middle level teacher. Teachers at this level need to be ready to be versatile in order to teach these students integrative lessons and interdisciplinary units. Another facet is that there needs to be collaborative and courageous leadership. The leaders of middle schools need to know that there needs to be teamwork with in the school, amongst the teachers and the students. The leader needs to be gutsy and able to go out on a limb and be open minded to new ideas of teaching the students so that the students and staff can be successful. The other facets are: the vision which comes from a mission statement that is to the point; a supportive and safe environment that encourages students to learn; high expectations for everyone in the education community; active learning is taking place; a mentor to every student; and a partnership between the community, family and school. Other aspects that are important include the curriculum. For a middle school this needs to be ever changing in someway. The curriculum needs to relate to their interests, it needs to challenge their minds, integrate their different subjects together and helps students explore the world around them. Other important charactersitics of a middle school need to meet the fact that middle school students need the relationships with and adult in the school. They also need a structured curriculum based on learning about their health and wellness.

REFLECTION:
I believe that this is the most crucial part in any ones life. This is where you start working on figuring things out about yourself. It is a time when you start thinking of a few things on your own, not everything, but some. This is when the identity factor really comes into play for the young adolescent. I know from experience that I went from being a total girly girl to a complete jock. This is also the time when students are most vulnerable to experiment with different things, so I believe that it is crucially important for a young adolescent to have someone to look up to. I believe that middle schools need to have all of the characteristics that This We Believe discusses. The two that are most important to me right now is making the environment have a comfortable feeling for all of my students, because I beleive that the room/ environment is probably one of the most important factors on how many students learn. I also believe that it is important for the students to have those relationships with an adult in the school because that way they have guidance and have someone to go to in the school when they need help.
The last part of this book I thought was awesome to have as a middle level educator because it shows me just exactly what all of my students will be going through developmentally. This is why students at the middle level are called walking hormones because they are changing so much. The biggest part that interested me was the moral-reasoning development. This is one of the developments that I believe grows the most at the adolescent level. I also believe this is one of the most fragile parts of development because at this time students are looking up to adults to figure out how they should act, but if they don't have that adult mentor there to guide them, then they may not develop the way they sould morally.

Bridget's This We Believe

Although growth during infancy and the growth change that adolescents go through are both very rapid and extensive, adolescents actually have the opportunity to watch themselves and their peers grow into more defined people. Due to puberty and the uniqueness of all students, middle schools generally have a wide variability between their students. Along with changes in emotional and intellectual growth, the physical aspect is mostly what makes adolescents who they are. It is during this time period where they become self-conscious of their own body and begin to worry what others may think of them and what they are wearing. Middle schools need strong educators who are willing to advocate for ts because this is the time in their lives during which they are trying to figure themselves out as well as their beliefs and set of moral standards. By having educators who willingly work with adolescents and are willing to be a positive role model in the lives of their students, the school will become a better community within itself. Adolescents need a supportive and safe school environment in order to get away from problems at home, or to just simply be in a place that accepts them for who they are and does not judge them for their dreams.

I fully agree with the information that was presented in the beginning of this book. Teaching middle school is hard work and it is definitely not meant for everybody, but for those few teachers brave enough to care about the well-being of the adolescents that they teach on a daily basis, the hard work will always be worth it. I think that in order to be a successful middle school teacher you need to believe in your students first and foremost but they also need to believe in themselves. If a middle school teacher does not believe in themselves, then the students will not want to look to them to be their role model because they are not confident enough in their own skin.

This section talks about what middle school students need in their school lives in order to make their school successful. Students need teachers who want to work with this age group, collaborative leadership, a supporting and safe environment, high expectations from every teacher on their team, and active learning. First of all, students need teachers who want to work with this age group because it's important for them to know that there are teachers out there who enjoy working with adolescents and are not just teaching to fill up time. Students need collaborative leadership from their teachers so that they know that they are getting the best education possible and are actually learning and retaining the information. Students need a supporting and safe environment so that they can look forward to coming to school every day. School should be the place where students can feel comfortable enough to go to with their problems if something is happening at home. Students need to feel as though every one of their teachers is holding them to high expectations so that they can push themselves into their learning and will become more active in their quest for knowledge. Finally, students need active learning becuase studies show that when students engage in active learning instead of just sitting in class and listening to a lecture, they retain the information more and for a longer period of time.

This section was interesting becuase it tells what successful schools need to have in order to have successful students. I agree with all of the things that the schools need because without any of these requirements, students may feel as though they are not the school's top priority, though they should be. If students show up to a school where they are being pushed to their intellectual limits every day by every teacher, then they will go on to do great things because they will learn from their teachers and will continue to push themselves into the life that they want to have as an adult.

This sections talks about what successful schools provide for young adolescents. In order to be considered a successful school, the school should provide a curriculum that is relevant to the students, challenging to every student, integrative, and exploratory. The curriculum should be relevant to the students because then they will be able to apply what they already know to the curriculum and they would be able to remember more information this way. The curriculum should challenge every student so that they feel as though they are not wasting their time learning the information. If the curriculum is too easy for a student or too hard for a different student, it is up to the teacher to modify each lesson so that every student can get as much from it as possible. The curriculum should be integrative because this way, students will be able to work on their skills in more than one subject area at a time and this may make things more exciting for a student, especially if their least favorite subject integrates their favorite subject into it. Also, by using an integrative curriculum, the students' new knowledge will be more rounded and they will be able to know how to use that information. Finally, the curriculum should be explorative so that the students get excited to learn about each subject. If teachers make it so that students have to explore the new information, then the students themselves will be able to decide how far to investigate into the subject. A successful school also needs different teaching approaches to respond to the students diversity, and assessments that promote quality learning. Teachers need to teach in a variety of ways in order to address student diversity so that no student(s) feel left out or as though they are not good enough to be taught properly. Successful schools also need assessments that promote true quality learning so that the students can prove that they know the material and can explore the material more while working on the quality assessment. By using quality assessments in the classroom, teachers will see that the students will retain the knowledge that they have learned for a longer period of time and would be able to apply it to their every day life.

This section was very important to read because without teachers knowing what they need to do in order to help the students as much as possible, the school would not be successful. However, if every teacher in the school uses the curriculum properly to help each student as much as possible, uses a variety of teaching strategies, and uses quality assessment, then the school and the young adolescents that make the school what it is will grow in leaps and bounds becuase the teachers are showing that they care about the students and take their jobs very seriously.

The final section of reading is split up into several smaller sections. In the 'Call to Action' section, the authors separated every group of people that are affected by the school and gives ideas on how to help both the school and the students better. The people are split into the groups of teachers, principals, parents, and superintendents. The last section is about the characteristics of young adolescents. The authors made categories about physical development, cognitive development, moral development, psychological development, and social-emotional development. In each of these catagories is a list of characteristics that young adolescents have in each of these areas. By looking at these lists, teachers should be able to see what the students may be going through and how to help them.

I enjoyed this last section very much because it shows how everyone in the community is affected by the school and how everyone can participate in making the school successful for the young adolescents that go there. It is also important for teachers and principals to know what their students are going through during this period in their life and to think about how they may help them to get through their problems without having it affect their school work.

Courtney: This We Believe

The importance of middle grades education should never be overestimated. Students have powerful minds and tend to have very strong opinions about important issues. Students need proper guidance when they are forming thier opinions on important subjects. When children undergo adolescence they go through drastic changes. They change both physically and mentally. This is the time when adolescents start to think abstractly, as well as concretely. There are different changes for each gender, and these changes can make many students feel insecure about themselves. Teachers need to know how to approach and educate young adolescents effectively. Everyone needs to be involved in the education of young adolescents; even principals and superintendents have their part to play. The community needs to be involved with the educational process as well. Having speakers come into schools can be a powerful thing. Curriculum needs to be relevant, challenging, integrative and exploratory. Teachers need to be supportive, and they need to actively engage the students and the community. Sparking students' interest is key. Teachers need to use teaching approaches that respond to students' diversity. Assessment needs to be more than just tests; assessment should be paired equally with evaluation, and should actively engage students. Teachers also need to team up and collaborate to ensure that every student gets the support and instruction they need. Teachers need to do team bonding activities because an effective team means an effective school. Many young adolescents are struggling to take a stance on moral issues, and teachers can be a great role model for these young students. The school needs to foster health, wellness and safety. Every student should have an adult advocate, someone that they can come to for advice and support, because young adolescents need support and guidance. Teachers can guide students and help them through their tough times. Teachers need to know how to deal with the developments that young adolescents are going through. Teachers also need to keep constantly checking themselves to make sure that what they are teaching has a purpose and a goal. Lessons need to be engaging, and lessons also need to be differentiated.

I agree with everything that this book is saying. Students at this age level are really beginning to shape and form the ideas that will help them become who they are as a person. This is the time where they really need support and guidance. Teachers can be a great role model for students and can really help students out through this very tough time in their lives. Teachers need to be actively involved in every student’s education, and we constantly need to keep checking in with ourselves to make sure that what we are doing is really in the best interest of our students. Students’ brains are changing during this time, and engaging their minds is key. All students learn differently, and teaching in different styles can help keep students actively involved in their education. We also need to make sure that we involve the community in the students' learning. Bring in guest speakers. Take students out in the community. Get them as actively involved in the community as the community is to the school. Everyone needs to take part in the education process of young adolescents. Students at this age level look up to adults such as teachers and we need to make sure that we are doing everything we can to be a proper role model for them. If we are not setting a good example, how can we expect students to know how to behave and act?

Tyler T: This we Believe

Abstract:

Adolescents at the middle school undergo more personal changes than they do at any other point in their lives. Physical and emotional changes are occurring and their starting to form attitudes, values and habits that will largely impact their behaviors as adults. National Middle School Association’s This We Believe: Successful Schools for Young Adolescents looks at how the students learning is affected by the changes they are experiencing, and the changes that are continually occurring in society. To help middle schools develop students who can successfully adjust to these changes, This we Believe has identified fourteen characteristics that can be implemented to increase student learning.
The first eight facets are formed around the culture of the school. They focus on a learning community that puts top priority on the education and healthy development of every student, teacher, and staff member. Family involvement is promoted, and schools supply each student with at least one mentor/role-model who helps them through the ups and downs of school life. In the classroom, middle level educators understand the developmental uniqueness of adolescents, and work along the students to design effective learning techniques and assessment strategies to fit their development. Middle schools focus on building a foundation of learning in which every student can succeed by working in a challenging academic program that practice appropriate strategies to improve learning. Adolescents are capable of far more than adults often assume, and it is important that high expectations are placed on them to behave as responsible citizens and to become intellectually engaged.
The remaining six focus on designing an appropriate curriculum and environment that supports the development of the adolescents. The curriculum should emphasize the importance of accommodating the diverse skills and abilities in the classroom as well as providing multiple viewpoints that encourage adolescents to explore new ideas. Assessment and evaluation is a crucial part of a curriculum. Educators should not evaluate students by comparing them to each other, but rather by how well they assess themselves and prove they understand the material. Along with the curriculum, organizational structures have proven to be a vital part of educational success for the students and educators. Research shows that smaller schools, classes, or teams improve all dimensions of student development in the classroom. Another important component is that of the policies that foster health, wellness, and safety. These are typically covered under a coordinated school health program (CHSP). One aspect of a CSHP is guidance and support services that are supplied to students. Specialized professionals are available to help students be emotionally and mentally prepared to learn. All fourteen of these characteristics help students to achieve attitudes and behaviors needed for a full, productive, and satisfying life.
The National Middle School Association has written a document that describes the middle school concepts that have been outlined in This we Believe. Much of the public and many educators have limited understanding of the nature and needs of middle school adolescents and the types of educational programs that are best suited for them. This document helps individuals understand these issues and what can be done to create a successful middle school environment. One thing to help develop this environment is to understand the students’ characteristics. Researchers have identified five characteristics that are represented by young adolescents, they include: physical, cognitive, moral, psychological, and social-emotional dimensions of development. All adolescents possess these characteristics, but each one varies in strength and weakness depending on the individual.

Reflection

Like the book states, I believe that this is the most influential time for middle school students. They are now starting to form their own opinions and those opinions can be very easily influenced. Educators at the middle school should understand how important a stage this is for the students, and the impact that their work could have on the rest of the students’ life. I agreed with all fourteen characteristics and believe that they are all needed to design the ultimate school climate that benefits all that are within it.
I found two major themes that stood out through the first eight facets, leadership and having a passion for the profession and students. To be a successful educator you must be willing to take the time to develop a classroom that reflects the interests and strengths of the students. These educators must also be willing to push and challenge other staff members to design a school that encourages ultimate learning for the students. This is such a crucial time for adolescents, and it is important that their needs are met, and that they have a role-model that cares and helps prepare them for the next step in their lives. Becoming an educator is not about going through the motions, but rather challenging yourself to find ways that help the students become the best learners they possibly can.
In the last six facets I found three main concepts that I like and agreed with more then any of the others. The first one was the exploratory concept that was stressed within the curriculum. So many adolescents, especially in Maine, are limited. It is our job to teach them about others cultures and diversities, and supply activities and resources that help them experience new things. The next concept is based on how the students should be assessed and evaluated. I completely agree that students should be evaluating and assessing themselves and each other. I believe students will set higher standards and be much harder on themselves if they are to judge their own work. This increases the learning environment as each student will thrive to do better. The last concept was the policies that foster health, wellness, and safety. I obviously am going to like this one since I am a health major, and doing an internship as a school health coordinator. Even if I was not, I would still believe that having a CSHP is important to a school system. It promotes an environment that helps bring out the best in everyone involved with the school, which only leads to better performances and an increased learning atmosphere.
I like the characteristics of young adolescents that were discussed at the end of the book. I do believe that each adolescent possesses all of them but is stronger in some of them then they are others. They are similar to the multiple intelligences, which are good to know as a teacher. It helps them understand what the students’ strengths are, and how you apply them into a lesson and the environment that is created. These characteristics have a lot to do with the culture that students grow up in, and it is important to create a school that accepts and reflect the diverse cultures. Students will be more comfortable, and willing to learn when they are in an environment that reflects their strengths and interests.