Would I Want to TeachMiddle Schoolers?

Presented by:Vicki D. Linkous, Ed.D.

Retired – Associate Professor - RU

Only in a Middle School

We’re late again It’s in my locker It’s so boring

Thinking it Through

• What are the students like?

• What makes a good middle school?

• What makes a good middle school teacher?

• Is it for me?

Intellectual Characteristics

• Wide range of cognitive development

• Transition from concrete to abstract thinking

• Prefer active over passive learning

• Often preoccupied with self

• Strong need for approval & easily discouraged

• Inquisitive about adults – like to challenge them

• Intellectual – continued

• May show disinterest in academic subjects, but curious about the world and themselves

• Prefer working with peers during learning activities

• Beginning to understanding higher levels of humor

Physical Development

• Experience rapid, irregular physical growth

• Varying maturity rates – girls 1 ½ to 2 years earlier than boys

• Experience restlessness and fatigue due to growth

• Prefer junk food, but need good nutrition

• Concerned about bodily changes – are they normal?

Moral Development

• Are typically idealistic, want the world to be a better place

• Often shows compassion for the “underdog”

• Can be quick to see flaws in others, but slow to see their own faults

• Moving from “what’s in it for me” to considering rights and feelings of others.

Moral Development - continued

• Rely on parents and significant adults when facing major decisions

• Developing own personal values – tend to be those consistent with those of their parents (families)

• Need adult role models who will listen to them and

affirm their moral consciousness and actions

Emotional/Psychological Development

• Concerned about peer acceptance

• Tend to be self-conscious, may lack self-esteem

• Believe their personal problems/feelings are unique

• May experience mood swings

• Exhibit intense concern about physical growth and maturity

Social Development

• Strong need to belong to group – peer approval

• Like fads, especially those shunned by adults

• Often over react to teasing, ridicule or rejection

• May appear immature because social skills may be

behind mental and physical maturity

Social Development - continued• Communication frenzy – telephone – notes

• Want to make their own decisions

• Big question: Who am I?

What Makes a GOOD Middle School?

Middle Schools – Grades 6 - 8 or 5 - 8

• Interdisciplinary teams of teachers

• Common planning time for teams of teachers

• Students assigned to same homeroom or advisory for

all of middle school experience*

• Exploratory courses or mini-courses

• Flexible scheduling*

Middle Schools - continued

• Cooperative learning as an instructional strategy

• Parental and community involvement

• Parents as volunteers

• Heterogeneous grouping of students

• Strong fine arts program

What Makes a Good (Exemplary) Middle School Teacher?

• Likes this age group and wants to teach them.

• Knows what the students are like developmentally.

• Has a sense of humor and can laugh at self.

• Has a passion for content and learning.

• Enjoys using a variety of instructional strategies.

Good Middle School Teacher - continued

• Understands and uses good assessment practices.

• Enjoys working within a team.

• Has teacher presence and “withitness.”

• Knows how to be fair; can admit being wrong.

Is It For Me?

• Sources: http://etsd.org/ems/endorsement/characteristics.htm• George, Paul & Alexander, William, (1993). The exemplary middle

school. Fort Worth; Harcourt Brace.