The New American School Chapters 2

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The New American SchoolChapters 2

• MLE 4760
• Dr. Mildred M. Pearson, Professor

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The Early Adolescent is
A canvas to be filled A filled to be tilled Clay
to be molded. A bulb to be develop A diamond to
be cut A challenge to be met A poem to be
written. A song to be sung. A fragrance to be
released. A life to be saved. A friend to be
made. A gift to the future. A bridge to the
stars. A pain in the heart. A tear in the
eye. Energy to be channeled. A riddle to be
solved. A birdsong in December A candle to be
lit. A rain for the sod. A right hand of
God. Georgia Ensminger, Oldham Middle School,
LaGrange Kentucky Wiles, J.(2001) The new
American school. New York, NY Upper Saddle
River.
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Stages of DevelopmentMiddle Years

• Concrete Operations(7-11) Thinks out problems
  previously worked out. Logical thought as
  evidence by genuine classification, learning to
  organize objects into a series reversing
  operations
• Formal Operations(11-15) Comprehends abstract
  concepts as evidence by ability to form ideas and
  reason about the future, ability to handle
  contrary-to-fact propositions, and ability to
  develop test hypotheses.
• Substage A(11-12)
• Substage B(13-15)

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Do You Have The heart?

• Drastic physical, social, emotional, and
  intellectual changes.
• Growth and Development (10-14 years)

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Fractured Fragile

• Freed from the dependency of childhood, but
• not yet able to find their own path to adulthood,
  
• many young people feel a desperate sense of
• isolation. Surrounded y their equally confused
• peers, too many make poor decisions with
• harmful or lethal consequences. Middle grade
• schools are potentially societys most power
• force to recapture millions of youth.
• Turning Point, 1989

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Social Changes p.52-53

• Family Structures
• Demographics
• Language Differences
• Mobility

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Essential Goals For Middle Schoolers

• Thirst For knowledge
• Positive Attitude
• Courteous
• Achievement
• Organization
• Problem Solving
• Responsibility
• Respect For Others
• Health

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Effective Organizational Structures

• Chapter 3
• You can either knock down the walls or you can
  go around them

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Teaming What is it? What is it Not?

• What is it?
• Commonalities
• Resources
• Responsibilities
• Staff Utilization
• Serving Diverse Populations
• Varied Educational Experience (Treatment of
  students equal)

• What is it Not?
• Turn Teaching
• Tracking
• Anything Goes
• A Panacea

See Advantages and Disadvantages p. 62
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Interdisciplinary Teaming

• Function
• Instruction
• Organization
• Team Identity and Climate
• http//prenhall.com/wiles/

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Scheduling and Middle School
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Teachers For The New Middle School

• Chapter 4
• More the guide on the side than the sage on the
  stage

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What Time is It?

• Active Learning Time vs. Passive Learning
• Cognitive Affective Learning
• Inclusion vs. Exclusion

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Research Time

• What does research says about
• Student Home Life
• Compensatory Programs
• Ability Grouping
• Cooperative Learning
• Teacher Expectations
• Using Praise
• Questioning by Teachers
• Self Concept

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Now Time Using Research

• Jean Piaget(Swiss) Children learn through moving
  through the stages of intellectual development.
• David Ausbel Active Learning
• Lev. Vygotsky Social experiences which requires
  scaffolding by adults.
• John Dewey Develop the power of self-control in
  each student.
• Elliot Eisner Knowing depends on experience.
• Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligences. Natural
  learning tool not being utilized in schools.

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Purpose and Instructional Strategy

• Mastery
• Interpersonal
• Cultural Literacy

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Suggestions

• Secure Learning Environment
• Personal and Caring Program
• High Academic Standards
• Developmentally Appropriate
• Citizenship and Community
• Interdisciplinary Themes