Middle School History and Basics

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Middle SchoolHistory and Basics

• Walking through the hallways at the middle school
  where I work, I saw a new substitute teacher
  standing outside his classroom with his forehead
  against a locker. I heard him mutter, "How did
  you get yourself into this?" Knowing that he was
  assigned to a difficult class, I tried to offer
  moral support. "Are you okay?" I asked. "Can I
  help?" He lifted his head and replied, "I'll be
  fine as soon as I get this kid out of his
  locker."

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Junior High
What kind of school did you attend? What grade
6-9 did you like best? Why? What grade 6-9 did
you least like? Why?

• Prior to 1890
• 8 Year Elementary
• 4 Year High School little academic preparation
  for college
• Last 100 Years
• Focus for the Middle
• 6-3-3 Emerged
• Not-Quite-Yet-High-School
• College Bound or Vocation Preparatory
• Mini-High School
• Philosophical Problems
• More like high school or more like elementary?

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Middle School

• 1960s, 1970s, 1980s Curricula and practice
  specifically designed for the needs of the young
  adolescent.
• Largest comprehensive educational reorganization
  in history of public education
• Grades 6 8 (possibly 5)
• Donald Eichhorn and William Alexander
• Development
• Bridge Gap between Student Centered and Subject
  Centered
• Serve Unique Needs
• Provide Broad Programming Options
• Solve Administrative Problems

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Middle School Essentials

• Positive Attributes of Junior High
• Core curriculum
• Guidance Programs
• Exploratory Education
• Vocational and Home Arts
• Eliminate High School Elements
• Academic Honor Societies
• Competitive Sports
• Subject Matter Orientation
• Add
• Team Teaching
• Interdisciplinary Teaming

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Major Differences

• Grade Span
• Scheduling
• Subject Organization
• Guidance/Counseling
• Exploratory Curriculum
• Teachers
• Planning
• Instruction
• Environment
• Athletics

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Middle School Concept

• The Middle Schooler
• Early Adolescents
• Preadolescents
• Transescents
• Middle Schoolers
• Young Adolescents
• Young Adolescents
• We define as students between the ages of 10 and
  15 who experience the physical, psychosocial, and
  cognitive changes associated with the early
  adolescence developmental period, yet who also
  exhibit tremendous cultural, gender,
  developmental, and individual diversity that
  deserves to be considered by middle school
  educators who plan educational experiences.

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More Middle School Basics

• Developmentally Responsive
• What does this mean?
• What does this look like?
• Using what you know from your ed psych
  background, jot down elements a middle school
  that is developmentally responsive would have.

Pair Share Record Ideas Overhead
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More Middle School Basics

• High Expectations
• Care for Self Esteem
• Safe, Inviting, Caring Climate
• Advocates At Least One Advisor