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PTO/PAC
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The present model of a middle school has proved to be the very best way to reach the wide range of 10 - 14 year-olds of today. A fact that may be unfortunate but is indisputable is that the lives of our children in today's world, as well as in the recent past, are in general very different from those lived by their parents and certainly by their grandparents. Parents and the community at large are, in essence, the "customers" of public education. As we well know, constant improvement, updating and change based on the customer must take place in the area of consumer goods in order for the business or service to survive. So, too, must schools assess and then adapt to their "customers" as the decades move on in order to provide them with the best services based on changing needs. What exactly does this mean in a middle school and how are these needs achieved? The following questions and answers are provided so that you can better understand the unique situation of schools "in the middle." How does a middle school differ from a junior high? A middle school is academically oriented, as is a junior high, but stresses to a much greater degree the social and personal needs of its students. A middle school serves as a transition for the huge differences between elementary and high school, whereas a junior high is, in its schedule, aim, and concerns, merely a high school for children still too young to attend one. In the middle school concept, students are placed on teams, rather like being part of a large family. Each team has a core made up of academic subject teachers and a special needs teacher who act as the leaders and mentors of that family. These teachers meet each day to discuss students' needs and to plan for future learning experiences. How does a middle school attempt to address the personal needs of early adolescents? Children of middle school age are neither in early childhood nor in young adulthood. Many are consumed with insecurities and personal problems too great to check at the school door. The organization of the middle school greatly aids the school staff in playing a vital role in keeping students on track. Since these teachers come to know the students on their team very well, it is easy for them to spot quickly a child in academic trouble or personal distress. They can often then "ride to the rescue" by alerting each other, counselors, other school personnel, and parents. All of these adults are able to gather their expertise and compassion around a child to provide a plan for improvement. In the old junior high setup, so many aiding one child could not occur. How does a middle school attempt to address the academic needs of early adolescents? Middle school teams lend themselves very well to the academic aspect of school life. Since each team teachers knows what the others are teaching, it is often possible to handle the same topic from the perspectives of the different subject areas, thus making that topic clearer and more meaningful. The teams are also better able to identify the academic difficulties and/or the learning styles of specific students. Approaches can be changed or modified to help students, often with the help and advice of guidance counselors, team special needs teachers, other personnel, and parents. Some people automatically assume that academic achievement suffers in a middle school setting; research indicates the opposite, that students learn slightly more. On the other hand, when it comes to improving self-confidence, social and emotional skills, and peer relations, most middle school students fare far better than those in the old junior high setting. How does a middle school attempt to address the social needs of early adolescents? Children of this in-between age are well on the way to the status of social beings but are often not quite there. The middle school is able to provide a wide variety of programs both during the school day and after school that enable children to follow their interests in the company of others while under the guidance of adults. School-day enrichment courses are selected by the students, as are the extra-curricular offerings. Academic, sports and hobby-specific activities are among these enrichments. Examples of extra-curricular generally include outing club, chess, cooking, art, community service, math team, drama, newspaper, and many sports indigenous to the season. This listing, of course, leaves out more than it names, but the idea that children need opportunities to socialize and make friends is there. Other opportunities that middle school provides to help develop social skills include counselor lunch groups, team parties, socials, and dances.
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Parent-to-Parent Speaker Series Relevant Middle School Articles
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