Week 6

The big questions this week are: Where do we go from here?  Are we ready?
What have we learned & How will we implement what we have learned? 

For me, I have learned a lot about what the ideal middle school should look like.  This is important to understand the characteristics of this ideal in order that we can aim for and implement them in our future schools and classrooms.  Being an enthusiastic teacher who challenges their students with exploratory and relevant content using various instructional methods and assessments.  Also, collaborating with the faculty, educational specialists, parents, local businesses and community will assist in broadening the scope of opportunities, motivation and engagement for the students, as well as myself as a lifetime learner.

As I head into student teaching it will be important to observe how the teachers, faculty and staff are approaching the ideals of middle school education.  After having some experience teaching and working within an organization and administration it will assist in choosing where I want to work.  Asking questions regarding organization and collaboration among the staff during the interview will be helpful for finding a middle school with good leadership and a supportive community and positive culture.

As for being ready, yes, I am ready to begin.  I am ready to start.  I do know that as a toddler begins to walk or a child learns to ride a bike or read, I too might stumble, trip, struggle or fall.  It will be important to face any struggle I come across with patience and a mindset of growth.  Reflecting on what I have learned and using the resources within the school I am placed in order to stabilize any bump on the road I may hit.  I am very grateful and excited for the upcoming school year and will apply everything I have learned at Trinity and all the experiences of my life to be the best teacher that I can be for my future students.

Week 5

Week 5's readings focused on the characteristics of culture and community within middle school.  It is important for middle schools to have inviting, safe, inclusive and supportive environments so that students are enabled to develop intellectually, socially and emotionally.   Another aspect for middle schools to provide their students should be an adult advocate.  Every student should be provided with an adult advocate to assist them with the ups and downs in their academic and personal development.  This provides the student with individual care and support within the middle school.  Besides the adult advocate, guidance counselors should assist students with one-on-one and group sessions to guide them through the upcoming decisions middle school students face in their future.  It is important that these school counselors also coordinate the support services, advocates and specialists for the most effective use within the student body.

In my personal educational experience, I haven't really seen such a supportive environment in middle school.  However, within my kids middle school, I have noticed a shift in support, especially during the e-learning of this past spring.  The middle school staff were each assigned six students that they had a Zoom meeting at the end of the school day.  The advocate would check-in on how the work-load was, how the student was feeling and inquire about the student's family.  When I asked about this "new" concept, it was explained that the students and families of the school seemed very isolated and the staff had come up with the advocacy plan to help the students through the challenges of e-learning. 

I had two children in middle school this past spring and they both utilized this Zoom advocate meeting differently.  My middle school son checked-in and out within minutes and my daughter lingered with a few of the students and just chatted for a very long time; she just loved it.  They both got out of it something different but they had varying levels of social and emotional needs.  I thought it was a great way for the school to connect with the students on a more personal level and not make a heavy obligatory waste of time for the kids who really didn't want that type of support.

The last two characteristics that the readings explained was the importance of family involvement in the student's education as well as the involvement of the community and businesses of the area.  In other education classes the importance of family involvement was discussed.  The communication of English Language Learner's families and transportation issues of low income students should take special thought and care as communication impediments that must be thoughtfully overcome by the instructor. 

The involvement of the community and businesses within the school is interesting and could really be an exciting opportunity for students.  There are limitations from the business aspect, but in the best possible world if businesses could open their doors allowing middle and high school students to come and have "hands-on" experiences within the various crafts, building trades, social work, manufacturing, engineering companies, medical, industry, and stores, students would have a more realistic idea of what direction they would like to go in life.  Basing life decisions on experiences is a much better tool then taking tests, besides tests are not particularly inspiring or motivating.