Middle Level Podcast (audio)- Rubrics

http://www.middleschoolguide.com/products/podcasts/

I found a great audio podcast.  It is titled “The Rubric Road Trip.”  Students experience rubrics first in middle school.  A rubric is a type of authentic assessment and a great tool for students to use during projects, term papers, performances, etc.  They show students what is expected of them and how their work will be graded.  Also a great strategy to apply when using rubrics is to let your students help establish the grading criteria for the rubric.  This gives students a sense of ownership of their work.  The audio podcast relates to “This We Believe” under the characteristic:  Varied and ongoing assessments advance learning as well as measure it.

Middle School Webquest- Social Studies

https://www.inetlibrary.com/frame.html?table=library&id=54754

The use of technology in the classroom is an effective teaching strategy that helps teachers get students more involved in their own education.  Webquests are great tools for teachers to incorporate technology into the classroom.  They take students on educational journeys and help them to comprehend essential content information.  Also, many webquests incorporate more than one subject area.  I chose a social studies webquest because I plan to teach this subject. The webquest covers the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.  I would use this particular webquest in a 7^th grade Civics class.  The webquest relates to “This We Believe” under the characteristic: Educators use multiple learning and teaching approaches.     

Middle School Science Webquest

http://questgarden.com/23/19/1/060421044159/task.htm

This webquest seems to be perfect for middle school students. This particular one is targeted to students in grades 5th and 6th. It goes with the TWB characteristic in that their education is developmentally responsive. This webquest is definitely designed to make learning fun and to keep students motivated. It also ties is language arts, social studies, art, and computer science. It teaches kids responsibility as each kid in the group has a task to complete. It challenges students to be creative and gets them more aware of the tons of research and help you can get from computers. I'd love to use a webquest like this one in my class.

Middle Level Cartoon: Active Learning

http://www-grms.stjohns.k12.fl.us/teachers/downeyr/0783E060-0118C716.0/algebra-cartoon.gif

When I saw this cartoon I immediately thought of the active learning characteristic talked about in This We Believe. So often students challenge why they are required to learn something, and at that point we as teachers have a very important decision to make.  We either take the time to really help them make the connection between the content and real world applications or we take the easy way out and tell them because it will be on the test.  Active learning is a theory that indicates that students will learn and retain information better if it is engaging and purposeful.  I believe that 100%.

AAMLE BLOG

I found the AAMLE blog at http://www.aamle.org/1/archives/03-2010/1.html ; I am not sure that the blog is still active since the last post was 2010. I did find out that Dr. Jeff Whittingham, UCA, is listed as Journal Editor on the site. I am interested in the Arkansas connection with the AMLE, but I did not find out much from the blog. There is good information on the website though. The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, an alliance of educators, is presented as trying to meet the challenge of the ML schools. TWB emphasizes leaders being committed to and knowledgeable in educational research and best practices; there is also proof of collaboration among educators.

Middle School Cartoon- Bullying

This cartoon depicts a student about to be bullied but he protects himself.  Bullying is a major issue not just in middle schools but at all levels.  However, it is my opinion that severe types of bullying start in the middle grades.  I believe this to be true because this is the stage in life where students start to “clique” up.  Students want acceptance from peers and will do things to get this acceptance.  The issue of cyber-bullying is also on the rise.  More and more students are in the news for being bullied or bullying over internet sites and cell phones.  Every student at a school has the right to feel safe and it is the duty of teachers and administrators to try to eliminate bullying at school and away from school.  This cartoon relates to “This We Believe” under the characteristic: The school environment is inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive of all.

Middle School Video- Transition

I have found a great video based on students’ transition to middle school.  The way a child transitions from elementary to middle school has a great affect on how well the student will progress through this difficult period in life.  This complicated period of transition has often been associated with a decline in academic achievement, performance motivation, and self-perceptions.  Because students go through so many physical, emotional, and psychological changes during the middle grade years it is pertinent that teachers and administrators help students with their transition.  The video shows real students being interviewed on their thoughts, feelings, and fears of middle school.  Also the students in the video offer advice to new middle school students.  This video relates to “This We Believe” under the characteristic: Leaders are committed to and knowledgeable about this age group, educational research, and best practices. 

The video can be found at:                                                                      http://www1.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=43265&title=Middle_School_Transition

Middle Level Podcast

http://www.podfeed.net/episode/Building+Positive+Relationships+with+Your+Students/2174598

I found this podcast and thought it was so important for middle school teachers. I think in middle schools we have so many problems motivating students and this podcast talks about how to building positive relationships with students. This helps with discipline problems so much. This goes with TWB where it says the school environment is inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive of all.
The podcast says that teachers must establish "law and order" and tell the students what is expected of them and that they will be respected as you expect to be respected. They say students are motivated where there is an environment where students feel confortable. Many teachers say that their job is not to be the students' friends but that does not mean you cannot be friendly. We must be good role models and give good guidance and at times you have to watch MTV and BET just so you can have things to help your students feel confortable with you. Middle level teachers must be very flexible and do what works for your students