This We Believe

This We Believe 1-26

Pages 1-26 in This We Believe discusses three topics regarding middle school education. The first is the importance of middle school education. Middle school students are unique and diverse in many different ways. Young adolescents not only go through physical and emotional changes that impact their educational experience, but society is constantly changing around them. These are changes that teachers must keep in mind when planning and implementing lessons. The second is the main goals of middle school education, which outlines 13 major goals. Two of the goals that stood out to me as being extremely important were students developing their strengths and talents, and students assuming responsibility for their actions. In order for students to be successful in the classroom, I believe it is incredibly important for them to be aware of their strengths and advocate for themselves. The third and final topic that is discussed in these pages are the attributes and characteristics of middle school education. One characteristic of middle level education is that students and teachers are engaged in learning. One quote that stood out to me on page 16 was that “successful middle grades practices purposefully empower young adolescents to assume this role, one that includes self-advocacy”. As mentioned above, I believe that self-advocating when it comes to one’s strengths and learning is key to being a successful student. I also agree with the idea that assignments and tasks must be challenging but achievable to students, and high expectations should be held for every student. This idea is key to keeping student engaged and motivated in the classroom.

This We Believe 27-33

Pages 27-33 in This We Believe discusses leadership and organizational structures within schools. The section begins by stressing the importance of having a shared vision.This shared vision should focus on promoting the learning and success of every student. It also stresses that school structures need a committed and knowledgeable leader to be successful. One thing that really stood out to me in the discussion of leadership was the statement on page 29 that “successful principals use the expertise of a variety of people…” In order to build an environment where everyone feels like that their opinions are valued, it is important that decision-making does not rely upon a single person. This is why I like the idea of teaming and having a leadership team that works alongside the administration. Another concept that stood out to me in this section was the idea of professional development programs that are based in a certain school. I like this idea because it makes professional development seem more relevant. From my experience with professional develop I find that many teachers find it boring and tedious because it often does not apply to the immediate need of the school they are working in. One thing that I am left curious about in this section is block scheduling. The section mentioned that during longer periods some students can be provided additional support and others can do other enrichment activities. I’m curious how this would work in the current middle school structure and how effective it would be for students.

This We Believe 33-42

Pages 33-42 of This We Believe discusses the middle school culture and environment. In addition, it also addresses how to get the parent and the community involved within the school community. One thing that is incredibly important to a safe school environment that is mentioned in these pages is how the members of the school address each other. Teachers and administrators should speak to each other with respect, and all staff should address students by their names. Students and staff should be able to feel like they can interact with each other comfortably. Another integral part of a middle school culture and environment is the idea of advocacy. I really like this idea of each student have an adult advocate within the school. This not only provides students with an adult that they trust in the school, but it allows them to set goals and to learn valuable skills. Equally important to a school is guidance and support services. These professionals use their knowledge to not only assist students, but to assist teachers and staff. Finally, the last thing that is addressed in these pages is how to involve families and community members. Involving families leads to higher levels of achievement for students and even less behavioral issues for many students. Getting families involved can be tricky, you always need to be sensitive to family structures and the local culture, but keeping that communication open is beneficial for all involved. On the other hand, involving the community in the learning process can be an incredible resource. It can provide students with a real life learning experience that they can’t get in the classroom.

This We Believe 43-62

This section of This We Believe takes the opportunity to reiterate the importance of providing an appropriate education for young adolescents. The section includes a call to action, which outlines ways in which an educator might begin to make some changes in their middle school. Also in this section is the research that was used to write and support this concept for middle school education. It is clear that a variety of sources have been used to develop a well rounded framework. The section ends by once again address the unique characteristics of young adolescents. I think it is important that they mentioned in this section that the importance or impact of a certain characteristic can different influences on different students. It is also noted that these characteristics are not experienced in any order, but are indeed intertwined meaning one characteristic can affect others. The area of development that stands out to me the most is psychological development. I think this is the area that I might be most sensitive towards because it was a major struggle of mine when entering middle school. Young adolescents are attempting to navigate a new place, a new schedule, and new teachers. On top of that they are trying to find their place within friends groups and within their community. I think this is something that educators need to be incredibly aware of when planning and interacting with young adolescents day to day. At this time students need a safe and supportive environment in order to navigate the changes going on around them.