Summary:
The first chapter in Turning Point 2000 introduces and explains the Turning Points middle school model. There are several reasons to use the model in today’s middle schools, in the chapter they are grouped into eight major points or ideas. The model suggests that by creating smaller communities, having core common knowledge, being organized to ensure success, ensuring power and responsibility to teachers and principals, staffing the facility with knowledgeable, expert teachers, promoting good health, changing structure, and synthesizing lessons and current research with faculty will create a more supportive and successful learning environment for middle school students. This first chapter also talks about the changes that young adolescents will be going through in their middle school years, emotionally, physically and mentally. The book also mentioned that with these changes there comes new problems to be dealt with and that some students may not be ready to face these changes. All of the things mentioned or discussed in detail are important to remember as middle school teachers, and are the main reasons to have and use the middle school designed curriculum.
Analysis:
While reading peers responses there seemed to be a couple major themes, concerns and/or touching stories. As a collective group we all seemed to acknowledge the changes that young adolescents go through during middle school years. A major area of concern or interest would be some of the new problems that students might face as the mature and change. Another concern was regarding how we measure learning in the school system, specifically in middle schools. With all the changes and stresses that middle school students are going through, the method of measuring an individual’s mastery of the material should not be their concern. It seemed that many agreed that the social aspect of school is almost just as important as the curriculum that is being studied. Many people could relate to some of the stories and examples given in the book. Because of this relation, it is more easily understandable why and how the middle school model works and helps students.
Middle School Science
The templates on the "measuring learning" links are really helpful!
ReplyDeleteYo Lyzz,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the second link that you had. It was cool to see a different model for assessing students in Middle School. You did a REAL good job! :)
Under "Strategies" on the second website:
ReplyDelete"I allow students to revise all work (except quizzes) for the full amount of points. I'd rather have them leave something correct rather than incorrect. This allows them to research the correct answers and to correct their thinking."
I like this!
I really liked the Middle School Model assessment. It really shows how teachers can think outside of the box and there are always new ways to educate your students. New Age Teachers!
ReplyDeleteIn the "measuring learning" link, I was looking through some of the strategies and one strategy for the teacher to connect to the parents was to send home a letter about what the students will be learning about through his/her lessons. I love this idea.
ReplyDeleteSome of the strategies on the "measure learning" link are very useful. Good Tag!
ReplyDeleteI really like the middle school assessment model where the students have a say in the curriculum. Guidelines would have to be made, and I would suggest kind of a list of topics that the curriculum could be based on, as students don't really know what they want to learn in certain subjects. That's how I would change it, great link!
ReplyDeleteI liked the Middle School Assessment model that you linked in. I think that having students choose the grade they want to work toward is a great idea, and I think it can also help raise potential flags for students that we either need to take aside and find out if there is something going on, or for students that we just need to push a little harder. I feel like students might also have higher expectations for themselves and will work harder to meet those expectations if they can make that decision.
ReplyDeleteSo, I liked the Middle School Assessment one. A lot of interesting stuff to read.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Middleweb site because it gave some really good information about the middle school model. It gave me some really good information about the model and how I can help perfect it.
ReplyDeleteThe second site had a lot of great ways to involve students in the learning process. I hope to use this site I am out.
I enjoyed being able to see an actual example of student work..... I was interested that the students decided to to a point grade system rubric instead of the traditional type teachers always gave me. I like the benifits that were mentioned on this site, especially that students know exactly what they are learning, since they created the lesson material..... very nice cite!
ReplyDeleteOn the MiddleWeb website, under diaries there are teacher blogs specifically from middle school teachers which are really interesting to read. =D
ReplyDeleteI felt like the whole designing your own assessment (the second link) was extremely helpful and a really great idea!
ReplyDeleteThe first site you have linked was really helpful in clarifying for me what the middle school model really is. It was very useful.
ReplyDelete