The middle school model was conceived in the 70s and implemented throughout the 70s and 80s across the nation. It was thought that middle schools would provide a nurturing bridge between the early elementary school experience and high school. Unfortunately, many education experts now consider the experiment a failure with their poor performance and uprooting children twice during their turbulent and challenging adolescent years. Middle schools now are being viewed as the weak link in the educational chain by many.

Prior to the implementation of middle schools, these grades were either part of the elementary school experience or an expanded high school environment. Now, education leaders across the nation (including the Boston schools) are looking to return to those earlier models.

Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Model

With this model, the Boston schools would expand their elementary schools to include kindergarten through eighth grade. Many Boston schools educators believe this would deliver a supportive structure that would foster longer-term relationships between the teachers and their students. The thought is to use the earlier school experience to extend the nurturing that the middle school model was suppose to provide but hasn’t.

The push to integrate the middle schools with the elementary Boston schools is gaining momentum. Parents are especially in favor of the K-8 model for the Boston schools, wary of sending their children to the current middle school environment — especially within the urban areas.

Many Boston schools leaders and educators are familiar with the middle school struggle to raise achievement levels. They believe the K-8 model will keep the students and their families not only involved with their Boston schools but also connected on a more positive level.

Upper Grades Model

Others support the upper grades model of Continue Reading

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The middle school model was conceived in the 70s and implemented throughout the 70s and 80s across the nation. It was thought that middle schools would provide a nurturing bridge between the early elementary school experience and high school. Unfortunately, many education experts now consider the experiment a failure with their poor performance and uprooting children twice during their turbulent and challenging adolescent years. Middle schools now are being viewed as the weak link in the educational chain by many.

Prior to the implementation of middle schools, these grades were either part of the elementary school experience or an expanded high school environment. Now, education leaders across the nation (including the Boston schools) are looking to return to those earlier models.

Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Model

With this model, the Boston schools would expand their elementary schools to include kindergarten through eighth grade. Many Boston schools educators believe this would deliver a supportive structure that would foster longer-term relationships between the teachers and their students. The thought is to use the earlier school experience to extend the nurturing that the middle school model was suppose to provide but hasn’t.

The push to integrate the middle schools with the elementary Boston schools is gaining momentum. Parents are especially in favor of the K-8 model for the Boston schools, wary of sending their children to the current middle school environment — especially within the urban areas.

Many Boston schools leaders and educators are familiar with the middle school struggle to raise achievement levels. They believe the K-8 model will keep the students and their families not only involved with their Boston schools but also connected on a more positive level.

Upper Grades Model

Others support the upper grades model of Continue Reading

]]> http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/middle-school-may-be-passe-within-the-boston-schools/feed/ 0 http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/atlanta-schools-are-models-of-reform/ http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/atlanta-schools-are-models-of-reform/#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:09:59 +0000 admin http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/atlanta-schools-are-models-of-reform/

Everyday educators, whether they are teachers, administrators, or board members, are striving to improve the services they offer. Teachers attend in-service training; principals meet with other administrators in their district, state, or even the nation; and board members travel to see what other districts are doing right All with the intention of gleaning the best methods and practices for their own schools. Atlanta Schools are no exception. As of the 2006-07 school year, Atlanta Schools were made up of the following:

* Traditional schools (89) * Elementary schools (59) * Middle schools (16)

* High schools (14) * Nontraditional programs (2)* Charter schools (7)

* Adult learning centers (1) * APS Learning Institutes (99)*Title I Schools (89)

* Year-Round Schools (3) * Schools of Excellence (2) * Magnet Schools (7)

Atlanta Schools serve a large number of students. The enrollment for the past school year (2006-2007) was 49,392. The students of Atlanta Schools represent many diverse, ethnic groups:

* African-American 85.98% * American Indian/Alaskan .03%

* Asian .59% * Caucasian 8.37%

* Hispanic 4.10% * Multiracial .93%

The operating budget in the past school year was $582,839,767. Atlanta Schools employ a total of 6,536 employees. 3,465 of these are full-time teachers, 226 are members of the Student Support Staff. 1,900 of Atlanta Schools teachers hold advanced degrees, and another 42 have achieved National Board Certification. The beginning teacher salary for the ’05-’06 school year was $40,157.

Atlanta Schools have embraced many models of school reform, and have implemented them throughout the district, to serve individual areas as needed. Samples of these models are:

America’s Choice: This model enables all students to reach internationally benchmarked standards. Learning is focused on getting all Continue Reading

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Everyday educators, whether they are teachers, administrators, or board members, are striving to improve the services they offer. Teachers attend in-service training; principals meet with other administrators in their district, state, or even the nation; and board members travel to see what other districts are doing right All with the intention of gleaning the best methods and practices for their own schools. Atlanta Schools are no exception. As of the 2006-07 school year, Atlanta Schools were made up of the following:

* Traditional schools (89) * Elementary schools (59) * Middle schools (16)

* High schools (14) * Nontraditional programs (2)* Charter schools (7)

* Adult learning centers (1) * APS Learning Institutes (99)*Title I Schools (89)

* Year-Round Schools (3) * Schools of Excellence (2) * Magnet Schools (7)

Atlanta Schools serve a large number of students. The enrollment for the past school year (2006-2007) was 49,392. The students of Atlanta Schools represent many diverse, ethnic groups:

* African-American 85.98% * American Indian/Alaskan .03%

* Asian .59% * Caucasian 8.37%

* Hispanic 4.10% * Multiracial .93%

The operating budget in the past school year was $582,839,767. Atlanta Schools employ a total of 6,536 employees. 3,465 of these are full-time teachers, 226 are members of the Student Support Staff. 1,900 of Atlanta Schools teachers hold advanced degrees, and another 42 have achieved National Board Certification. The beginning teacher salary for the ’05-’06 school year was $40,157.

Atlanta Schools have embraced many models of school reform, and have implemented them throughout the district, to serve individual areas as needed. Samples of these models are:

America’s Choice: This model enables all students to reach internationally benchmarked standards. Learning is focused on getting all Continue Reading

]]> http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/atlanta-schools-are-models-of-reform/feed/ 0 http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/florida-schools-flying-high-on-last-years-middle-schools-success/ http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/florida-schools-flying-high-on-last-years-middle-schools-success/#comments Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:21:08 +0000 admin http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/florida-schools-flying-high-on-last-years-middle-schools-success/

The 2005-2006 school year was a tremendous success for the Florida schools, especially at the middle school level. The Florida schools’ educators across the state worked hard to improve student academic achievement levels and were rewarded for their efforts. The state of Florida awarded grades of A or B to 75 percent of its public schools. Not only did this show extraordinary progress for the Florida schools, but it also was a new record for the state.

The strongest gains were made in the middle schools. For example, Lake County has nine middle schools. Seven earned a grade of A last year, with the other two earning Bs. One of the B schools missed receiving an A by only one point. Osceola County has ten middle schools of which six earned an A, three earned a B, and one received a C grade.

Middle school is a crucial stage of academic achievement for students. It is the time when students transition from developing the basic skills learned in elementary school to learning how to put them into practice. Here, students begin to learn more in-depth content in order to develop the foundation that is needed in high school. Secondary education then builds on the foundation by digging deeper into the content and using it to help students develop their minds and become well-rounded adults.

If the middle Florida schools do their jobs right, as they did last year, then students will achieve a greater success in high school, be more likely to go on to college, and have a better chance to obtain and excel in a good career.

The major problems facing all middle Florida schools’ educators are the hormonal changes that youth experience at this age and the intense peer pressure students must deal with on a daily basis. These challenges make it easy for middle school students to get off track.

Florida schools’ educators are working hard to divert the students’ Continue Reading

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The 2005-2006 school year was a tremendous success for the Florida schools, especially at the middle school level. The Florida schools’ educators across the state worked hard to improve student academic achievement levels and were rewarded for their efforts. The state of Florida awarded grades of A or B to 75 percent of its public schools. Not only did this show extraordinary progress for the Florida schools, but it also was a new record for the state.

The strongest gains were made in the middle schools. For example, Lake County has nine middle schools. Seven earned a grade of A last year, with the other two earning Bs. One of the B schools missed receiving an A by only one point. Osceola County has ten middle schools of which six earned an A, three earned a B, and one received a C grade.

Middle school is a crucial stage of academic achievement for students. It is the time when students transition from developing the basic skills learned in elementary school to learning how to put them into practice. Here, students begin to learn more in-depth content in order to develop the foundation that is needed in high school. Secondary education then builds on the foundation by digging deeper into the content and using it to help students develop their minds and become well-rounded adults.

If the middle Florida schools do their jobs right, as they did last year, then students will achieve a greater success in high school, be more likely to go on to college, and have a better chance to obtain and excel in a good career.

The major problems facing all middle Florida schools’ educators are the hormonal changes that youth experience at this age and the intense peer pressure students must deal with on a daily basis. These challenges make it easy for middle school students to get off track.

Florida schools’ educators are working hard to divert the students’ Continue Reading

]]> http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/florida-schools-flying-high-on-last-years-middle-schools-success/feed/ 0 http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/baltimore-schools-designate-six-schools-as-persistently-dangerous-with-a-warning-to-another/ http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/baltimore-schools-designate-six-schools-as-persistently-dangerous-with-a-warning-to-another/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:34:57 +0000 admin http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/baltimore-schools-designate-six-schools-as-persistently-dangerous-with-a-warning-to-another/

The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requires that all states report any schools that are considered persistently dangerous. The state of Maryland is only one of six states that have reported having such schools. Some metro areas with similar or worse problems report no dangerous schools at all.

Since each state sets its own suspension limits for reporting, the NCLB provision is inconsistent across the nation with many states ignoring it all together. The state of Maryland, however, takes it seriously with rules that are more stringent than most other states.

A “persistently dangerous” school designation means the school has a high rate of suspensions for serious offenses. These are violations of assault on another student or teacher, bringing a weapon to school, setting a fire at school, or sexual assault of any type.

The six schools designated as dangerous by the Baltimore schools are:

• Calverton, Thurgood Marshall, and Highlandtown Middle Schools — These schools have been considered dangerous by state standards for the past four years, with Highlandtown closing before the fall of 2006.

• Liberal Arts at Walbrook, Dr. Roland N. Patterson Sr. Academy, and Dr. W.E.B. Dubois High School were all added this year.

The Baltimore schools also had six such schools last year. The number of suspensions and expulsions for dangerous offenses declined at five of the six schools, with three dropping off the list for this year.

A dangerous designation is serious for any of the Baltimore schools. Parents with children attending these schools are notified of the situation and given the option to transfer their children to other schools, as long as the transfer is completed before the beginning of the next school year.

The dangerous schools provision in the No Child Left Behind Act does have some Baltimore schools educators Continue Reading

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The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requires that all states report any schools that are considered persistently dangerous. The state of Maryland is only one of six states that have reported having such schools. Some metro areas with similar or worse problems report no dangerous schools at all.

Since each state sets its own suspension limits for reporting, the NCLB provision is inconsistent across the nation with many states ignoring it all together. The state of Maryland, however, takes it seriously with rules that are more stringent than most other states.

A “persistently dangerous” school designation means the school has a high rate of suspensions for serious offenses. These are violations of assault on another student or teacher, bringing a weapon to school, setting a fire at school, or sexual assault of any type.

The six schools designated as dangerous by the Baltimore schools are:

• Calverton, Thurgood Marshall, and Highlandtown Middle Schools — These schools have been considered dangerous by state standards for the past four years, with Highlandtown closing before the fall of 2006.

• Liberal Arts at Walbrook, Dr. Roland N. Patterson Sr. Academy, and Dr. W.E.B. Dubois High School were all added this year.

The Baltimore schools also had six such schools last year. The number of suspensions and expulsions for dangerous offenses declined at five of the six schools, with three dropping off the list for this year.

A dangerous designation is serious for any of the Baltimore schools. Parents with children attending these schools are notified of the situation and given the option to transfer their children to other schools, as long as the transfer is completed before the beginning of the next school year.

The dangerous schools provision in the No Child Left Behind Act does have some Baltimore schools educators Continue Reading

]]> http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/baltimore-schools-designate-six-schools-as-persistently-dangerous-with-a-warning-to-another/feed/ 0 http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/finally-a-high-school-news-website/ http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/finally-a-high-school-news-website/#comments Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:34:42 +0000 admin http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/finally-a-high-school-news-website/

Stats from late last year show that fifty one percent of high school students read the news on the internet at least once weekly.

Another thirty six percent would read the news if it was delivered in the right way. Contrary to what many belive, there are tons of high school students who actually enjoy reading the news.

And until recently there was no news site for high school students.

The High schooler is a website that posts news articles that high school students actually enjoy reading about. The website was created for high school students and it posts news articles in student life, entertainment, high school sports, and much more.

The High Schooler has become increasingly popular amongst high school students.

Before The High Schooler was created there was only one high school news source (Channel One) which is a television show that airs in several high schools and middle schools around the country.

Although they also have a website, their website consists mainly of quizzes and not very much news. Another issue that many students have with Channel One is that it isn’t delivered in a manner that high school and middle school students can relate to.

Channel One talks about lots of war and politics. This isn’t a bad thing and i’m sure lots of high school students like to know what’s going on in the world. However, High School students can tune in to CNN if all they wanted was war and politics. And as the Statistics say, thirty six percent of these students would read the news if presented in the right way. This is the problem channel one has. Middle school students are probably bored to death with their news because every one in my high school surely was.

Where The High Schooler differs is that the site posts entertaining but also informative and educational articles that high school students can actually relate to Continue Reading

]]>

Stats from late last year show that fifty one percent of high school students read the news on the internet at least once weekly.

Another thirty six percent would read the news if it was delivered in the right way. Contrary to what many belive, there are tons of high school students who actually enjoy reading the news.

And until recently there was no news site for high school students.

The High schooler is a website that posts news articles that high school students actually enjoy reading about. The website was created for high school students and it posts news articles in student life, entertainment, high school sports, and much more.

The High Schooler has become increasingly popular amongst high school students.

Before The High Schooler was created there was only one high school news source (Channel One) which is a television show that airs in several high schools and middle schools around the country.

Although they also have a website, their website consists mainly of quizzes and not very much news. Another issue that many students have with Channel One is that it isn’t delivered in a manner that high school and middle school students can relate to.

Channel One talks about lots of war and politics. This isn’t a bad thing and i’m sure lots of high school students like to know what’s going on in the world. However, High School students can tune in to CNN if all they wanted was war and politics. And as the Statistics say, thirty six percent of these students would read the news if presented in the right way. This is the problem channel one has. Middle school students are probably bored to death with their news because every one in my high school surely was.

Where The High Schooler differs is that the site posts entertaining but also informative and educational articles that high school students can actually relate to Continue Reading

]]> http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/finally-a-high-school-news-website/feed/ 0 http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/st-louis-schools-sensitive-to-needs-of-alternative-students/ http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/st-louis-schools-sensitive-to-needs-of-alternative-students/#comments Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:50:04 +0000 admin http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/st-louis-schools-sensitive-to-needs-of-alternative-students/

The efforts of St. Louis Schools to serve the needs of its alternative schools are admirable. Through the implementation of new summer schools programs, a virtual school, and 3 new alternative campuses, the district of St. Louis Schools strives to serve all students throughout the city. The district Vision and Mission Statements, as stated on the St. Louis Schools website are as follows:

Vision

The St. Louis Public Schools are the district of choice for families in the St. Louis region [and] provide a world-class education and are nationally recognized as a leader in student achievement & teacher quality.

Mission

We will provide a quality education for all students and enable them to realize their full academic potential.

St. Louis Schools consist of 56 elementary schools, 22 middle schools, 10 high schools,

5 alternative/special schools, with a total of 93 in all. The student population is 39,554, and has a drop-out rate of 18.7%. St. Louis Schools employ 4,333 full-time staff, and has a total operating budget of over $342 million.

St. Louis Schools plan to launch a new K-12 initiative at the start of the 2007-2008 school year. It is designed specifically for disruptive students. Enrollment at each school will be limited to 150 students. Bonita Jamison has been named principal of Des Peres Elementary; Sean Nichols will be principal of Turner Middle School; and Kacy Seals will take the reins of Kottmeyer High School. “We have hired instructional leaders with a strong understanding of the needs of alternative students,” said Diana M. Bourisaw, Superintendent of St. Louis Schools. “Our goal is to offer curriculum that encourages students at all levels to achieve academically and socially.” This new initiative is being implemented with assistance from The Big Picture Company. This is an organization that specializes in developing Continue Reading

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The efforts of St. Louis Schools to serve the needs of its alternative schools are admirable. Through the implementation of new summer schools programs, a virtual school, and 3 new alternative campuses, the district of St. Louis Schools strives to serve all students throughout the city. The district Vision and Mission Statements, as stated on the St. Louis Schools website are as follows:

Vision

The St. Louis Public Schools are the district of choice for families in the St. Louis region [and] provide a world-class education and are nationally recognized as a leader in student achievement & teacher quality.

Mission

We will provide a quality education for all students and enable them to realize their full academic potential.

St. Louis Schools consist of 56 elementary schools, 22 middle schools, 10 high schools,

5 alternative/special schools, with a total of 93 in all. The student population is 39,554, and has a drop-out rate of 18.7%. St. Louis Schools employ 4,333 full-time staff, and has a total operating budget of over $342 million.

St. Louis Schools plan to launch a new K-12 initiative at the start of the 2007-2008 school year. It is designed specifically for disruptive students. Enrollment at each school will be limited to 150 students. Bonita Jamison has been named principal of Des Peres Elementary; Sean Nichols will be principal of Turner Middle School; and Kacy Seals will take the reins of Kottmeyer High School. “We have hired instructional leaders with a strong understanding of the needs of alternative students,” said Diana M. Bourisaw, Superintendent of St. Louis Schools. “Our goal is to offer curriculum that encourages students at all levels to achieve academically and socially.” This new initiative is being implemented with assistance from The Big Picture Company. This is an organization that specializes in developing Continue Reading

]]> http://www.middleschoolteachingunits.com/st-louis-schools-sensitive-to-needs-of-alternative-students/feed/ 0