Turning Points: A Decade Later

Abstract: This chapter discusses the crucial turning points present within middle level education. While many of the changes seem minor, these changes have an impact on student learning and comfort. For example, the decision to alter the middle level grades from seventh to ninth to fifth or sixth to eighth grade significantly altered standardized test scores. Where once students had averaged test scores of 250, the alteration in grading produced scores from 275 to 315. At the same time, the goals of the middle level classroom have been far more clearly defined, stating that students will work in communities, team teaching will broaden student understanding, teachers and parents will work together toward a common goal, and the significance of general health and wellbeing will be stressed throughout the school year. While the curriculum remains the same, the emotional and social well being of students is brought forth in an effort to ensure that all students feel comfortable within their learning environments. However, an interesting aspect of this change is that research has proved that many of these students are not achieving the standards required for their particular grade level. While students are comfortable, there is still the necessary move to ensure that students are still learning as they should be.

Synthesis: By implementing strong, consistent objectives, teachers are likely to follow these guidelines and thus follow through on the practices developed to help all students. In order to successfully teach in a middle school, I will need to be prepared to work in a group setting and communicate with all who work with my students. This will be significant while working with various teachers within my team, past and future teachers of my students, the parents, and in some circumstances, educational technicians for students with various learning difficulties. In order to strike a balance between the curriculum we must cover and the individual needs of all students, I will need to recognize the history of each student as well as individual learning styles. To help all students transition successfully and happily from elementary to middle school, I hope to ensure that all students are comfortable enough to learn. I hope to instill in my students an interest in creative thinking, as well as several strategies to ensure that they are able to build upon the natural adolescent ability to think in these ways.