Middle School Instructional Practices

Author(s):  
Cherie B. Gaines

As middle school students, typically aged 10-14, begin to navigate a new world after elementary school, not only does their environment change but so do their specific learning needs. When defining the middle school philosophy, it is important to recognize the need for higher order thinking skills. To meet this need and to utilize developmentally responsive instructional strategies, middle school teachers face the daily challenge of designing learning experiences for the classroom. In this chapter, the author discusses a study investigating middle school teachers' espoused beliefs about appropriate instructional strategies and the actual strategies used in their schools. Characteristics of developmentally responsive instructional strategies, including blended learning, are also described.

Author(s):  
Kristen L. Billiar ◽  
Robin Belisle ◽  
Tanea Cezar ◽  
Mary Fusco ◽  
Cecelia Gray ◽  
...  

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts become more difficult and less interesting for many students in middle school, thus discouraging many from pursuing science and engineering. To aid in student learning and motivation, we collaborated with middle school teachers to develop engineering design projects to teach difficult STEM concepts. Biomechanics projects appear to motivate student learning and reinvigorate the teaching of engineering topics.


2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 218-224
Author(s):  
Richard A. Austin ◽  
Denisse R. Thompson ◽  
Charlene E. Beckmann

Literature Provides a Natural OPPortunity to motivate middle school students in their mathematics study. Stories are not only a springboard into measurement activities but are also a bridge between the mathematics of measurement and other curricular areas. As middle school teachers increasingly team with teachers of other disciplines, literature offers an opportunity to coordinate lesson content across a variety of fields. The authors' experiences in middle school classrooms have convinced them that middle school students respond positively to stories and to mathematical investigations that are based on the story presentation (Austin and Thompson 1997; Thompson, Austin, and Beckmann 2002).


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 178-181
Author(s):  
Sri Endang Wahyuni ◽  
Fita Widiyatun ◽  
Halleyna Widyasari ◽  
Puji Suharmanto

Abstract. A community service program has been carried out which aims to introduce MindMapple software in making concept maps and learning media in increasing the learning motivation of TRAMPIL Middle School students. The activity participants were all Trampil Middle School teachers. Mindmapple software can be downloaded for free or paid. This software can be used by teachers in creating concept maps in the teaching and learning process. Besides being easy to use, this program can also train creativity from the teacher in making concept maps. After doing activities around 80% of teachers who are accustomed to operating laptops can easily operate the MindMapple program. While 20% of teachers who are constrained to operate a laptop still need guidance in applying mindmapple software. The output of this community service is a module on the introduction of software.Abstrak. Telah dilakukan program kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat  yang bertujuan memperkenalkan software MindMapple dalam pembuatan peta konsep dan media pembelajaran dalam meningkatkan motivasi belajar siswa SMP TRAMPIL. Peserta kegiatan adalah seluruh guru SMP Trampil. Software MindMapple dapat diunduh secara gratis maupun berbayar. Software ini dapat digunakan oleh guru dalam membuat peta konsep dalam proses belajar mengajar. Selain mudah penggunaannya, program ini juga dapat melatih kekreatifitasan dari  guru dalam pembuatan peta konsep. Setelah melakukan kegiatan sekitar 80 % guru yang terbiasa mengoperasikan laptop dapat dengan mudah mengoperasikan program MindMapple. Sedangkan 20% guru yang terkendala mengoperasikan laptop masih perlu bimbingan dalam mengaplikaskan software MindMapple. Luaran dari kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini adalah modul tentang pengenalan software.


2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-47
Author(s):  
Jamar Pickreign ◽  
Robert Rogers

Because an increasing number OF school districts requires the successful completion of an algebra course to graduate from high school, many middle school teachers are beginning to focus more attention on introducing algebraic thinking to their students (NCTM 2003). Consequently, it becomes important to consider ways to ensure that these experiences are meaningful and connected to arithmetical experiences from the earlier grades. We believe that presenting middle school students with activities that involve exploring computational algorithms—how and why they work—can contribute to the development and promotion of algebraic thinking.


2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Wójcik ◽  
Beata Kozak

Abstract School bullying also referred to as peer victimization is considered extremely harmful for all parties involved. It has been recognised as an important issue in Polish schools. This article presents the first stage of a project financed by the National Centre of Research and Development and includes the results of qualitative research conducted in groups of middle-school students, middle-school teachers and psychologists. The results highlight several factors leading to the exclusion from the dominant peer group. The results also indicate that although students are aware of the consequences of bullying and excluding behaviours, they do not implement this knowledge when explaining their own excluding actions. All results are discussed in terms of designing and implementing a data-based programme which would effectively mitigate excluding behaviours during middle-school transition.


Author(s):  
Bandar Manshed Mohammad Aldhafeeri Bandar Manshed Mohammad Aldhafeeri

The aim of the research is to identify the proposed perceptions to address poor reading among middle school students from the point of view of their teachers and teachers in public schools in Kuwait, and the research sample consisted of (350) teachers, selected in the random class way from middle school teachers in The 2, 512 public education schools in Mubarak al- Kabir governorate (Kuwait) were adopted, and the analytical descriptive curriculum was adopted, and the questionnaire was adopted as a data collection tool consisting of (32) paragraphs spread over three integrated fields as follows: Proposed perceptions to address poor reading related to the role )family and teacher, technical guidance and school curriculum, school and major educational institution). The research resulted in a series of results, the most important of which is that the degree of appreciation of middle school teachers for the proposed perceptions to address poor reading among middle school students in all its integrated areas came to a large extent, the most important of which is the provision of a scientific and cultural stock among the teacher qualifies him to address the reading weakness of students, take into account the family's various problems and stand with him to overcome them, provide modern educational and technological means in the school, provide the major educational institution for all ways to address the problems of students, especially reading weakness, monitor guidance Technical commitment of teachers to the treatment plans provided to students, in addition to the existence of statistically significant differences between the responses of the members of the study sample towards the proposed perceptions to address poor reading in middle school students from the point of view of their teachers and teachers in public schools in Kuwait at all fields and the tool as a whole due to the sex change and the differences came in favor of male teachers. In the light of the results the research made a number of recommendations, the most important of which Taking into account the importance of the diagnostic calendar for students at the beginning of the year and semester, and educating teachers and following them up by their supervisors through regular visits to them during the academic year to identify the weaknesses and strengths of each student, and qualify and prepare Arabic teachers through training courses on addressing poor reading among students .


1998 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Firestone ◽  
David Mayrowetz ◽  
Janet Fairman

To examine how performance-based assessment changed mathematics teaching under conditions of moderate and low stakes, we studied middle school teachers in five districts in Maine and Maryland. Our observations suggest that the effects of state testing on teaching may be overrated by both advocates and opponents of such policies. When combined with moderately high stakes and other conditions, such assessments generate considerable activity focused on the test itself. This activity can promote certain changes, like aligning subjects taught with the test. It appears to be less successful, however, in changing basic instructional strategies.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sid Mitchell ◽  
Julie DellaMattera

Abstract The present study investigated the role of teacher support and its influence on middle school student’s self-efficacy beliefs. A statewide survey of 9,702 urban and rural middle school students found that teacher support declined across the middle school years and that this had negative effects on student self-efficacy beliefs. The data do show that girls received more support than did boys and that girls also had generally higher self-efficacy beliefs than did boys. Overall, the results show that middle school teachers can do more in fostering self-efficacy, particularly in boys, and maintaining support throughout a student’s middle school experience. The present study of student’s perceptions of teacher support over the middle school years is an important step in our ability to understand the complex ways in which teachers influence student’s self-efficacy beliefs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan K. James ◽  
Theresa Williams

In this research study, we hear the voices of middle school students, preservice teachers, and practicing middle school teachers in support of school-based experiential outdoor education. The benefits of engaging youth in memorably relevant learning, immersing them in physically active, field-based education, and providing them with authentic, contextualized opportunities to extend classroom-based learning are examined. This research addresses the question, “Is experiential outdoor education for middle school–aged students a valuable use of school time?” The answer is a resounding “YES!” School-based experiential outdoor education, although often neglected as a part of the curriculum in our current era of high-stakes test-based accountability, is definitely a necessity.


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