1. The Middle School Years

2. What do you know about middle schoolers?
Review your charts, posters, notes, handouts…
Identify the changes that youth undergo in the following areas:
Physical Changes
Intellectual Changes
Moral/Ethical Development
Emotional/Psychological Development
Social Development
THEN…How might those changes impact a student in school?

3. Opener
Given what you know about the changes middle schoolers go
through…answer the question on the back of your handout...
How can schools, communities, and parents support middle school students?

4. Why is Middle school so important?
In 6th grade, if a child…
Attends less than 80% of the time
Receives an unsatisfactory grade in behavior (or has behavior issues)
Fails a math OR English class
THEN…
75% chance they will drop out of High School

5. Middle School Moment
Watch the short documentary,
“Middle School Moment.”
Identify at least 3 problems that middle school students face.
Think about and be prepared to discuss how community members can better support students in the Middle School Years.

6. Article annotation & Response
Read the article “Why Middle School Doesn’t Have to Suck.” In a 1-page reflection, respond to the article.  Some questions to help guide you might include…
Summarize the article.  What is it about?
What are the beliefs about education/teaching/schooling in the article?
Do you agree with the author's beliefs?
Do you have any connections to the issue/trend in the article? If so, what is it?
How might the issue/trend presented impact the future of education?

7. How might Middle School be different?
Generate a list with your table group/partner of the ways in which Middle School
might be different (and help students succeed).
Change the start time of middle schools to later
Include discussions around puberty, sexuality, bullying, and relationships as part of the curriculum
Create systems that monitor and intervene when students experience attendance problems
Hire better-educated teachers – increase salaries for middle school teachers
Teach non-academic skills (non-cognitive skills) to students – focus on character building
Get rid of middle school all together – K-8 model

8. Middle School Reform What should be done differently in middle school?
Research one of the issues or solutions presented today. Write a 1-2 page letter
encouraging the school board to make a change.
Identify why changing middle school is important
Propose a change to middle school
Give specifics about what this could/would/should look like
Use evidence (statistics, facts, anecdotes) to support your opinion and recommendation.

9. Middle school observations/experience