middle school? piece of cake!

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middle school? piece of cake!
By Beth

Hi Tara! I made the move you are making, only in reverse... I went from teaching 4 years of middle school down to elementary to teach 5th grade. (Just finished my 3rd year in 5th.) You will find in middle school that even
the individual grade levels-- 6th, 7th, and 8th-- are very different animals. 8th graders can be "too cool" for school, because they are the top dogs now and are full of hormones and attitudes. However, the basic tenets of good teaching will still work and apply to them as well. Having carefully thought-out procedures and expectations is a MUST or they will run over you. Will you be teaching

regular class periods, or is your middle school on "block scheduling?" This will make a big difference in how you decide to set up shop. Regardless, I STRONGLY recommend always having a "sponge" activity for them each & every time they come to class. Teach them from DAY ONE your "Entering Class Procedures" (i.e. 1)Come in quietly & find your seat immediately 2) Look at the board for sponge activity directions 3) Immediately begin work on sponge activity 4)Wait for further instructions) If you strictly enforce your beginning of class procedures, it will save you major headache & hassle in trying to get their attention when you are ready to begin direct instruction. This is also the time you can silently check the roll without taking valuable class time to call names aloud. (I used my seating chart to take roll- just look for the empty desks! Major time saver!) On the first day, I introduce myself, including telling them about my experience and credentials (without sounding snooty, of course) and I give them a course syllabus CLEARLY outlining course objectives, expectations, and how they will be evaluated. I also ask that this be signed by parents. (Some principals require this, but I would do it even if they didn't.) Are you familiar with Dr. Harry Wong's book "The First Days of School?" I re-read it every year to make sure I have a plan for everything! That is the key, I think, in middle school. Always have a plan, establish your routine from DAY ONE, and have fun! You will be able to have a different rapport with these kids than you did with the 5th graders... it is something I really miss about middle school. Don't forget that even though they are in middle school, they still enjoy hands-on projects and activities, and working in groups or partners. Again, though, make sure you have clear procedures for them to follow when working in groups or whatever. Okay. I've written too much probably. You can email me if you like. Have fun in middle school! You will love it!
Beth
bethsmith99@hotmail.com