How do you know good middle school teaching when you see it? “A good middle school teacher is almost always ‘on the move.’ Students are engaged, not always doing the same pattern of activities each day—they’re participating, questioning, writing, collaborating. A good middle school teacher changes up what’s happening in the classroom in terms of the period, the week, the month. They must be very attentive to different learning styles.” —Laurel Starks, Grade 8 World Cultures “I believe that effective teaching is happening when students fill the lulls that invariably arise with insightful observations, thoughtful comments, and questions that extend a topic in new and interesting directions; when they’re willing to take risks by voicing their opinions, explanations or theories in front of peers; and when students reflect their investment in a course by pursuing topics outside of the classroom.” —Tom Troy, Grade 8 Science “The key is finding the connection that best meets the needs of the student. When the teacher can uncover how that student best learns, and what stimulates the student’s passion and enthusiasm for
learning for its own sake, the relationship has been forged and the journey on the road to meaningful lifetime success has begun.”
age group and allow them to succeed. They need to be committed to learning how to love middle school students, if they don’t already.”
— Sue Austin, Grade 7 Science, Grade 7 Dean and K–8 Science Lead
—Liz Gray, Grade 6 Social Studies
What core attributes does every good middle school teacher possess?
Can the skills and attributes of good middle school teaching be built, or must they be inherent in the teacher?
“Middle school teachers have to have great ‘radar.’ Students will often try to hide disappointment or concerns. They’re transitioning toward independence; teaching them to communicate with their teachers and advisors, and to be their own advocate, is really important. A middle school teacher also has to be willing to laugh. Kids really pick up on the happiness of their teachers, and they need to ‘like’ their teachers at this age. This doesn’t mean always being their friend, but it does mean having their respect.”
“Some of them can be built with a lot of practice, patience and flexibility in the adult. It is easier for an adult who has the inherent qualities of being a middle school teacher to adjust to the content than to have someone who is proficient in the content adjust to the age. You really have to like, understand, and be committed to middle school-aged students to be able to work with them well.”
—Laurel Starks, Grade 8 World Cultures
What are some good “rules to live by” in teaching middle schoolers?
“Middle school is often a division of teaching that teachers avoid, because the kids are testing boundaries and going through tough times developmentally. They are awkward. Anyone who is going to be a middle school teacher has to be completely devoted to learning how to best teach this
— Will Crissman, Middle School Dean and Grade 8 Math
“Meet the students at their level. That can mean that teachers need to be especially attentive to the mood of a class or a particular issue that the students are buzzing about. It also means delivering material in
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