3. & 8. It was the tip of the iceberg: Celebrating our students

3. & 8. It was the tip of the iceberg: Celebrating our students…

This we believe (NMSA, 2010).

* Curriculum is challenging, exploratory, integrative, and relevant. Challenging Curriculum

* Leaders demonstrate courage and collaboration. Courageous & Collaborative Leaders

Last night our school was highlighted at the monthly school board meeting. The room was packed with students, parents and teachers from West McDowell Middle School. Dr. Gardner, our principal, opened the evening sharing our mission and vision:

The mission of West McDowell Middle School is to offer relevant learning experiences that include communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity which are student centered, developing the whole child through teacher guidance, parent partnership, and global exploration.

In a span of forty minutes our students shared the benefits of clubs including: Men of Honor, the Newspaper “Spartan News”, Science Olympiad, Battle of the Books, and I-2-I “(Inspire 2 Innovate.) Faculty/staff initiated programs such as: Band Leaders Project, and the Student Tutors Program were highlighted. Curriculum innovations including the impact of using Gizmos, The Chromebook 1:1 Initiative, an Interdisciplinary/Cross-Grade Level unit on the Holocaust, and a breaking down bullying were discussed by students. Student Council activities, and a summary of our PTA fundraisers were shared. In addition, school-wide efforts to plan, organize, and conduct out of state field trips at each grade level including Atlanta, Williamsburg, and Space Camp in Alabama were shared by the students. Other events that were shared were the celebration of our men and women who serve and have served our country, and highlights from our PBIS programs. At the end of the presentations Dr. Gardner shared, “And this is just the tip of the iceberg!”

I have never worked in a school system where each school had the opportunity to share the good things happening with School Board members. This presentation highlighted our students and their opportunities to explore, innovate, and create learning experiences. What I found most enlightening is that many of these programs have started this year. It is our principal who holds the vision and inspires us to explore our own passions and insights into what our students need.

Advice

1)   If you have an idea that could benefit students or teachers, do not be hesitant in promoting your ideas. Our students need support from many different opportunities. Always check with your principal first.

2)   Do not ever try to do something by yourself. It can happen, but too often there is so much to do and having someone to bounce ideas off can be very helpful; plus it is more fun to collaborate with someone. (:

3)   Keep documentation of the experience. Whatever you create, consider how it impacts students’ behavior and academics. If/when it is effective, share it at a conference or write an article about it.

8. Running for AMLE President-Elect

For those who are following this blog, I wanted to share that I am running for president-elect of the Association for Middle-Level Education. If you are a member, or know members, I would appreciate your consideration for this important position.

My name is Nancy Ruppert and I am running for the office of president-elect of the Association for Middle-Level Education. Voting begins April 7, 2016 through April 28

https://youtu.be/nEZnKAiUhsM

Lighthouse Team celebrating Jeremy as our Teacher of the Year!

8. A time to celebrate

8. A time to celebrate

This we believe (NMSA, 2010).

* Leaders demonstrate courage and collaboration. Courageous & Collaborative Leaders

Teacher of the Year (TOY) is an opportunity for teachers to recognize the good work of their colleagues. The TOY is voted on by the entire staff and the teacher represents the school throughout the following year at quarterly district meetings. This week we, the faculty, selected a member who is on our team. He teaches social studies next to me. His students engage in primary source documents and compare and contrast different accounts of events. They analyze and synthesize information. They create cartoons, and projects, and illustrations of content. He lectures, they take notes, they view films, and have discussions. Children are actively engaged in multi-media/multi-modal experiences throughout the week in his classroom. He is also a wrestling coach at the high school in the fall and coaches track at the middle school in the spring.

We have had many conversations about teaching and about students throughout the year. His desire is to give his students a big picture of what history is. He is a story- teller and engages his students in lectures and provides them with multiple views of events in history so students can see and question their own views of events. His students are engaged in collaborative projects and work on comprehension strategies to develop their vocabulary and knowledge. He is passionate about his subject and committed to these students. Students open up to him and he is able to encourage and inspire them.

On Friday, eighth grade teachers had a breakfast celebration in honor of him. We have common planning. It was the first time we had “played” together as an eighth grade team of teachers. He was humbled by the experience. It was a wonderful way to take a moment to value our colleague. All of the teachers have been together for at least eight years and their camaraderie was delightful to witness.

Advice

1)   When your colleagues are recognized or honored, find a way to use it as a way to celebrate!

2)   When you get to a school, find the Teacher of the Year. Ask them for advice and ask them to share with you what they value as a teacher.

3)   Find a way to advocate for those around you and find someone who will advocate for you.

11. We felt like rock stars!

8. Presenting together is awesome

This we believe (NMSA, 2010).

Leaders demonstrate courage and collaboration. Courageous & Collaborative Leaders

In the fall, my colleagues and I decided to submit proposals to the North Carolina Association of Middle Level Education. We are in a middle school that is in their second year as a middle school. We are part of a school system that learned how to use Paideia Seminars. It is our first year as a one-to-one school. And while some teachers may not think their experiences are enough to share, we are here to say, 'Get out there and share your ideas!'

We gave two types of presentations, and both were well received. The first was a demonstration presentation on Paideia Seminar. We talked about it, then ran one. We interjected ideas throughout the session. All components were shared. We were pleased. At dinner, a teacher came up to us and said, 'Your session was so helpful. Thank you for sharing it with us!'

Our second session referenced our experience as first year one-to-one teachers. We prefaced the session by saying, 'We are not experts. We welcome your insight, and we are sharing what has worked for us.' We broke the session into parts: what works, what our challenges are, and what resources we have had success with. We were open and honest that we don't have all the answers but we are working together to figure it out. At the end of the session, we were pleased. A teacher came up to us and said, 'I wanted to jump for joy! Thank you for sharing this.'

I must say we felt like rock stars! Okay, maybe not rock stars, but we realized how valuable teachers sharing with teachers is. We want to encourage others to share their ideas. Part of our experience is that we are now closer as colleagues. We are not afraid to try something and we believe we can support one another in the future! (Look for us! 😊)
Advice

1. Choose something you do well and are interested in.
2. When creating a presentation, keep in mind that teachers and administrators want something they can use tomorrow.
3. Throughout your presentation or before the presentation allow people to share their experiences or what they are doing.
4. Once you present a topic, consider presenting it again the following year, or at a different conference (We are thinking we will present at the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics.)
5. Include teachers' views. Include evidence of student work.

8. What k-6 people bring to middle schools

8. What k-6 people bring to middle schools.

This we believe (NMSA, 2010).

* Leaders demonstrate courage and collaboration. Courageous & Collaborative Leaders

This we believe (NMSA, 2010) provides sixteen characteristics of exemplary middle schools. This is the eighth characteristic, and falls under the category of Leadership and Organization. I teach in a middle school in a rural county in North Carolina. We are in our second year as a middle school, having left the junior high model. The high school implemented a ninth grade academy and we brought sixth graders from six elementary schools into two six-eight school. One of our gifts has been the addition of former elementary teachers.

I asked the former elementary teachers what the biggest difference has been for them, moving from elementary school to middle school. All of them love it! Here are a few quotes from their stories.

“I was hesitant, when I was moved to middle school…I always said I would NEVER teach middle school, and ironically, I am pretty sure I have found my niche. I love my kids; I love working with my team; I love teaching one subject four times!”

“I realize how much I love the kids, and how I can tease them, while teaching them and showing them I care…My kids know I like to antagonize them with my middle school humor; …but they also know I have super high expectations for them. I try to make it clear through the relationships, that if they ever need to talk to me or tell me things, or need advice, I will always have a listening ear. I have found that my sixth graders are the same as elementary kids, just in bigger bodies, with a little different set of needs and interests.”

“Getting to know them helps understand what drives and motivates them and helps me, as their teacher, to understand what causes them to perform …the way they do.”

“What I love about middle school includes: teaching one subject – the more narrow focus helps me be a better teacher, and the maturity of most students – they are able to joke, understand more complex ideas, and are able to discuss issues in a more organized manner. I also love planning time and the team approach!”

“I love middle school. The kids are great and I enjoy seeing them grow and change. I feel more trusted as a professional.”

Advice

1)    If you are a k-6 person, and you have never considered working in a middle school, I challenge you to observe one.

2)    I find elementary licensed people are masters of differentiation and integration. They are masters of creating experiences that are hands-on, concrete, visual, and relevant. Elementary licensed people understand the developmental characteristics of children and know where middle school students have been. They are tuned into the emotional needs of children and adults. They are nurturers and collaborators. They are gifts as faculty and administrators.

3)    I am not saying secondary licensed people are not all of the above. I am just saying, elementary people bring a commitment to community and collaboration, celebration and spirit, that is needed in exemplary middle schools.