Junior High School Vs Middle School Essay
Project 1
There are distinct differences between the concepts and missions of middle schools and those of junior high schools. Administrators and teachers in the middle school setting tend to be more focused on the student as a whole, while junior high school curriculum and vision leans more toward preparing the student for secondary education. There is, often, no emphasis placed on the child’s emotional and physiological growth, but purely academic within the junior high setting. As a student, I was able to experience both middle school and junior high. Memories of my time spent in middle school are comparable to the book’s explanation of middle school.
Younger middle school students are less likely to have established strict personal values. According to Manning and Bucher (2012), young adolescents develop the ability to make reasoned moral and ethical choices, internalize the rightness and wrongness of events, and develop personal attitudes and perspectives. These characteristics develop at different rates for each student. Therefore, it is crucial that educators account for students’ abilities and developmental progression without causing them to become …show more content…
frustrated or resentful.
In my experience, both as a student and paraprofessional in the middle school, sixth grade tends to be the most effective middle school grade.
During the sixth grade year, students are encouraged to begin making decisions regarding class choices. The school system where I am employed allows a choice of band or choral music for students who are interested. Students at this grade level are held accountable for time management through keeping a daily planner. They must have an adult confirm the planner has been filled out either nightly or weekly. This allows habits to form while providing reinforcement and encouragement. Sixth grade students are taught study skills and receive emotional support on a regular basis. These practices lead to academic and relational success which help develop greater
self-esteem.
As both a critic and advocate of middle schools, I am able to see positive and negative aspects of the middle school concept. While, I agree students should be encouraged psychosocially and academically, this model cannot be as effective if all staff does not fully participate. It has been my experience there are some teachers who do not support the concept and refuse participation in the approach of educating students on a holistic level. This causes confusion for the students and contrition among the staff. These issues create an environment which is not conducive to providing students with a quality education in which they are prepared for secondary school. Another negative, which I see within the middle school program, is students do not receive a realistic impression of society. It has been my experience students promote to high school believing they will be given multiple chances to pass assignments and are not responsible for their actions.
If I become a middle school teacher, I will ensure my students receive as much encouragement and support as possible. Students’ academic needs will be priority. It is important each student is aware of classroom goals and teacher expectations. These will be posted in a visible manner and adjusted as necessary. One thing that is important, in my opinion, is students who are at ease in the classroom. This does not mean they are so relaxed they cannot be proficient in doing work. However, some students do not experience a calm comfortable setting on a regular basis. One of my goals is to create a setting that is welcoming and secure. Objectives will be displayed; along with a word wall and other academic material. Students will be encouraged to interact and develop their gifts and talents through group projects and individual exploration. Though each student might not be seated quietly at each moment of class, each will learn to interact with others and reach beyond their comfort zone while growing academically in a manner best suited for them individually.
There are distinct differences between the concepts and missions of middle schools and those of junior high schools. Administrators and teachers in the middle school setting tend to be more focused on the student as a whole, while junior high school curriculum and vision leans more toward preparing the student for secondary education. There is, often, no emphasis placed on the child’s emotional and physiological growth, but purely academic within the junior high setting. As a student, I was able to experience both middle school and junior high. Memories of my time spent in middle school are comparable to the book’s explanation of middle school.
Younger middle school students are less likely to have established strict personal values. According to Manning and Bucher (2012), young adolescents develop the ability to make reasoned moral and ethical choices, internalize the rightness and wrongness of events, and develop personal attitudes and perspectives. These characteristics develop at different rates for each student. Therefore, it is crucial that educators account for students’ abilities and developmental progression without causing them to become …show more content…
frustrated or resentful.
In my experience, both as a student and paraprofessional in the middle school, sixth grade tends to be the most effective middle school grade.
During the sixth grade year, students are encouraged to begin making decisions regarding class choices. The school system where I am employed allows a choice of band or choral music for students who are interested. Students at this grade level are held accountable for time management through keeping a daily planner. They must have an adult confirm the planner has been filled out either nightly or weekly. This allows habits to form while providing reinforcement and encouragement. Sixth grade students are taught study skills and receive emotional support on a regular basis. These practices lead to academic and relational success which help develop greater
self-esteem.
As both a critic and advocate of middle schools, I am able to see positive and negative aspects of the middle school concept. While, I agree students should be encouraged psychosocially and academically, this model cannot be as effective if all staff does not fully participate. It has been my experience there are some teachers who do not support the concept and refuse participation in the approach of educating students on a holistic level. This causes confusion for the students and contrition among the staff. These issues create an environment which is not conducive to providing students with a quality education in which they are prepared for secondary school. Another negative, which I see within the middle school program, is students do not receive a realistic impression of society. It has been my experience students promote to high school believing they will be given multiple chances to pass assignments and are not responsible for their actions.
If I become a middle school teacher, I will ensure my students receive as much encouragement and support as possible. Students’ academic needs will be priority. It is important each student is aware of classroom goals and teacher expectations. These will be posted in a visible manner and adjusted as necessary. One thing that is important, in my opinion, is students who are at ease in the classroom. This does not mean they are so relaxed they cannot be proficient in doing work. However, some students do not experience a calm comfortable setting on a regular basis. One of my goals is to create a setting that is welcoming and secure. Objectives will be displayed; along with a word wall and other academic material. Students will be encouraged to interact and develop their gifts and talents through group projects and individual exploration. Though each student might not be seated quietly at each moment of class, each will learn to interact with others and reach beyond their comfort zone while growing academically in a manner best suited for them individually.