Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education.

AMLE Feature:

Characteristics

To comprehend their breadth and focus, the characteristics are grouped in three general categories:

Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Characteristics

●Educators value young adolescents and are prepared to teach them.

●Students and teachers are engaged in active, purposeful learning.

●Curriculum is challenging, exploratory, integrative, and relevant.

●Educators use multiple learning and teaching approaches.

●Varied and ongoing assessments advance learning as well as measure it.

Leadership and Organization Characteristics

●A shared vision developed by all stakeholders guides every decision.

●Leaders are committed to and knowledgeable about this age group, educational research, and

best practices.

●Leaders demonstrate courage and collaboration.

●Ongoing professional development reflects best educational practices.

●Organizational structures foster purposeful learning and meaningful relationships.

Culture and Community Characteristics

●The school environment is inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive of all.

●Every student’s academic and personal development is guided by an adult advocate.

●Comprehensive guidance and support services meet the needs of young adolescents.

●Health and wellness are supported in curricula, school-wide programs, and related policies.

●The school actively involves families in the education of their children.

●The school includes community and business partners.

You can find the This We Believe

Jokes You Can Use:

Eileen Award:

●Charles G. Timm

●Jennifer Johnson

●Marianne Mangels

●Jenifer Fox

●Mark Wills

Advisory:

Ten Rules for Class

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/08/10/10-rules-for-students-and-teachers-john-cage-corita-kent/

Middle School Science Minute

by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or [email protected])

Josh Fullan wrote an article entitled, ”Pedestrian City,” for the magazine Green Teacher, summer edition

2012. The purpose of the article was to present a way that middle school students could investigate the

walkability of their urban neighborhoods. He presented three activities:

Learning Activity 1: Introduction to walking as a mode of transportation.

Learning Activity 2: Experiential lesson on walking in which the teacher leads the students on a

neighborhood walk.

Learning Activity 3: Culminates the unit with a creative hands-on activity on walking in which students

create a hand-drawn map of a walk they do regularly.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.greenteacher.com/contents96.html

From the Twitterverse:

Join #mschat on Fridays at 8:00 pm EST on Twitter!

Resources:

5 Video Projects to Try With Your Students

Richard Byrne

Here are five ideas and tools for video projects that you can try with your students this year.

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/08/5-video-projects-to-try-with-your.html

http://thedirectorintheclassroom.ning.com/page/director-book

ISTE:

Digital Historians

Events & Happenings:

Calendar of Events: