Middle School Teaming

Hickory Public Schools

Summer Conference

2009

Middle School Philosophy

• Large numbers in the 60s and 70s as part of desegregation

• Another wave after The Nation at Risk report (1983)

• 9th grade became more rigorous and moved to the high school because of graduation requirements

• General recognition that the adolescent had specific needs

Middle School Philosophy

• Advisor/Advisee• Individualized instruction• Guidance• Exploratory• Continued orientation

and articulation for students, parents, and teachers

• Leadership teams

The Middle SchoolProgram Elementary Middle High

Student-Teacher Relationships

Parental Advisor Choice

Teacher Organization

Self-contained Interdisciplinary Team

Department

Curriculum Skills Exploratory Depth

Schedule Self-Contained Block Periods

Instruction Teacher-directed Diverse Student-directed

Student Grouping Chronological Supportive Subject

Building Organization

Single Classroom Team or House Department

Co-Curriculum All Participate Broad Choice By Ability

Governance Principal and Teachers

Principal and Council

Principal and Department Heads

Teacher Preparation

Child-oriented generalist

Flexible Resource Academic Specialist

Middle School Philosophy

• Interdisciplinary teaming

• Common planning time for teachers

• Flexible scheduling

• More teacher support and collaboration in this model

Forming

• Purist– 2,3,4 person teams– One per content area– Self-contained group

• Variations– 5+– Departmental structure– Share a grade level

Movement from Departmental Model

• Little or no correlation between departments

• Territoriality

• Focus on discipline rather than student

• Lack of flexibility

Like a Marriage

• Requires a great deal of patience

• When it is good, it is beautiful

• When it is not, it is horrible

Factors for Success

• Planning time

• How well members communicate

• Proficiency in planning interdisciplinary units

• Having a clear vision

• Commitment to success for all students and each other

Teaming Traps

• Refusal to acknowledge that teaming is a process, not an event

• Resistance to change

• Taking things personally

• Unwillingness to work collaboratively

• Refusal to commit time

Norming

• Effective Middle School Teams use common strategies such as– Discipline Policies– Rewards– Schedules– Team planning– Conferences

Examples

• Team discipline policy

• Team meeting policy (adults)

• Team meetings with students

• Common passes

• Common expectations

• Reading Strategies

The Next Level

• Student Led Conferences

• Parent Back to School Day

• Leopard Idol

• Math at the Mall

Collaborative Planning

• Small steps

• Build to year-long scope

• Off-site planning for this session

Planning an Interdisciplinary Unit

1. Brainstorm themes2. Spell out subject area dn objectives3. Work independently gathering materials and

resources4. Examine activities and materials and decide

about schedule5. Final scheudle produces with resources,

speakers, rooms, etc6. Check last minute details7. Implement the unit

Helpful to Examine

• Yearlong plans

• NCSCoS

• Technology SCoS

• Pacing Guides

• WASP

• School Wide Events

Benefits

• Consistency for Kids

• Clear expectations

• Opportunities to build relationships

Successful Teaming is a Process

• Takes time

• Takes effort

• Takes a leader to facilitate and organize