Characteristics of the Middle School Leaner Chris Halter MSST October 2008

The Middle School Learner So you want to know about the middle school learner? http://www.archive. org/details/your_junior_high_days Click image for video

So you want to know about the middle school learner?

Intellectual Development The student is moving from being concrete to abstract thinkers prefer active over passive learning activities need learning to be relevant The teacher could Use concrete examples to develop abstract concepts Recognize and address the varied levels of ability and learning styles

The student is

moving from being concrete to abstract thinkers

prefer active over passive learning activities

need learning to be relevant

The teacher could

Use concrete examples to develop abstract concepts

Recognize and address the varied levels of ability and learning styles

Self-Image The student is concerned with how he or she appears to others express their independence May develop sense of success or develop a sense of inferiority The teacher could Scaffold activities and provide structure Give authentic praise Teach to learn from, rather than feeling defeated by mistakes

The student is

concerned with how he or she appears to others

express their independence

May develop sense of success or develop a sense of inferiority

The teacher could

Scaffold activities and provide structure

Give authentic praise

Teach to learn from, rather than feeling defeated by mistakes

Gender Differences The students show Different attitudes toward science that may effect achievement Boys and girls mature at different rates They are transitioning from an affinity to own gender to interest in opposite gender Teachers can Strategically group students Encourage both genders in science tasks

The students show

Different attitudes toward science that may effect achievement

Boys and girls mature at different rates

They are transitioning from an affinity to own gender to interest in opposite gender

Teachers can

Strategically group students

Encourage both genders in science tasks

Physiological Changes The student is undergoing rapid growth hormonal changes body image is important The teacher can Provide opportunity for movement Vary the activity several times in each one-hour period

The student is undergoing

rapid growth

hormonal changes

body image is important

The teacher can

Provide opportunity for movement

Vary the activity several times in each one-hour period

The students may Exhibit mood swings seek attention but do not like to be singled out Developing identities Teachers could Provide positive opportunities for releasing emotions Provide ways for students to experience success Encourage acceptable work, behavior, efforts, attitudes, and achievements by giving immediate and relevant feedback Emotional Development

The students may

Exhibit mood swings

seek attention but do not like to be singled out

Developing identities

Teachers could

Provide positive opportunities for releasing emotions

Provide ways for students to experience success

Encourage acceptable work, behavior, efforts, attitudes, and achievements by giving immediate and relevant feedback

What this means for the classroom teacher Help students to develop a sense of self-efficacy Assign tasks of appropriate difficulty Offer choices Ensure that knowledge and skill experiences are interactive Click image for video

Help students to develop a sense of self-efficacy

Assign tasks of appropriate difficulty

Offer choices

Ensure that knowledge and skill experiences are interactive

Credits References What Every Middle School Teacher Should Know by Trudy Knowles and Dave F. Brown. (2000) Linking Middle Years to Learning, Manitoba Education and Youth (2003) PLS MSST Key Information Media Flickr members: apesara , Mystic200, chexee, Gwire, zen, Nieve44/La Luz, holeymoon, Stephen Hucker (CreativeCommons) Your Junior High Days (1963), McGraw-Hill Films (http://www.archive.org/)

References

What Every Middle School Teacher Should Know by Trudy Knowles and Dave F. Brown. (2000)

Linking Middle Years to Learning, Manitoba Education and Youth (2003)

PLS MSST Key Information

Media

Flickr members: apesara , Mystic200, chexee, Gwire, zen, Nieve44/La Luz, holeymoon, Stephen Hucker (CreativeCommons)

Your Junior High Days (1963), McGraw-Hill Films (http://www.archive.org/)