This document summarizes 11 presentations for the NCMSA 37th Annual Conference on advocating for and meeting the needs of young adolescents. Topics included the effects of deployment on military families, bullying prevention, creating tolerant environments for Muslim girls, advocating for student athletes, helping abused young adolescents, engaging lessons on the Pythagorean theorem, using visuals to teach completing the square, incorporating Google Earth in social studies lessons, utilizing community resources, teenage suicide prevention, and implementing advisor/advisee programs.

1. CMLA SHOWCASE SESSION
NCMSA 37th Annual Conference
Greensboro, North Carolina
Monday, March 5, 2012
Session V; 3:30p.m. in Grandview East; Koury Convention Center
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Deployment’s Effect on Young Adolescents
This We Believe (2010) emphasizes meeting the needs of and advocating for all young adolescents. Where North Carolina has the largest population of military
bases, teachers will likely see students from military families, making it imperative to know and understand deployment’s effects in order to encourage and support
those students.
Presenter: Kelly J. Leonhardt; Appalachian State University
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Bullying
For my advocacy project, I have chosen to address bullying. There has always been talk about bullying in school but lately in the media it has become a much bigger
deal. This has created a greater importance for informing other educators about bullying to raise awareness and aid prevention efforts.
Presenter: Erika Taylor; Appalachian State University
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Muslim Girls in American Schools
I completed an advocacy project in order to address common myths and misconceptions regarding Muslim girls in American schools. After conducting some research
and learning a great deal about these students, I have developed some ideas that teachers can use to provide a tolerant classroom environment for Muslim girls.
Presenter: Nikki Malinowski; Appalachian State University
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Advocating for Student Athletes
There are positive aspects about belonging to a sports team culture, but students that play competitive sports must be advocated for in the classroom. This
presentation would identify facts, statistics, and use personal interviews to elucidate why athletes need help with identity formation. Classroom management and
instructional strategies are included.
Presenter:Lauren Boop; Appalachian State University
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(5)Young Adolescents Living with Abuse Advocacy Multi-Media Project
What are the statistics of young adolescent abuse? Have you ever wondered when suspected abuse should be reported? Would you like to differentiate instruction for
students victimized by abuse? The Young Adolescents Living with Abuse Advocacy Multi-Media Project provides answers and ideas for all these questions and more.
Presenter: Olivia M. Pope; Appalachian State University
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The Pythagorean Theorem
One of the most memorized mathematical equations is the Pythagorean Theorem. Even adults who are far removed from math classrooms can easily recite
it. But can anyone remember how to use it or what it means? The instructional objective of the lesson showcased is for students to discover and apply the
Pythagorean theorem in a way that makes it memorable.
Presenter: Taylor Dietmeier; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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(7) Seeing the Square while Completing the Square
To many middle school math students, “completing the square” means following a list of steps to solve quadratic equations. In this presentation we
demonstrate how algebra tiles allow students to make sense of the mathematics behind completing the square through a visual representation.
Presenters: Jordan Vaughan, Natalie Helms; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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(8) Using GoogleEarth in the Middle School Social Studies Classroom
This presentation will show the multitude of ways that GoogleEarth, a downloadable application that provides satellite images of every place on the
planet, can be used in the middle school social studies classroom. With its natural and political maps, built-in historical facts and census data, annotated
locations, and model-making capabilities, GoogleEarth can be used to create engaging lessons that take students around the world!
Presenters: Madison Pinkowski, Miah Williams; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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(9) The Importance of Community
Teachers are often faced with challenges that are beyond their comfort level. It is important to be aware of the community agencies, and community
figures that exist around your school that are there to help you! “Community” does not stop within your school’s walls.
Presenter: Erin Greear; UNC Charlotte
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(10) Teenage Suicide
Middle school students go through a lot more emotions and "adult-like" thoughts than society gives them credit for. This presentation will highlight facts
about teenage suicide, effects on family and friends and how school personnel can begin to take strides towards teenage suicide prevention in and out of
schools.
Presenter: Heidemarie Klein;UNC Charlotte
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(11) Advisor/Advisee in Middle Schools: How to implement
This presentation will focus on student-led, teacher-facilitated discussions on issues that are relevant to young adolescents. There will be suggestions on
how to reach your students through advisor/advisee programs as well as suggestions for how to build relationships when your school does not have a
program in place.
Presenters: Mairibethe Hayes,Libby Sanderson,Marikate Groves,Kelly McGee,Megan Gralton
Campbell University
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