This document discusses strategies for teaching middle school students effectively. It begins by emphasizing the importance of relationships between students and teachers. The top seven needs of middle school students are then outlined, including the need to socialize, feel safe, learn in their own way, express emotions, cooperate, feel like they belong, and have understanding adult role models. Five key words for reaching all learners are differentiated, scaffolded, literacy-based instruction that incorporates metacognition and occurs within professional learning communities focused on assessment and instruction. The document stresses that good teaching is more important than curriculum and encourages educators to start taking action to improve student outcomes.

1. Welcome to Building Achievement in the Middle Presented by: Dr. Sharon Faber www.sharonfaber.com csfaber@bellsouth.net

2. 'To be a teacher you must be a prophet - because you are trying to prepare people for a world thirty to fifty years into the future.' Gordon Brown “

3. We ALL Know this at the Middle Level…. “Programs don’t change kids, relationships do…nothing matters more to a child than a one-to-one steady relationship with an adult who cares about that child.” William E. Milliken, President and Founder Cities In Schools Incorporated

4. Our Goal as Teachers “The goal of teachers is to meet all students at their starting points and to move each one along a continuum of growth as far and as quickly as possible. Learning has no ceiling.” Tomlinson & Kalbfleisch, 1998

5. In other words, It is the job of ALLteachers to provide learning opportunities for every child!

6. The Top“7” Needs of Middle School Students Must socialize & move often—active learning 2.Must feel safe—need routine & consistency 3.Must use their own way of learning & have success at initial tasks

7. More of the Top“7” Needs of Students 4.Must express their emotions-argue/challenge 5.Must learn to cooperate and to make good decisions 6.Must believe they are normal & are an important part of the school—they belong!

8. The most important characteristic… 7.Must have adult role models who understand & love their unique characteristics!

9. If These Are Middle School Kids, Ask Yourself… Does your teaching (and your school’s program) reflect knowledge of the characteristics of your students and successful schools for the 21st century?

10. As Rick Dufour tells us… “Don’t tell me you believe that all kids can learn--tellme what you’re doing about the kids who aren’t learning.”

11. “5” Key Words for Reaching ALL Learners in the 21st Century Differentiation Challenge the best students Motivate & engage the middle students Make our at-risk students believe they can do 11

12. “5” Key Words Scaffolding (tiered instruction) Take students from: What they know (prior knowledge) trip, swap TO What they are acquainted with--journey, trade TO The unknown (academic vocabulary) expedition, barter 12

13. “5” Key Words 3. Literacy is communication! Ensure that students receive explicit and systematic instruction in ALL content areas on: Listening Speaking Reading Writing Numeracy Technology 13

14. “5” Key Words 4. Metacognition— thinking about thinking All content teachers must think aloud and model their thinking so students can learn to think like they do. Students must have the opportunity to share their thinking. 14

15. “5” Key Words 5. Professional Learning Communities—PLC We must talk about AIC: Assessment tells us what our students need to know and be able to do and it must guide our instruction. What Instructional strategies work best to increase student achievement? What curriculum works best with those strategies?

16. The “5” Keys to Success for ALL Students Are: 1. Differentiation 2. Scaffolding 3. Literacy 4. Metacognition 5. Professional Learning Communities (PLC)

17. 'In order to transform schools successfully, educators need to navigate the difficult space between letting go of old patterns and grabbing on to new ones.' Deal

18. We Must Always Remember Good teachers can overcome bad curricula, but good curricula cannot compensate for poor teaching!

19. And Never Forget… “We all need someone who inspires us to do better than we know how.” Especially middle school kids!!!!

20. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing!”Walt Disney

21. As a wise lady once said… “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Maria Robinson

22. Middle Level Educators Must Never Forget… YOU Make the Difference! Thanks for joining me today.