Are teachers beating symbolism and no choice of reading over the heads of students in middle school English classes? Is math repetitive and boring in middle school? Is science irrelevant to real life situations in middle school?
What do you suggest middle school teachers do in order to motivate this upcoming generation of students towards creative and happy learning? What can elementary teachers do to prepare their students for middle school learning? What can high school teachers do to supplement or catch up students that are behind by the time they reach the ninth grade?
Is this disconnect of the love of school subjects and young learners worrying any other future educators? Hello? Does anyone care?!
I completely agree with you that the love for school does decrease sometime within the middle school years. I remember elementary school and enjoying it so much and waking up wanting to go to school, begging my mom even when I was sick if I could go to school, I even wanted to go on the weekend. I don't know why students become so discouraged bu school in grades 6-8th but I do see that is happening. I hope that soon we be able to change this and get students back into education.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this post as well. Often you hear, "Why do you want to teach middle school? That's the worst age." or "Middle school students do not listen and have attitudes." Why do people say this? Its often middle school teachers themselves that make comments such as these. When I hear these comments coming from teachers, I question how much they actually care about their students. It's as if they are simply doing it because it is their job, not because they enjoy teaching young people. I wonder if the disengagement between grades 6-8 for school may not be the children but also the educators. There has to be a solution to change the disengagement at this level of education.
ReplyDeleteI also hope to tech in middle school for some time in my career and I agree with what you are saying. There is a great disconnect that happens in the middle school years between the students and their interest in learning. I think part of this is because these are the first few years where the work moves away from simple repetition and following an exact format. In middle school there is a push for the student to dig deeper and analyze more so then ever before. You see this most prominently in the English reading and writing courses. Students not only have to read books but they must start to push and challenge themselves to understand the deeper meaning. They are no longer required to answer questions that are taken word for word from the text; they actually have to put some time and thought into their responses. So what can we do as future teachers to fight this disconnect? This is a tricky question because there is not a simple answer. One step that I think we can take is to break it down and make this major transition a little bit slower so students are not left behind.
ReplyDeleteI think one way to involve young teens in the present time is to incorporate (when appropriate and available of course) technology into teaching. Younger and younger kids are becoming technology literate and are using computers, cell phones, tablets, etc. I took a course on incorporating technology into the classroom and found great ways to use it, even in lower elementary lessons and I think there are at least as many if not more options for older kids. Using technology shows them that we know they like it and understand it and takes their natural skills for using this technology into consideration! Personally, I think that this will help kids feel important and engaged in today's classroom.
ReplyDelete