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Structures of Middle School. Structures of People,Time and Place Teaming Advisory Scheduling. People. Homogenous,heterogeneous grouping (to track or not to track, that is the question) Teaming (2 to 6 person) Grouping alternatives (multiage, looping, school-within-a-school) Advisory
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Structures of Middle School Structures of People,Time and Place Teaming Advisory Scheduling
People • Homogenous,heterogeneous grouping (to track or not to track, that is the question) • Teaming (2 to 6 person) • Grouping alternatives (multiage, looping, school-within-a-school) • Advisory • Advantages/Disadvantages
Place • Classroom environment is very important. It can disrupt or enhance learning. • Let’s travel back in time…….. • Classroom set-up • Furniture and materials • Access to materials
Time • Scheduling (traditional) • 4x4 Block • A/B • Disadvantages/Advantages See pages 133-136 for scheduling examples
Teaming The Encyclopedia of Middle Grades Education p.251 Teachers can share… • the same group of students • the responsibility for planning, teaching and evaluating curriculum and instruction in more than one academic area • The same schedule • The same area of the building
Teaming Interdisciplinary- four to five teachers, 100-125 students Six member teams (150-190 students) Partner teams – two teachers teach all core subjects, smaller number of (40-75)students Interdisciplinary vs. partner teams What are the benefits of team organization for students? teachers?
Disadvantages/Advantages of Teams Two-Person Team- Advantages • Fewer personality conflicts; students and teachers know each other sooner and better
Disadvantages/Advantages of Teams Two-Person Team-Disadvantages • Little team support or backup if one teacher on team is absent
Disadvantages/Advantages of Teams Three-Person Team – Advantages • More support, more diversity, more backup than two person teams • More opportunities to group and regroup
Disadvantages/Advantages of Teams Three-Person Team – Disadvantages • Difficulties in agreeing on the common subject to teach
Disadvantages/Advantages of Teams Four or Five-Person Team – Advantages • Ease in grouping and regrouping students for instruction; more flexibility and diversity in scheduling • Transition easier to high school organization
Disadvantages/Advantages of Teams Four or Five-Person Team – Disadvantages • Difficulty in finding convenient planning time • Teachers continue to specialize, encouraging tendency to departmentalize
Characteristics of a Highly Effective Team 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Team Organization • What are the other teachers’ priorities? • What do you (teammates) expect from our kids? From me? • How do they do things? Why? • How will we share responsibilities?
Governance Team Identity Operating Procedures Communication Recognition Curriculum Accountability Teacher Efficacy Team Organization
Teams Fail When….. • Administrator fails to adequately empower the team • Lack of trust (honesty, openness, consistency, respect) • How the adult team members perceive and identify themselves (limiting themselves, “I’m a math teacher!”)
Leadership Style Inventory I Believe I Can Fly! Why do you think it’s important to know what your leadership style is?
Welcome to J.A. Middle School • You are going to be organized into teams. • Your task will be to organize your team following the parts of a team on page 293 in TTFYO or just look at your slide. • Once you have organized your teams, you will be confronted with a problem and you must come up with a way to handle it. • We will discuss ways your particular team structure helped and/or hurt your situation. • Do you think you have an effective team?