Middle Level Teaming

This semester I'm enrolled in ED 450: Middle Grades Organization, a course that focuses on the best way to structure middle schools in order to best accommodate students at their unique developmental stage. In our first week, we have been looking at what teaming is and the several purposes of it. So far, it's been very intriguing to explore the purposes of teaming. This structure gives middle level students a sense of community and safety while they are at school. Their team area or their advisory classroom may be what a student considers their home or safe place when they are at school. If they each start and end their days at the same place, it becomes a comfortable place where they transition from home to school and where they socialize and build connections with their peers and teacher. The people within their team, homeroom, classes and advisory should always be there at the same time, so it is something that becomes a consistent part of each student's day. Being surrounded with a regular group of peers and teachers, and as they get to know each other through CPR activities, a community is built among them. The CPR is a Circle of Power and Respect, which is a time where students do activities to greet one another, share about themselves, and get themselves ready for the day (similar to what people may call “morning meeting”.)

           One idea in the reading that really stuck out to me is in Shulkind and Foote's article where it explained how teachers must play a mentor role to the students in several ways to help them achieve success. I really love that idea, because every student need someone to be looking out for them and giving them support when needed. I think back to my favorite teacher throughout the years, and it is someone who cared about my well being, stayed on top of my grades, and understood when I had tough things going on socially or at home. An idea that challenges me is how to create a teaming structure that supports the needs of each student, given how much we are learning about the many important purposes of teaming.