Enjoying Science Classes

There is so much activity going on in the Middle School right now.

There are assessments, projects, presentations, tests, quizzes and homework happening regularly. While the students are working their hardest to prepare for all of this end of year work, I have been so impressed with how much they are enjoying themselves.

Earlier this week, I walked into each of the science labs just to see what was going on in the wonderful world of science. In each class, I saw smiles, laughter and collaborative work. The students in grade 8 were seeing just how well they constructed their “egg drop apparatus” as Mr. Tran had them drop their eggs from 1 meter, 2 meters and then an incredible 5 meters. I left his class as the only group who survived the 5-meter drop tried to convince Mr. Tran to hold a final egg drop from the top of the Middle School building. Well…we have to see if that is going to happen.

In grade 7, the students were discussing the various regions of the brain and the functions they control. After reviewing this information with the students, Ms. Sibrizzi broke out “Model Magic” play dough for the students to build their own representation of the brain. I must have had a quizzical look on my face because Ms. Sibrizzi called me to her desk to explain this activity. She told me that the students have been able to remember various biological terms and ideas when they have been able to construct various objects themselves. Surprisingly, she told me that the students, even though they are in grade 7, actually enjoy using “Model Magic” play dough as if they were 8 years old all over again. It was a win-win situation for everyone.

The video project in grade 6 has been a hit! Mr. Bruno challenged the students to come up with a creative video that helps summarize what they have learned in Grade 6 Life Science this year. When I first saw the students around the Middle School filming their videos, I must admit I thought that they were just having fun being silly on film. The outrageous outfits, the funny wigs, the silly acting and the comical hats (plus the constant laughter) gave me that original impression. However, as I listened to some of the students as they filmed their videos, I heard them talk about the water cycle, the different forms of energy and even some basic chemistry and physics. They were reviewing all that they had learned without really realizing they were doing it! When I made Mr. Bruno aware of this fact, he just smiled. He knew this already.

True learning has many forms. The end of year tests and assessments are only a couple of ways to see what a student has learned. These aforementioned projects also help shape learning for students in ways that are not always apparent, but are just as meaningful and impactful to an educator as the grade the students receive on a written test. Most importantly, research shows that for some students, these projects will leave a lasting impact on the students’ understanding of these various science topics than studying for and ultimately taking a test.

As Confucius said, “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”

Tweens Online

At my last Coffee & Conversation, a parent told me about the following article that she thought would be informative and helpful for me to read.  This article, from the Wall Street Journal, talks about the growing presence of “tween” online.  Many parents have become vigilant about their children’s use of Facebook, but this article, “Tweens’ Secret Lives Online,” introduces readers to other forms of social media that is growing in popularity with this age group.

I thought it would be helpful for all of you to read this article as we head into the summer.  The next few months see a significant rise in many students’ online usage.  The more parents and teachers are aware of what is going on in cyberspace, the more we can help them stay safe.

Tween’s Secret Lives Online

Bobby

The Crazy Month of May

As we near the end of the year, I just wanted to take a moment to remind everyone about how incredibly busy the month of May is for students.  Today, students will see the Grade 8 musical, “High School Musical, Jr.”  From this point on, there will be many events/trips for students that enhance their overall educational experiences, but add to the craziness of the next few weeks.  Here are a few big events for the students:

• Grade 8 trip to Washington, DC (May 9-11)
• Grade 7 trip to Broadway (May 9) –A letter will go out later today regarding this trip. Notice the different date than on the calendar
  
•  Spring Instrumental Concert (May 16)
•  Spring Chorus and Dance Concert (May 17)
•  MS Dance (May 18)
•  Sports Awards Assembly for Grades 7 and 8 (May 24)

Last year, we held a Science Fair for Grade 8 students.  This year, we will not hold this event, but the students in CPS are working in groups (during class) to create the best egg drop apparatus to use for an upcoming contest that Mr. Tran is organizing!  It should be a fun event for everyone to witness.

I am sure that there are projects, and tests, and papers that are planned throughout the next several weeks, as well.  At School, we will do our best to keep the students organized and focused.  At home, be a part of your son’s/daughter’s short-term and long-term planning.  At this time of year, having a plan for completing work and fulfilling responsibilities is a necessity.

Bobby

Parents and Drug Prevention

I do not want to be guilty of overplaying a theme with my blog posts, but I will follow-up my post from last week.

I am doing this because I was reminded, just this week, about the importance of parents keeping an open line of communication with their children.  Our Freedom From Chemical Dependency (FCD) presenter, Mr. George Brown, met with me to talk about his work with our students.  As we discussed his work with FCD and his own past struggles with substance abuse, he told me that for all of his years with FCD and all of the presentations he has done across the country, nothing has been proven to be more effective at preventing early adolescent use of drugs than students who talk regularly and openly with their parents about being safe and family expectations of behavior.  Mr. Brown was adamant that this fact has been proven as the best method to prevent early drug use than any program a school could bring to campus.  Research has proven this to be true.

Therefore, in order to encourage all of you to talk with your children, Mr. Brown asked me if I would pass along resources that FCD has found to be very helpful to parents.

The first website is a direct link to the FCD website and its vast database of material for parents.

http://www.fcd.org/content/resources/parents.asp

The other website, as its name implies, partners with parents to help prevent teen drug abuse.  This website is called “Parents. The Anti-Drug”.

http://www.theantidrug.com/

The last website is one that I found doing some online research about drug use prevention.

http://www.ncpc.org/topics/drug-abuse/alcohol-tobacco-and-other-drugs

Whether you think your child is at risk for early drug use or not, I hope that each of you will begin these conversations now, so that when your child is in a situation where he/she has to make a decision about using a drug or not, he/she will make an informed decision and get out of that situation.

Great Website

So often I have spoken to parents about the absolutely essential need for parents to keep lines of communication open between their children and themselves.  Talking with your children has proven to be one of the most effective ways to prevent children from engaging in risky behavior.

In my online research, I came across a website I wanted to share with all of you.  It is called ChildrenNow.org.  This website is dedicated to helping children be the best they can be.  It not only tries to provide a forum to address political issues involving the well being of children, it also provides great advice for adults, especially parents, to learn how to speak with their children.  The stated mission of ChildrenNow.org is:

Children Now’s mission is to find common ground among influential opinion leaders, interest groups and policymakers, who together can develop and drive socially innovative, “win-win” approaches to helping all children achieve their full potential.

One page in particular I wanted to point out to all of you is a page about how to talk to your kids.  There is a great tagline on the page that says, “Talking With Kids About Tough Issues: Talk with your kids before everyone else does.”  The webpage has links to talk about a variety of topics with your children ranging from sex to race to terrorism.  The rest of the website is full of important information about the world of children.  Please click on the link below to see the “Talking with Kids” webpage, but take time to explore the rest of the website.  I think you will find it to be very informative.

http://www.childrennow.org/index.php/learn/talking_with_kids/

Association for Middle Level Education

In all of my time as a middle school educator, there is one organization that I have always respected for its many articles and books on best practices for middle level education.  The Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), formerly the National Middle School Association, was formed to support the overall success of middle school across the country.  AMLE’s mission statement reads:

The Association for Middle Level Education is dedicated to improving the educational experiences of young adolescents by providing vision, knowledge, and resources to all who serve them in order to develop healthy, productive, and ethical citizens.

I wanted to share with all of you the basic principles of AMLE’s main position paper written as a guide for all middle schools.  This We Believe has provided direction for me as an educator since my first year of teaching in 1995.  There are 16 characteristics and 4 essential attributes of developmentally responsive middle schools.  As a school leader, I strive to live up to the ideas set forth in this document.  Please click here to see a one page summary of This We Believe.

Always know that King Middle School will continue to strive to be the best middle school for your children.

Bobby

Student-Led Conferences

There are many educational publications and e-newsletters that I read as often as possible.  Many of them, like most of my books on education, specifically focus on the middle school experience.  In several conversations with parents I have explained just how unique of a time the middle school years are in a child’s life.  These scholarly works urge administrators and teachers of middle schoolers to embrace and address the needs of learners at this age.  One topic that is a growing thread in several of the articles, research and books that I read is a belief that the student-led conference is one of the most successful ways to get students to become full participants in their educational experience.

I believe that it is important for parents to remember that these conferences are designed with two major goals in mind.  First, parents should walk away from a conference and feel that they know their child’s academic and social strengths as well as the areas of needed improvement.  However, the more important goal for everyone to remember is that the main purpose of these student-led conferences is for students to feel empowered.  In the end, the child should walk out of each conference fully aware of his/her ability to directly impact his/her academic and social well being.

The role of adults in this conference is to listen to the student and then to help guide them through a process that leads to proper assessment of the child’s current academic standings.  Each child should have a very good vision of what they hope to accomplish AND how to accomplish those goals.  Adults are not the predominate voice in the conference.  This is a time for us to follow the lead of the children, but we also must redirect them if they are not headed in a good direction.

So ask questions, ask for a deeper explanation, prompt your child for deeper analysis of a class or a set of skills needed for success in a class.  Just be sure to remember that this conference is about the child.  If all goes well (and I am sure they will), then we can achieve the ultimate goal of these conferences – promoting continued cognitive growth and developing a deeper understanding of personal responsibility and accountability.  According to one of my favorite books, What Every Middle School Teacher Should Know, “Student-led conferences are a perfect fit for matching the cognitive growth processes of young adolescents with learning opportunities and self-directions that are necessary for genuine cognitive development.”

We look forward to seeing you next week, and we hope you join us in doing your part to empower your child to continue to find success at school and in their personal lives.

Bobby