Here are my responses to your questions and questions for you to answer for each other. Let's chat.... If you want to respond to a specific question or comment, just reference the number provided. If you want to respond to a specific person - use their name.
You may focus on your own class section or you may discuss and respond across sections. The more you discuss; the more you learn.
9:30 Class
1) I don't think there's any specific geographic area where either junior highs or middle schools are predominate - at least none that I know of.
2) Junior highs and middle schools are different because of the philosophy of the people who work and live there. I think the content based vs. student based summary is actually quite accurate. What do you think? Here's a chance to discuss the 'nurturing ' concept as apparent/or not in each school type.
3) I'm afraid that a lack of time will permeate the course. There's so much to discuss and 50 minutes is sooooo short. That's one of the reasons I decided to try this.
4) Of course you teach content in the middle school. Content IS the real purpose of a class. However, the approach is what varies between middle schools and junior highs.
5) You will be qualified to teach in either a middle school or a junior high when you finish your MCE degree so you don't have to decide which you want to do - you can decide when you get the job offer.
6) There are positives and negatives to anything. The preference for middle school or junior high is strictly personal and based on your personal philosophy.
7) The BGSU Middle Childhood Education department prepares you teach in a middle school. The additional preparation gives you a better handle on dealing with the age level. You can always take a job at a junior high. You should just do it better than some.
8) In response to a question about my personal teaching experience: I have taught every grade level from K - 16 in come capacity. Twenty six years of my career was in middle school at one grade or another from 4 - 8.
9) In most schools there is no transition from middle to junior high - it's the same age levels.
10) The decision about whether to have a junior high or a middle school lies with the school board. Hopefully, they base their decisions on the desires of all involved - community, parents, teachers, administrators, and students.
11) You MUST get work done in a classroom. However, you, as the teacher, plan it and have control over whether the kids will consider it 'work' or whether it will be engaging and fun. The ball is definitely in the teacher's court on that one.
8:30
12) You are, hopefully, being taught how to work with and teach middle childhood age students. Why? I guess because that's what you've chosen to do.
13) I agree with you guys. I need to find a couple better articles geared more specifically. If you happen to come across one, please let me know.
14) Puberty is definitely one of the major aspects middle childhood trained teachers try to help with.
15) If you still have questions about Wednesday's class - email me, ask here, or come see me and ask. I can't answer a question if you don't ask it. :)
16) Yes, as an MCE major you could work in a 9th grade at a high school.
17) We will talk a bit more about teaching approaches, but you'll get most of that in methods.
18) Whether a school is called a junior high or middle school is pretty much up to the school board / district. It really doesn't matter what it's called. It's what goes on in the building that matters.
19) We'll talk about Praxis, etc. at the seminars.
20) Other schools do not offer different licenses than BG. Licenses are not offered by colleges. The state makes all the licensure requirements. Colleges just try to meet them.
21) After you complete a few more classes, see if you can figure out why people may lean toward the middle school concept.
22) It's possible that the state would decide to require either jr. highs or middle schools, but it's quite unlikely. They try to leave some decisions with the local schools since they're the ones paying for the schools.
23) Ohio licenses are valid everywhere. You may have to take an additional class like - California history if you want to teach there - but we have a good license and most state snatch up BG grads.
24) I'm not sure about the count of whether there are more junior highs or middle schools. If I had to guess - I'd go with junior highs with middle schools gaining. :)
25) You may trade articles with other students or come ask me for copies. I don't have digitals of them. Sorry.
14 comments:
I like this! I feel like we are learning usable information in class, and this extends it! -Kristen Rose (8:30)
This is a great way to extend our class time, for sure! I am glad that I get to read the answers to the questions that all of my peers have asked. This way, I am getting answers to questions I haven't even thought of yet! It is reassuring to know that having a degree from Bowling Green makes it easier to find a job!
I really like this! So, when I was reading through these questons/comments some questions came up. So, I know that college teaches you HOW to teach and WHAT to teach and how to treat students and all the important and common things in teaching, but... will be taught the little stuff like organizing attendence and all the responsibilities that teaching comes along with?
I can only imagine the amount of responsibilities we need to take on, but I totally agree with you because how do we know how to make our first lesson plan? or where to start teaching because everyone pretty much learns the same thing, but all of the students might not understand it, so are we going to have to re-teach information?
Erica!
You will be in an actual classroom numerous times during your time here at BGSU. Those details are learned in those actual classroom experiences especially during your professional year when you do your methods and student teaching. You'll be learning from actual in the classroom teaching experiences and working with a mentor teacher and university mentor. I promise - we have it covered for you!! :)
Jennifer - See my response above to Erica. It fits your questions about lesson plans, etc. Teachers teach and re-teach all the time. One important thing for you to remember is that when you do re-teach, you take a different approach and don't just say it louder. :)
I have read through all this and feel that Bowling Green does a great job for preparing us for what we need to no when we get out in that classroom. It does not make me nervous to get up in front of a classroom then when I know what to do in situations. -Jen
This will be helpful when the are more ideas that we did not have time to discuss in class.
Is anyone else having a hard time opening the powerpoint for the class. Mine keeps saying status report and then website addresses that do not go anywhere when I click on them. If anyone has any helpfu linfo please let me know.
Amy - Thanks for the heads up. I went in and fixed the power point entry. I think it's working now.
Hi Laura, Corbin, and Justine!! I would love to go to the meeting with you guys. The next meeting is the 22nd...would you guys want to meet up at like the union or something and walk over together? Just an idea :)
I am excited to get into the classroom and see what it is really like to be on the other side of the desk. I am looking forward to going to the middle schools and learning a lot while I am there, not only information on the tests and exams, but simple stuff. One thing I am concerned about is finishing the material so the students will know everything on the standardized tests. I know that the kids come first and making sure they understand it is a main point, but what if I don't get to all of the information they need to know throughout the year? The part that I am most excited about is the field experience and how it will help me grow and understand more about becoming a teacher.
So, I think this may be a slightly irrational fear, but I just wonder if anyone else shares it - I am completely terrified of my student teaching semester. I'm afraid I won't be good enough and the teacher that I am working with will judge me too harshly and I will get very bad references for any future jobs. Anyone else ever think about this?
I think the student teaching semester will be terrifying too--but I have been told that if you make it through Methods you can do anything. I think we are prepared for a lot through BG but what makes me most nervous is the content. I feel like I will know HOW to teach but I have no idea WHAT to teach. I know thats what the standards are for but where do you start with lesson plans and everything?
STOP THE PANIC!!! You will be well prepared to teach by the time you leave here. Your methods courses will cover everything about which you've displayed concern.
Trust me! I wouldn't steer you wrong!
Diann
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