Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching Commons^™

“A Brave Group Of People”: Teacher Candidates’ Perceptions Of Teaching In Middle School, Bettie Perry, Jori S. Beck, Kaavonia Hinton

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

We set out to create a middle grades program and to inform the field about the perceptions of our teacher candidates on teaching middle school. To accomplish these twin goals, we sought to better understand our teacher candidates’ perceptions of teaching middle school and how these perceptions might be changed if necessary. Our review of research included three themes to frame this work: (a) middle school philosophy, (b) motivations to teach, and (c) middle school teacher preparation. We chose an emergent, qualitative research design to cull rich data from diverse stakeholders including open-ended survey data. We found an overarching deficit …

Introduction To The Issue, Amanda Wall

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The articles in this issue explore different possibilities for the education of young adolescents. There is one research study, and there are two descriptions. Perry and colleagues wrote about information they collected as they planned to propose a new middle grades program. Teacher candidates’ perceptions about middle grades students and teachers are included. These perceptions informed recommendations for teacher education programs.

Casler-Failing and colleagues reported on their collaboration with a local Boys and Girls Club to enhance STEM experiences for young adolescents. The authors selected several topics of instruction to engage young adolescents in hands-on STEM learning with culturally relevant …

Field Experiences In The Ether: The Pandemic-Induced Realities Of Learning To Teach, Penny B. Howell, Alice Gnau, Laura Peavley, Caitlyn Workman

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

In the United States during March and April of 2020, more than 50 million K-12 students were impacted by school closures with many forced to engage in online learning for continuity in their 2019-2020 school year. This disruption to K-12 public and private schools reverberated in programs of teacher education around the country. As school-university partners, we wanted to provide opportunities for new teacher candidates to be able to engage in some form of interaction with students and veteran teachers. We drew on the structures and strength of our school-university partnership to build our plan to engage in pandemic-induced, alternative …

All It Takes Is One Click To Join Me On A "Meet": The Positive Impact Of Technology On Peer Observations In The Virtual Learning Environment, Jamie Silverman

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Abstract

Physically stepping foot into the middle and high school classroom is the opportunity teacher candidates (TCs) look most forward to as they enter their final year in our middle and secondary teacher preparation program. It is in this internship year when TCs practice the theory they have learned and start making their own pedagogical choices. The internship year and its experiences are recognized by AMLE Standard 1: “Middle level teacher candidates understand, use, and reflect on the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to young adolescent development and use that knowledge in their practice” (AMLE, 2012). The question …

Planning For Middle Level Clinical Experiences During A Crisis, Kent Divoll, Kelly Moore

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This article describes the trials and tribulations that a middle level education program faced during the global pandemic and recommendations that others can take away from these experiences. The provided suggestions for middle level teacher education programs are specifically for the current pandemic, but can be used for other disasters as well. We advocate that educator preparation programs develop a plan to deal with possible school closers or other disruptions to their field placements to prepare for the next disaster. Some of the recommendations include: (a) create an emergency plan, (b) cultivate relationships, (c) prepare your candidates in the best …

Teaching Candidates To Assess Student Learning: A Covid Collaboration With Arts And Sciences Faculty, Nancy B. Ruppert, Jessica Pisano

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

In the fall of 2020, due to COVID, our candidates did not have access to student work samples early in the semester. In order to learn how to assess student learning I reached out to an Arts and Sciences faculty who teaches a freshman course. The Arts and Science faculty was a former middle school teacher who was scheduled to talk about the teaching of writing in our methods class. We decided to add using work samples from her current students to provide an assessment experience. This exercise allowed candidates to create a one-point rubric, analyze student work, give feedback, …

Modeling Flexibility For Middle Level Teacher Candidates During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Leah L. Kahn, Michelle Williams

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Faced with school closures in spring of 2020 due to COVID-19, middle level teacher candidates were left with no way to finish their field experience. The challenge continued into the fall with many schools providing only virtual learning and some not allowing visitors on campus. This article describes the steps one university middle level program implemented to create an engaging, meaningful field experience while modeling flexibility for the teacher candidates.

Simulating Collaboration In A Blended Course For Preservice Middle Grades Teachers: Attending To Team, Task, And Time, David C. Virtue

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Collaboration and teamwork are essential aspects of the work of a professional middle level teacher and an integral part of AMLE Standard 5. Preservice teachers typically experience collaborative practices firsthand during field experiences, but the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many schools to shift instruction online thereby limiting the opportunities for teacher candidates to experience daily life in schools. Teacher educators can provide simulated opportunities for candidates to collaborate and engage in teamwork in virtual classroom settings. The author describes ways to simulate teacher collaboration in virtual settings by providing an example of engagements with teacher educators in a middle grades …

Mediated Field Experiences During Worldwide Pandemic: Adjusting Pedagogies To A Changing Climate, Holly H. Pinter

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This paper explores the use of a mediated field experience (MFE) for teacher candidates in a middle school setting a small laboratory school. This work focuses on adjustments made for the MFE to function in an online environment during remote instruction caused by a worldwide pandemic. Teacher candidates completed a learning cycle focused on experiencing mathematics as a learner, planning for mathematics instruction, implementing mathematics instruction, and analyzing teaching episodes alongside a mathematics teacher who is also the mathematics teacher educator for a methods course. Teacher candidates reflected on this experience positively, noting the benefits of learning how to teach …

Uncharted Waters: Sustaining A Meaningful Student Teaching Experience Amidst A Global Pandemic Via An Online Stem Curriculum, Nanette I. Marcum-Dietrich, Cindy Stunkard, Zachary Krauss, Steve Kerlin

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Field experience is the culminating experience for pre-service teacher training. As COVID-19 closed schools across the country, pre-service teachers’ field experiences were disrupted. This case study examines how a student teacher, a team of mentor teachers, and a university supervisor at a regional public university adapted to remote learning. The findings suggest that there were gains and losses in terms of the pre-service teachers’ ability to develop essential skills; classroom management skills suffered while formative assessment practices, innovative lesson delivery, and reflection on instruction were enhanced. The transition to remote learning also caused the way student teachers’ skills were valued, …

The Evolving Middle School Concept: This We (Still) Believe, Lisa Harrison, Penny A. Bishop

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The Successful Middle School builds upon many decades of commitment to the middle school concept. The fifth edition of AMLE’s landmark position paper amplifies the importance of responding both to young adolescents’ developmental needs and to their social identities. The edition’s release amidst a global pandemic and increasing protests against racial injustice reminds us that responding to the full diversity of student experience is not optional. It is critical to helping young adolescents--and indeed the world--to thrive, now and in the future.

Introduction: Alternate Field Experiences, Amanda Wall

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The articles in this issue of Current Issues in Middle Level Education share examples of ways that teacher education programs have responded to the ongoing challenges from COVID-19. At the time that this issue is published, it has been about a year since K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities transitioned to a variety of different models of instruction. Teacher educators have redesigned and reimagined field experiences and other aspects of teacher education to meet new realities. Throughout, a concern for health and safety of students, teachers, other school partners, teacher candidates, university supervisors, and others remains paramount. I …

What Drives Your Spirit And Commitment To Middle Level Education? Exploring A Middle School Mindset, Nancy B. Ruppert

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Over the past two years, middle school advocates have been sharing their thoughts on the following prompt: “What drives your spirit and commitment to middle level education?” The purpose has been to capture ‘the spirit’ of middle school* educators?’ From these stories five characteristics emerged that can help us consider how to promote the next generation of middle school leaders. Perhaps using the findings from this exercise can help us advocate for the next generation of middle school leaders. * For the purpose of this study, middle school refers to those who work with 10-15 year olds and includes intermediate …

Curriculum Integration: Walking The Walk, Taylor A. Norman, Amanda Wall

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Curriculum integration is a hallmark of middle level education. This approach to education involves blending topics across content areas as a way of studying topics and problems of interest to young adolescents. Approaches to curriculum integration and interdisciplinary curriculum overlap with concepts like democratic education, place-based learning, student agency, and student-designed curriculum. Here, two teacher educators report on a recent initiative in which we co-designed integrated curriculum along with middle level teacher candidates. We drew on place-based instruction and models of collaboration to develop this project. Candidates then developed integrated units appropriate for middle school classrooms.

We Don't Teach To The Edtpa: Maintaining Authenticity And Attaining High Edtpa Scores, Holly J. Thornton

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Concerns have been raised about the high stakes nature of edTPA potentially leading to reductionist, test-driven approaches to teacher preparation. This has come to fruition in practice within many teacher preparation classrooms. EdTPA can devalue anything that is not formally assessed and limit opportunities for faculty and teacher candidates to imagine new possibilities for education (Madeloni & Gorlewski, 2013). In middle level teacher preparation, we can build upon the connections found between AMLE standards (AMLE, 2012) and edTPA. This includes the goal of improving pedagogy through reflection, inquiry, and intentional design to positively impact student learning. As middle …

Collaborating With The European League For Middle Level Education, Nancy B. Ruppert, Deborah Mcmurtrie, Bridget K. Coleman, Gary J. Senn, Sarah Ellyson

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Collaborations between the National Association for Middle Level Education (NAPOMLE) and the European League for Middle Level Education (ELMLE) can be mutually beneficial. This article reflects on NAPOMLE’s past experiences with our global affiliate ELMLE and promotes future partnerships expanding our commitment to supporting the development of middle schools and middle level leaders. We advocate a global approach to preparing and empowering the next generation of middle school leaders.

Middle Level Faculty And Change, Robin Dever

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

There is no argument that the world of middle level education is constantly changing. Teacher education programs are always in flux adopting their programs to meet these needs. Faculty who teach within a middle level education teacher preparation program are at the front lines of preparing the next generation of middle school leaders. They are responsible for not only molding the next generation of middle level educators but also shaping the next generation of middle level education researchers and advocates. This requires constant changes to curriculum and organizational structures while finding new methods to meet state requirements. However, not all …

Introduction To The Issue: Preparing The Next Generation Of Middle School Leaders, Amanda Wall, Nancy B. Ruppert, Bridget K. Coleman, Jeanneine Jones

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The articles in this issue of Current Issues in Middle Level Education are based on a Symposium that did not take place as planned. In May 2020, middle level educators and researchers from across the Southeast and beyond would have gathered in Asheville, NC, for a Symposium sponsored by the Southeast Professors of Middle Level Education (SEPOMLE). Due to COVID-19, however, the in-person Symposium was canceled, and accepted authors were invited to submit manuscripts based on their work for this issue.

These articles represent ideas on the Symposium theme of “Preparing the Next Generation of Middle School Leaders.” Across the …

Multi-Tiered System Of Supports As Collective Work: A (Re)Structuring Option For Middle Schools, Sonja M. Hollingsworth Dr.

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) is the overarching referent for frameworks designed to target behavioral and academic challenges with a focus on a tiered continuum of evidence-based practices within the context of prevention science and implementation research (Freeman, Sugai, Simonsen, & Everett, 2017). Extensive literature indicates that MTSS programs can be effective in helping teachers address academic and behavioral challenges. However, from the onset of the RtI movement and through its transition into the MTSS paradigm, many middle level schools have faced significant organizational and systemic challenges which hamstring their ability to utilize MTSS programming with fidelity. This essay proposes …

Supporting Middle School Students In Tier 2 Math Labs: Instructional Strategies, Emily C. Bouck, Jiyoon Park, Mary Bouck, Jim Alspaugh, Stacey Spitzley, Angela Buckland

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Response to Intervention (RtI) has become a common support system for students; yet, no universal RtI model exists, especially for mathematics and specifically at the middle school level. This article focuses on a specific model for delivering Tier 2 mathematics supports and services at the middle school level: math labs. Evidence–based and research–supported interventions are discussed that support the delivery of Tier 2 services within a middle school math lab RtI structure. A fictionalized vignette, drawing from multiple actual cases, is presented to highlight the use of a Tier 2 math lab within a middle school setting.

Introduction, Amanda Wall

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Introduction to the issue and recognition of 2019 reviewers

Promoting This We Believe And The Amle Standards With Teacher Candidates, Amanda Wall

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This article describes approaches to integrating This We Believe and the Association for Middle Level Education Standards into a middle grades course.

Collaboration In The Middle: Teachers In Interdisciplinary Planning, Gary Senn, Deborah Mcmurtrie, Bridget Coleman

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The authors promote collaboration through interdisciplinary planning.

Personalized Professional Development Plans, Nancy B. Ruppert

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Nancy Ruppert is the past-president of AMLE and past-president of NAPOMLE. She is the chair of the education department at UNC Asheville. Her current areas of interest are in advocating for middle school alumni and creating resources to advocate for middle level education. Here she invites readers to contribute to ideas for ongoing professional development.

From Where Two Or More Are Gathered: Understanding An Interdisciplinary Team, Glynnis Childress

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This study explores the types of professional learning teachers report when participating in an interdisciplinary team at the high school level.

Supporting Middle Grades Teacher Candidates In Becoming Culturally Competent, Nathan Carnes

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The author describes practices to support middle grades teacher candidates' becoming culturally competent.

Keynote. Motivation: Theory Into Practice, David Vawter

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This paper is based on Dr. Vawter's keynote address at the Southeast Professors of Middle Level Education Symposium.

Collaboration In The Middle: Middle Grades To Higher Education Promoting, Advocating, Igniting Support For Middle Schools, Bridget Coleman, Nancy B. Ruppert

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The authors provide an overview of the Southeast Professors of Middle Level Education Symposium, which was held in Greenville, SC, May 17-18, 2018. This is the introduction to the proceedings from the Symposium.