A positive school environment paves the way for leadership and learning In the book, The Art of Happiness at Work, (Dalai Lama, Cutler, 2009) the obvious conclusion to happy versus unhappy is clearly stated: “Happy people, in contrast, are generally found to be more sociable, flexible, and creative and are able to tolerate life’s daily
As I dig my fork into the characteristics in the category of Culture and Community in This We Believe, I am drawn to the one that states “Health and wellness are supported in curricula, school-wide programs, and related policies” (p. 38). Young adolescents—due to their impulsivity, neurological make-up, and inclination to push physical boundaries—are primed to
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Are we asking our students to take risks that we as adults aren’t willing to take? Structure is utilized in the middle school experience to build a safe learning environment for our students. Students are placed on teams where they take classes with the same peer group, increasing their comfort level in contributing to classroom
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One middle school gives students a personal send-off On the last day of school for the past six years, after hiking a small mountain near our school in Vermont, we gather in the shade of venerable maples for a final ceremony with the eighth grade class. After each eighth grade team member reflects briefly on
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Robust learning happens when students have choice and voice in curriculum. “Students in the middle grades … have the ability to perceive deep truths and are making decisions that will affect the way they live the rest of their lives. This transitional time between childhood and adulthood is the prime time to introduce students to
Read More… from Moving into Action: Middle Level Learners as Change Agents
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In September, my seventh grade students gave me a quick social snapshot of their class. As their new school counselor, I had asked them to submit their thoughts anonymously in a box, and they didn’t hold back. Their comments and questions ranged from the philosophical to the practical: “Why do people spread lies? If someone’s
Read More… from Beyond Power Tools: How Maker Learning Can Improve Social Dynamics
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