Middle School: The Academic Wasteland....or The Academic Oasis

Can't you just tell by this picture how awkward middle school was? 

I read "not much, just chillin' - the secret lives of middle schoolers" (yes, all lower case letters) by Linda Perlstein for my group book report.  I found this book to be very interesting.  My first choice is to teach elementary school music, but my second choics is middle school.  This book gave me the perfect insight into the lives of typical middle schoolers.

One thing that I took away from the book is that teachers don't understand middle school students, and that middle school students don't even understand themselves.  The middle school years are the "greatest period of physical and emotional growth, after infancy" (pg. 5).  With this in mind, it makes perfect sense that middle schoolers don't understand themselves; they are changing so quickly that they can't comprehend it all.  As teachers, it is our job to help the students navigate through this very confusing time in their lives.  But we can't do that if we don't understand the students.

The best way to learn about middle school students is to simply take a course about middle school students.  I regret that I do not have room in my schedule to fit in the middle school methods course.  I will be able to learn about middle schoolers in the middle/high school methods course and elementary/middle school methods course, so that will at least give me a basic understanding. 

Perlstein also suggests to make the material/curriculum interesting and connect it to the students lives.  This could easily be done in every classroom.  For example, in a music classroom, if the lesson is about the Greek belief of the ethos of music, I could have the students watch part of a tv show or movie, and record how the music affected the scene.  This way, they could relate the "ancient" information to their current lives and interests.

Zero Tolerance Policy

In class today, we discussed zero tolerance policies.  

We specifically talked about how Prior Lake's zero tolerance policy in the year 2001-2002 wasn't doing what it was supposed to: end school violence.  I am concerned that the presentation influenced the class to have a negative attitude of zero tolerance policies.  We need to keep in mind that we were given information on ONE school's policy and it's implementation during ONE school year.  


I do agree with the opinion that the zero tolerance policy was not being properly applied in the Prior Lake High School during 2001-2002.  For example, I don't think that the 7th grader should have been suspended for carrying scissors into the hallway.  But then again, we might not know the whole truth behind the situation.  The author's description is only one version of the story.


I think that zero tolerance policies are a great asset for schools to have, but they must be properly applied.  The teachers and administrators should know how the policy works and how to implement it in the school.  The rules need to be clear on what applies to the zero tolerance rule - ie a squirt gun.  The students need to know that it is not acceptable, no matter the circumstances, to bring a weapon to school.  A zero tolerance policy is a good way for the students to get the message that weapons are not allowed on school property.