Alyssa's Reflection

This We Believe asserted fourteen standards or beliefs for the creation and upkeep of a successful middle school. Every one of the standards is imperative for generating an educational experience that is fulfilling and meaningful for our students. Teachers and administrators need to firmly believe in these standards and instill them in their daily educational lives. While many of the beliefs seem like common sense, they are something that teachers and administrators need to be reminded of often, whether they remind themselves or each other! It is extremely important that all fourteen beliefs are evident in a middle school, without them students’ educations will not be complete.

Environment…It matters!
One of the standards This We Believe puts forth is that having an inviting, supportive, and safe environment is crucial in middle schools. This is one of the major factors in my personal philosophy of education. I am a firm believer that students can not learn and produce work to their greatest potential if they do not feel comfortable and safe in the classroom. It is my job as a teacher to ensure that each of my students knows I respect them and their work, that I will support any efforts they make academically, and that I care about them and their future. It is also my job to make certain that each student is treated with respect by his/her peers in my classroom. Absolutely no put-downs, rude comments, or threats of any kind will be tolerated. Students need to feel safe. It is the job of the administrators to make sure this same belief is followed throughout the entire school. Teachers and administrators need to be aware of maintaining a safe environment in all areas of the school, including the hallways, the cafeteria, sports fields, buses, and every other area in which the school is involved.
This belief ties in perfectly with several of the other beliefs, including making school-wide efforts and policies that foster health, wellness, and safety. While providing a safe and accepting environment, schools are also teaching students values and morals that they will carry with them as they affect other environments. We are shaping students into adults, the practices, attitudes, and mannerisms they see and are expected to show during the middle school years will carry though into their adult life. While we as educators do not have influence over all aspects of students’ lives, in the areas we do, we have an obligation to show by example how to be a kind and accepting person.
The belief that all students should have an adult advocate also ties in with establishing a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment. Each and every student deserves to know that there is an adult who cares about their success in the academic world. This advocate needs to be person who the student feels comfortable with and trusts. The school must find a way to ensure that each student has an advocate like this, a program, needs to be put in place. It will take a great deal of communication between staff members in order to ensure that all students are covered. Schools need to provide a support network for students; this includes emotional and intellectual support as well as guidance.

We Are Not Alone
As educators too often we show up at school, close our doors, teach, and go home. This We Believe does not agree with this manner of teaching, nor do I. Teaching is not a solitary sport! It takes a team to give our students the best educational possible. We have all heard the saying, “It takes a village…” School is our “village” and all members need to be involved in the molding of the young minds within it. It is teachers’ responsibility to know their students, and also to make sure that other educators know their students. If one teacher realizes there is a problem that has to be shared with other teachers who interact with that student. This also needs to be done if something positive happens. Teachers need to be a united front. It will make teaching easier, and provide students with a better education.
Our school must include and involve parents and community. Without these two ingredients, we are failing our students. Middle grades schools have to make a commitment to the community, and in turn, the community will give back to the school in immeasurable ways. Students will learn community pride and the community will know their youth are receiving an education that will aid them in life.
Having a shared vision is just another way to show we are not alone as educators. A shared vision must be shared by staff, faculty, community, and students’ families. Having a shared vision will ensure that students know exactly what to expect of school and what is expected of them while they are in school. Shared vision gives clear direction to the schools leaders when they come to planning, they have objectives and goals. Together these objectives and goals can be met; however they must be important to all involved. The shared vision should include using different methods of instruction, teaching to different learning styles, and taking student diversity into account.

Curriculum Meets Real-life
To often curriculum has no relevance to students’ lives. They feel no connection to what they are learning, they have no idea why they are learning it, and they don’t care. A successful school has to base their curriculum on things that students find relevant, that they find challenging, that they can explore, and the curriculum has to relate through different subject areas. When all of these things come together, students will be interested in the curriculum, care about their learning, and become intrinsically motivated. Intrinsic motivation will greatly help active learning to take place in the classroom. Assessment of the curriculum should also be authentic and meaningful.

Posted By Alyssa