Chapter 1- Teaching Young Adolescents Recognizing and Understanding The Challenge

This Chapter talks about the different types of schools that there can be and there are nine different kinds. These are elementary, intermediate, middle school, magnet/theme, charter, full service, IB middle school, extended year, and year round schooling. It is important for teachers and others to get to know the school and be involved in it, many different people have different interpretations of which school would best benefit their child. It is our jobs as teachers to give our students the best education that we can and although we have standards to follow, we do sometimes have to do what is best for our students in the long run. Even though our classroom is important to know what we are doing in the classroom, it is also important to know the schools mission, politics, framework, staff, etc. We want to be able to accomplish the schools goals along with the standards and what the students need from us. If teachers are confused and unsure of what to do in certain situations its best to ask for help, it doesn’t make you look weak in fact it shows that you care about doing the best for your students.  As there are different types of schooling there is also different kinds of scheduling in school, which some say benefit students to having longer hours in some classes. 

            There are many people involved in the success of students, and this depends on the dedication, commitment, and nature of the adults involved. These adults can include teachers, administrators, janitors, bus drivers, etc. We want committed teachers in our schools to teach students of the future. We want to be able to connect to the students by respecting, supporting, staying positive and patient with our students. Teachers need to be there for their students and should include the parents. One job that is the hardest job teachers need to make are the decisions in their classroom. Everyone will make mistakes and your students will forgive you for them, sometimes its difficult for teachers to think of what to do in the spot. Teachers also should listen to students ideas and maybe even follow through with one of their ideas. The principal and other leadership positions have important roles in students lives and should be involved in and outside of the classroom. There is also the community and parents that play a huge role in the students lives. There are many benefits that come along with having parents involved. 

There are also different trends and issues that schools and teachers are dealing with. Teachers now days have to teach for tests, which puts a ton of stress on the teachers and school. There are also a ton of new changes in the standards and they are always changing, making teachers and school reevaluate how they teach lessons and do certain activities. We continue to want to hold those higher expectations of our students. Some issues are that some schools don't have the resources, technology or outdated building.  

Students in the middle school grade level are going through a change int his time. This is an important factor to keep in mind while working with students in the middle school age. We know they are sensitive, and experimenting. We can't stop some of the things they are doing, but we can be there to encourage them and connect to each one of them. Us teachers play many different roles, but the our main job is to keep our students safe, and be their for them.