KennedyHe,She,It,TheyWhenyouheartheword"It",whatdoyouthinkof?Mostpeoplethink ofaclownwithabigredballoonthat'scomingtoeatyou.Ohmnomnom.Or,doyouthinkof someonelikeme?HiI'mShawnAndI'mgenderfluidIncaseyoudon'tknow,whichIhopeyou do,thatmeansI"don'tidentifyashavingafixedgender"blahblahblahBLAH.I'mjustme.AndI'm not"It"likethegirlsinmiddleschoolsaid.Middleschoolstunk.Onethingyoushouldknowabout GlentownMiddleschool–itstinks.It'sabig,fancypublicschool.It'sshinyandcolorful,mostly green,andithaslameartonthewallsmadebythe8thgraders.Butifyougothere,ifyourdifferent inanyway,,you'llknowhowiteatsawayatyourselfconfidenceuntilthere'snothingleftUntilyou arerawandexposedandyouhavenothingwithwhichtoprotectyourself.Youhavenoideahow muchhateIgotinmiddleschoolforthewholegenderthing.Allthe"popular"girlsandguyswere soawfulEventeachersdidn'tknowwhattodowithmeSoeveryonejustcalledmeItIhatedbeing calledIt.Theydidn'tcarethough.Sobasically,Isataloneatlunch,Ineveransweredinclass,andI wasutterlymiserable.Myparentstriedtocomplain,butitneverhelped.Sothatwasmyentire6th grade,andmostof7thgrade,experience.Then,finally,somethingchanged.Here'sthestory.
"Oh
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Manypeoplewillsaythathighschoolisastruggle,buthowarewetoknowuntilwe'veexperienced it?Asyougothroughoutschoolyourteacherskeepsayingthat11thgradewillbeyourtoughest year.Nowthatit'sfinallyhere,I'mstartingtobelieveeverythingmyteachershaveevertoldme. Althoughit'sstillthebeginningofmyjunioryear,Ihavelearnedmultiplethings.Homeworkis absolutelyoneofthekeythingstosurvivingyourbigyearHavingallofyourhomeworkgradescan reallymakeupforabadtestgrade.Also,Iknoweveryonehateshomework,butit'sjustpracticeso thatwayyouwon'tmakethosehorriblegradesontest.It'sthatsimple.Justdoyourhomeworkand studyitandyoushouldn'thaveanythingtoworryabout
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Educationalreformisyettobeperfected.Teachersshapethemindsofstudentstorealizewhattheir purposeisinlife.Lately,becauseofcertaineducationalreforms,ithasbeenhardforteacherstosay whattheyneedtosay."In40–plusstates,themathandEnglishguidelinesdeterminetheknowledge studentshavetomasterbytheendofeachgrade,whatthey'llbetestedonthisyear,andinmany cases,howteachersandprincipalswillberatedattheirjobsoncethosetestscoresarereleased" (Strauss).Mosteducationalreformsareadoptingstandardizedtestingandshouldbereconsidered. StatisticsevenshowthatsincewehavetakenpartinreformslikeNoChildLeftBehind,Racetothe Top,andCommonCoreStateStandardsmathandreadingaredecliningThesestandardstell teacherswhattoteachandwhatthestudentsshouldknowbytheendoftheschoolyear.Thereforms alsoevaluateteacherperformancebyhowwellthestudentslearntheinformation.Somepeople believeeducationalreformsshouldnotbetellingteachershowtoteachtheirstudents,andothers believethatthereformsareabsolutelyfinethewaytheyare.Howeverthetruthiseducational reformsareyettobeperfected
Onepointofviewapersoncouldhaveabouteducationalreformisthatstudentsthroughoutthe countryshouldallhavethesamehigh–qualitystandards.IssuesandControversiesstates,"Allstates shouldadheretosimilaracademicstandardssothatAmericanyouthare
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Middleschool.Clustersofkidsstandinginthemiddleofthehallwayactinglikeblockedoffsigns youwouldseeduringconstructiononthehighway.Randomconversationsfilltheair,asyouacquire tinyfragmentsofadifferentperson'sconversationeachtimeyoupassby.Itseemsscary,butit's quitetheadventure.MiddleschoolandHighschoolcanbereallyhardforkids,andforsomeit comesreallyeasyforSomekidsdon'tknowwhotheyareyet,andaretryingtodiscoverwho they'remeanttobe.That'swhyonewordofadviceIwouldgivetoanyMiddle–schoolerorHigh–schoolerwouldtobeto"Findyourpurpose,andstaywithit."Weallhaveourowndestinies. Whetherit'sGod'sfutureplannedforyou,oryourdreamtfuture
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Justaquickreminder,wewillbefundraisingatthestadiumonSaturday,Nov21st.Ifanyoneisstill interestedinparticipating,sendmeanemail.
Time:9am–checkin Gamestartsat12
Gameendsbetween3:30–4:00(assumingnoovertime)
Uniform WhitepoloorT–shirt
Blackpants(ladiesnoslacksortightpants)
Blackshoes(allblack)
Thiswillbethelastgamewewillbeparticipatinginforthissemester IlookforwardtoseeingyouguysonSaturday
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ThestarttimesforHighandMiddleschoolshouldbeswitchedwiththeupperandprimary.The timesshouldbeswitchedforthefollowing3reasons.First,highschoolersneedmoresleep.Second, youngerkidsgotobedearlierthanteenssotheycanwakeupearlier.Lastbutnotleast,thehighwill havefewertardiesfirstblock.Highschoolersneedmoresleepthantheyoungerkids.Mainly becauseamajorityofkidsarenotfullyawakefirstblockandjusthalfdoalltheirworkAlso youngerkidsdon'tneedasmuchsleeptheyarealwayshipperandtheytakenapsafterschoolor evenduringschool.
TherearereasonskidsshouldstartlaterthanhighschoolstudentsThemainreasonisbecausethat manyparentshalftobeatworkat8,
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Mostmiddleschoolstudentsarelookingforwardtohighsvhool.Middleschoolstudentshavemany generalideasabouthowhighschoolwouldbelike.Schoolhasmanygoodthingsthatmoststudents wanttoexperience,yetnewthingscanbescary.Manymiddleschoolstudentsarelookingforward tohighschool.Mostarelookingforwardtograduateandgetascholarship,butothersarewaitingto makenewfriendsandtomeetnewteachersUnfortunately,moststudentsdon'twanttohaveagood lifeandnotgraduate.Studentsarelookingupforgettingtheirdriver'slicenseanddriveto school.Highschoolismostlyaboutsports.Moststudentsarelookinguptoplaystufflike baseball,football,andsoccerManystudentswillhavelotsofstuff
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LGBT+,lesbian,gay,bisexual,transgender,andbeyond.Queer(n.)ahomosexualperson.Many peoplehavethethoughtsofbeingapartoftheLGBT+community.AtLeast1in6peoplearequeer andbeginquestioningatavaryingteenagelevel(usually5–9+grade).LGBThasbeenatopic floatingaroundforawhilebutaftergaymarriagewaslegalizedin2016,moretopicsstartedcoming upandthepotwasstirredevenmoreOfcourse,the2017electionhasalsobroughtupabunchof talkaboutconversiontherapy(theuseofphysiologicalmethodstochangeaperson'ssexualityto straight)andwhetherornotgayrightswillstaylegalizedduetoournewpresident.Ifmanypeople areLGBT+orquestioning,shouldweeducatemiddleschoolstudentsonshowmorecontent Schoolhasmoreimportantthingstoteachabout,suchasthedifferencebetweenachemicaland physicalchangeorhowtofindanindirectobjectwithinasentence.Schoolisneededtoteach informationthatcanbeusedforthelongtermandLGBTtopicsarenotoneofthosetopics.Talking aboutitcouldalsobringupmoreandmorehate.Peoplemaygaintheknowledgeofwhatis happeninginthecommunity,theywillbecomestrongerandbullymoreandworsefurthermore, Schoolyearsareplannedoutandneedtocramincertainknowledgeinacertaintimeframemeaning thatthereisnotimetoteachaboutLGBTtopics.topicsofthepresentcouldbepushedinifthere wastimebutsinceschedulesaresotight,there'snoopportunitytoteachit.Eveniftherewastime, teachersandadministratorswouldn'tknowwheretostartorwhattosaybecausetheyhaven'tbeen exposedtoitmucheitherAswellasteachers,thereisproblemsregardingparentssomeparentsmay feelthattheirchildrenshouldn'tbeeducatedonthisandthattheyshouldbetaughtotherthings instead.TopicsofLGBTcangetveryindepthtosexualconversationsandparentsmaywantto sheltertheirkidsfromtopicslikethoseuntillater
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Middleschoolishard.Thehomework,yourschedule,differentteachers,switchingclasses,friends, nothavingfriends,differentgroupsoffriends,girls/boys,projects,band,sports,notmakingthe sports,andhomeworkareallafewthingstomentionthatcomealongwithmiddleschool.Even thinkingaboutthesethings,middleschoolissuchanexciting,newtimethatneedstobeenjoyedby allstudentsTherearesomanyfunfieldtrips,experiences,andsharingtimes,thatmakeseventh gradeanamazingtime.Tomakethemostofseventhgrade,youneedtoalwaysgetagoodnight's sleep,youneedtoalwaysturnyourworkinontime,andyouneedtostayontopofallyourclasses, notes,andassignmentsDon'tstayuptoolateon
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Howmanytimesdoyouhearkidssaytheyarecoldinschool?Mostkidscomplainaboutitbeing coldinclassrooms.Ourmiddleschooldoesnotallowstudentstowearjacketsorsweatshirtswith pocketsThereasonforthisissokidscanbringtheirphonesoranyprohibitedobjectsWeshould beabletowearjacketswithpocketsbecause,thetemperatureisfairlyfrigidinmostclassrooms,itis fairlyhardtofindjacketswithoutthem,andbecausekidswillhavetoeitherbuyanewjacket,sew, orcutofftheirpocketsorelsetheywillbecoldthewholeyearWeneedtohavejacketwithpockets becauseit'shardforstudentstofocuswhentheyarefreezingcold.Iftheydon'tchangethe temperaturethentheyshouldallowustowearjackets
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Therearealotofkidsthatgotomiddleschool,butwhatisitliketobethere.Nowdaysyouheara lotaboutbullyingandotherbadstuffthathappensinmiddleschool,butdothinkallofthatistrue. Probablynot.
Fromexperienceicantellyouthatmiddleschoolisveryfun.Thereisnotasmuchfightingand dramaasyouthinkYougetalotmoreprivilegesinmiddleschoolandyougetmorefreedomthan youdoinElementary.Mostschoolsyouwillhaveabout8periods.Soyou'renotstuckinoneroom alldaylong.Theteachersaregreat.Yourfriendsarenice.Youdon'thaverecessbuttodayyou eitherhavepreathleticsorPEsoyoudogetexerciseThefoodisbettertoYoucanbeinband, multimedia,art,choir,andotherthings
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Followingelementaryismiddleschool,theschoolbeforehighschool.Mostmiddleschoolsare grades6th–8thandstudentsareage11–14.Whenenteringmiddleschoolstudentsarenowexpected toactinamorematureway.Inelementaryschoolstudentsstayinoneclassroomandhavethesame teacherallyear,whileinmiddleschoolthingsbecomemoreadvanced.Youareexpectedtotravel classtoclassthroughouttheday,havingadifferentteacherforeachsubject,aswellasyouare introducedtonewsubjectsthatyouhavenothadbefore.Curriculuminmiddleschoolwillbedone atafasterpace,andorganizationofyourclasswillbekey.Alongwithchangesinclassschedules, youareintroducedtokidsfromanotherjoiningelementaryschoolWhichwillbeasocialchange formoststudents.Butasschoollifeischangingsoarethestudents,aspubertysetsinatmiddle school.Schoolbecomesatimeofinsecurityandawkwardness,butchallengesdonotshowmore content
Testingbecomesmoredifficultandimportantastheyareexpectingyoutobereadyforhighschool injustafewshortyearsCurriculumformiddleschoolisbasedonpreparingyouforwhatisnext andadvisingonthebasicsthatyoulearnedinelementaryschool.6thgraderslearnmathematics wise,TheNumberSystem,RatiosandProportionalRelationships,Algebra,Geometry,and Statistics.ForEnglishtheylearnto"ShowcommandofformalEnglishlanguagewhenspeakingfor avarietyoftasks""InterpretinformationpresentedinmanymediaandformatsIdentifyan argument,claims,andevidencepresentedbyaspeaker"formalandinformalEnglishandwhenitis used,gradelevelvocabulary,"ReadingLiteratureandInformationalTextandLiteracyin History/SocialStudies,Science,andTechnicalSubjects"andwritingmoreprofoundly.Asfor SciencetheylearnaboutEngineering
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Iwokeupatsixo'clock.Irememberrunningthroughthehallwaysofmyhousegettingallofmy belongingstogether.TheheartoftwelveyearoldKatiewasbeatingoutofherchestwhenitwas timetogo.Theexcitementofimpellingfurtherintolifeandthethoughtofbeinglookedatasabig kidoverjoyedme!ThreeshortyearslaterIwasfifteenyearsoldandIfoundmyselffacingthesame situation;howeveracontrastingfeelingtookovermybodyThisfeelingtooklessofaneager approachandleftmehesitantanddistressed.Iknowlookingattheyearsaheadhowfrighteningit mayseem,withoutanyideawhatiswaitingforyouwhenyouwalkthroughthedoorsofmiddleor highschoolIhavebeenthroughitallbefore,takeitfromsomeonewhoknowsExperiencinga drasticchange,suchasanewschoolorgrade,thismightbeextremelyoverwhelming.Enteringa newschoolisatimewhereyoufindwhatkindofstudentyouaregoingtobe.Middleschoolisthe cardinalstepinyourstudentlife,itisthefirsttimeyouwillbegindoingmoreconcentratedwork. Whileenteringmiddleschoolyoucanbuildagreatfoundationforyoureducationanditwillcarry youthroughoutfurtheryearsofstudyMiddleandhighschoolstudentsfacecountlessdistractions Youmustlearntofocusonyourscholarlyactivitiessoyouwillnotfall...showmorecontent...
Somepeopleyoumeetwillencourageyoutostriveformorewhenotherswilldragyoudownto theirlevel.Stayingwithpeoplethatwanttosucceedwiththeirgradesandaccomplishmentswill influenceyourbehaviorstomimicthosearoundyou.Somestudentsstartinganewschooltendto takealonesomeapproach,butthatisnotwhatyouneedYouneedsupportandoptimismfilling yoursurroundings.Irecallfrommiddleandhighschoolhavingfriendsthatwouldconstantlyhave drama,IinevitablygotcaughtinthedramabyassociatingwithpeopleIshouldhavestrayedaway
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Ahigh–qualityandaccessibleeducationisimportantforallchildren.Througheducation,children gainknowledgeandskillsthatcanleadtogreateropportunitiesandupwardmobilitylaterinlife. Educationhas[Passive]longenabledpeopletogofurtherthantheyeverthoughtpossible;to explorenewideasandtoachievenewgoals.Fosteringknowledgeandcreativityenableschildrento forgetheirownpathsinlifeAsaneducator,itismygreatestdesiretoguidechildrenontheir educationaljourneysinameaningfulway.Ihopetoprovidethechildreninmyclassrooman accessible,inclusiveandresourcerichlearningenvironment.
Access
Accesstoareliable,equitableandhigh–qualityeducationcanhasalastingpositiveeffectonshow morecontent
Inclusion
Aclassroomwhereeveryonehasaccess,isnotnecessarilyaclassroomwhereeveryonefeels included.Inordertocreateaninclusiveenvironment,theteachershouldassurethatallstudentsfeel includedandunderstood.Diversityshouldbevaluedintheclassroomandthisstartswiththe attitudeoftheteacher.Whenstudentscomefromadifferentbackgrounds,theteachershouldlearn abouttheirculturesandintegratethatknowledgeintothelearningenvironment.Theteachershould alsostrivetofosteracceptanceandvalueinclassroomdiversityamongstudents
Resources
Studentsshouldn'tsufferbecausetheyareunabletoaffordbasicresourcesneededforschoolIfa parentisunabletoprovidethestudentwithwhattheyneed,Iwouldhaveavailableextrasupplies including,notebooks,binders,andpensonhandforstudentuse.Additionally,Ithinkit'simportant toacknowledgethatsometimestheresourcesstudentsarelackingstretchbeyondthewallsofthe classroom.Theproblemmightbeassimpleasnotgettingbreakfastinthemorning,oras complicatedasnothavingaplacetoliveObviously,asteachersweprobablyhavetheabilitytofix thefirstone(freeschoolbreakfastapplicationhelp),butnotthelater.Wecan,however,be empathetictoastudent'ssituationandtreatthemwithunderstandinginsteadoffrustration.
FutureClassroom
Mygoalistomakemyclassroomalearningenvironmentwhereallstudentscanbe
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Thefearoffinals,thestressofstudying,thefrenzytofitin.Allofthesefeelingsboiluptoone thing:MiddleSchool.Althoughattimesitmayseemthatonesmallincidentmightbetheendofthe world,bytakingcertainprecautionsandfollowingbasicsocialrules,itwillseemasthoughyou dancedthroughyourmiddleschoolyears.InthemidstoftherigorousacademicsofSt.Michael's, theperplexityofsocialevents,andtheexcitementofenteringthehallowedhallsofhighschool,you caneasilynavigateyoureighthgradejourneybylisteningtotheadviceofaneighthgraderwhohas beenthroughitall.Homework,tests,quizzes,ohmy!Thinkingaboutthepileofassignmentsthat aregoingtobelaidatyourfeetmightcauseanxiety,showmorecontent
Fromthatpointofview,Icannotputinmytwocentsyet,butIcansaythatalotmoregoesintothe preparationpartofhighschoolthanisportrayedinthecinematicworld.Firstandforemost,themost importantstepinpreparingforhighschoolischoosingwhereyouwillbespendingyournextfour years.Whendoingthis,lookatwhattheschooloffers.Ifyouareinterestedinasport,suchas basketballorvolleyball,doestheschoolhaveastrongteaminthatsport?Ifyouarelookingfora rigorousacademicprogram,willthatschoolofferyouachallenge?Oneofthemostdifficultparts aboutpickingthebestschoolforyouishavingtheinputofothers.Whereyourfriendsareattending schoolthenextyearisabigwaveringfactoronyourdecision.Keepinmindthattherewillbeovera thousandstudentsatyournewschool,withplentyoffriendstochoosefrom.Icanspeakfrom personalexperiencewhenIsaythatitisnerve–rackingtothinkofhavingacompletelyfreshstart, butatthesametime,itallowsforasighofrelief.Acceleratedbiology,honorsgeometry,theatre, engineering,andthelistgoesonandon.Withalistofchoicesthatcouldstretchacrosstheocean, howisonesupposedtobelimitedtosevenclassesaday?Thenextmostcrucialthinginthe mappingoutofyourhighschoolexpeditionispickingyourclasses,andifyou