Kennedy He, She, It, They When you hear the word "It", what do you think of? Most people think of a clown with a big red balloon that's coming to eat you. Ohm nom nom. Or, do you think of someone like me? Hi. I'm Shawn. And I'm gender fluid. In case you don't know, which I hope you do, that means I "don't identify as having a fixed gender" blah blah blah BLAH. I'm just me. And I'm not "It" like the girls in middle school said. Middle school stunk. One thing you should know about Glentown Middle school– it stinks. It's a big, fancy public school. It's shiny and colorful, mostly green, and it has lame art on the walls made by the 8th graders. But if you go there, if your different in anyway, ,you'll know how it eats away at your self confidence until there's nothing left. Until you are raw and exposed and you have nothing with which to protect yourself. You have no idea how much hate I got in middle school for the whole gender thing. All the "popular" girls and guys were so awful. Even teachers didn't know what to do with me. So everyone just called me It. I hated being called It. They didn't care though. So basically, I sat alone at lunch, I never answered in class, and I was utterly miserable. My parents tried to complain, but it never helped. So that was my entire 6th grade, and most of 7th grade, experience. Then, finally, something changed. Here's the story.
Many people will say that high school is a struggle, but how are we to know until we've experienced it? As you go throughout school your teachers keep saying that 11th grade will be your toughest year. Now that it's finally here, I'm starting to believe everything my teachers have ever told me. Although it's still the beginning of my junior year, I have learned multiple things. Homework is absolutely one of the key things to surviving your big year. Having all of your homework grades can really make up for a bad test grade. Also, I know everyone hates homework, but it's just practice so that way you won't make those horrible grades on test. It's that simple. Just do your homework and study it and you shouldn't have anything to worry about.
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Educational reform is yet to be perfected. Teachers shape the minds of students to realize what their purpose is in life. Lately, because of certain educational reforms, it has been hard for teachers to say what they need to say. "In 40–plus states, the math and English guidelines determine the knowledge students have to master by the end of each grade, what they'll be tested on this year, and in many cases, how teachers and principals will be rated at their jobs once those test scores are released" (Strauss). Most educational reforms are adopting standardized testing and should be reconsidered. Statistics even show that since we have taken part in reforms like No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, and Common Core State Standards math and reading are declining. These standards tell teachers what to teach and what the students should know by the end of the school year. The reforms also evaluate teacher performance by how well the students learn the information. Some people believe educational reforms should not be telling teachers how to teach their students, and others believe that the reforms are absolutely fine the way they are. However the truth is educational reforms are yet to be perfected. One point of view a person could have about educational reform is that students throughout the country should all have the same high–quality standards. Issues and Controversies states,"All states should adhere to similar academic standards so that American youth are Get
Middle school. Clusters of kids standing in the middle of the hallway acting like blocked off signs you would see during construction on the highway. Random conversations fill the air, as you acquire tiny fragments of a different person's conversation each time you pass by. It seems scary, but it's quite the adventure. Middle school andHigh school can be really hard for kids, and for some it comes really easy for. Some kids don't know who they are yet, and are trying to discover who they're meant to be. That's why one word of advice I would give to any Middle–schooler or High–schooler would to be to "Find your purpose, and stay with it." We all have our own destinies. Whether it's God's future planned for you, or your dreamt future.
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Just a quick reminder, we will be fundraising at the stadium on Saturday, Nov 21st. If anyone is still interested in participating, send me an email.
Time : 9 am– check in Game starts at 12
Game ends between 3:30– 4:00 (assuming no overtime)
Uniform
White polo or T–shirt
Black pants (ladies no slacks or tight pants)
Black shoes (all black)
This will be the last game we will be participating in for this semester. I look forward to seeing you guys on Saturday
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The start times for High and Middle school should be switched with the upper and primary. The times should be switched for the following 3 reasons. First, high schoolers need more sleep.Second, younger kids go to bed earlier than teens so they can wake up earlier. Last but not least, the high will have fewer tardies first block. High schoolers need more sleep than the younger kids. Mainly because a majority of kids are not fully awake first block and just half do all their work. Also younger kids don't need as much sleep they are always hipper and they take naps after school or even during school. There are reasons kids should start later than high school students. The main reason is because that many parents half to be at work at 8,
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Most middle school students are looking forward to high svhool .Middle school students have many general ideas about how high school would be like.School has many good things that most students want to experience ,yet new things can be scary. Many middle school students are looking forward to high school.Most are looking forward to graduate and get a scholarship,but others are waiting to make new friends and to meet new teachers.Unfortunately,most students don't want to have a good life and not graduate.Students are looking up for getting their driver's license and drive to school.High school is mostly about sports. Most students are looking up to play stuff like baseball,football,and soccer.Many students will have lots of stuff
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LGBT+, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and beyond. Queer (n.) a homosexual person. Many people have the thoughts of being a part of the LGBT+ community. At Least 1 in 6 people are queer and begin questioning at a varying teenage level(usually 5–9+ grade). LGBT has been a topic floating around for a while but after gay marriage was legalized in 2016, more topics started coming up and the pot was stirred even more. Of course, the 2017 election has also brought up a bunch of talk about conversion therapy (the use of physiological methods to change a person's sexuality to straight) and whether or not gay rights will stay legalized due to our new president. If many people are LGBT+ or questioning, should we educate middle school students on...show more content...
School has more important things to teach about, such as the difference between a chemical and physical change or how to find an indirect object within a sentence. School is needed to teach information that can be used for the long term and LGBT topics are not one of those topics. Talking about it could also bring up more and more hate. People may gain the knowledge of what is happening in the community, they will become stronger and bully more and worse.furthermore, School years are planned out and need to cram in certain knowledge in a certain timeframe meaning that there is no time to teach about LGBT topics. topics of the present could be pushed in if there was time but since schedules are so tight, there's no opportunity to teach it. Even if there was time, teachers and administrators wouldn't know where to start or what to say because they haven't been exposed to it much either.As well as teachers, there is problems regarding parents. some parents may feel that their children shouldn't be educated on this and that they should be taught other things instead. Topics of LGBT can get very in depth to sexual conversations and parents may want to shelter their kids from topics like those until later
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Middle school is hard. The homework, your schedule, different teachers, switching classes, friends, not having friends, different groups of friends, girls/boys, projects, band, sports, not making the sports, and homework are all a few things to mention that come along with middle school. Even thinking about these things, middle school is such an exciting, new time that needs to be enjoyed by all students. There are so many fun field trips, experiences, and sharing times, that make seventh grade an amazing time. To make the most of seventh grade, you need to always get a good night's sleep, you need to always turn your work in on time, and you need to stay on top of all your classes, notes, and assignments. Don't stay up too late on
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How many times do you hear kids say they are cold in school? Most kids complain about it being cold in classrooms. Our middle school does not allow students to wear jackets or sweatshirts with pockets. The reason for this is so kids can bring their phones or any prohibited objects. We should be able to wear jackets with pockets because, the temperature is fairly frigid in most classrooms, it is fairly hard to find jackets without them, and because kids will have to either buy a new jacket, sew, or cut off their pockets or else they will be cold the whole year. We need to have jacket with pockets because it's hard for students to focus when they are freezing cold. If they don't change the temperature then they should allow us to wear jackets
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There are a lot of kids that go to middle school, but what is it like to be there. Now days you hear a lot about bullying and other bad stuff that happens in middle school, but do think all of that is true. Probably not. From experience i can tell you that middle school is very fun. There is not as much fighting and drama as you think. You get a lot more privileges in middle school and you get more freedom than you do in Elementary. Most schools you will have about 8 periods. So you're not stuck in one room all day long. The teachers are great. Your friends are nice. You don't have recess but today you either have pre athletics or P.E so you do get exercise. The food is better to. You can be in band, multimedia, art, choir, and other things
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Following elementary is middle school, the school before high school. Most middle schools are grades 6th–8th and students are age 11–14. When entering middle school students are now expected to act in a more mature way. In elementary school students stay in one classroom and have the same teacher all year,while inmiddle school things become more advanced. You are expected to travel class to class throughout the day, having a different teacher for each subject, as well as you are introduced to new subjects that you have not had before. Curriculum in middle school will be done at a faster pace, and organization of your class will be key. Along with changes in class schedules, you are introduced to kids from another joining elementary school. Which will be a social change for most students. But as school life is changing so are the students, as puberty sets in at middle school. School becomes a time of insecurity and awkwardness, but challenges do not...show more content...
Testing becomes more difficult and important as they are expecting you to be ready forhigh school in just a few short years. Curriculum for middle school is based on preparing you for what is next and advising on the basics that you learned in elementary school. 6th graders learn mathematics wise, The Number System, Ratios and Proportional Relationships, Algebra, Geometry, and Statistics. For English they learn to "Show command of formal English language when speaking for a variety of tasks" "Interpret information presented in many media and formats Identify an argument, claims, and evidence presented by a speaker" formal and informal English and when it is used, grade level vocabulary, "Reading Literature and Informational Text and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects" and writing more profoundly. As for Science they learn about Engineering
I woke up at six o'clock. I remember running through the hallways of my house getting all of my belongings together. The heart of twelve year old Katie was beating out of her chest when it was time to go. The excitement of impelling further into life and the thought of being looked at as a big kid over joyed me! Three short years later I was fifteen years old and I found myself facing the same situation; however a contrasting feeling took over my body. This feeling took less of an eager approach and left me hesitant and distressed. I know looking at the years ahead how frightening it may seem, without any idea what is waiting for you when you walk through the doors of middle or high school. I have been through it all before, take it from someone who knows. Experiencing a drastic change, such as a new school or grade, this might be extremely overwhelming. Entering a new school is a time where you find what kind of student you are going to be. Middle school is the cardinal step in your student life, it is the first time you will begin doing more concentrated work. While entering middle school you can build a great foundation for your education and it will carry you throughout further years of study. Middle and high school students face countless distractions. You must learn to focus on your scholarly activities so you will not fall...show more content...
Some people you meet will encourage you to strive for more when others will drag you down to their level. Staying with people that want to succeed with their grades and accomplishments will influence your behaviors to mimic those around you. Some students starting a new school tend to take a lonesome approach, but that is not what you need. You need support and optimism filling your surroundings. I recall from middle and high school having friends that would constantly have drama, I inevitably got caught in the drama by associating with people I should have strayed away
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A high–quality and accessible education is important for all children. Through education, children gain knowledge and skills that can lead to greater opportunities and upward mobility later in life. Education has [Passive] long enabled people to go further than they ever thought possible; to explore new ideas and to achieve new goals. Fostering knowledge and creativity enables children to forge their own paths in life. As an educator, it is my greatest desire to guide children on their educational journeys in a meaningful way. I hope to provide the children in my classroom an accessible, inclusive and resource rich learning environment.
Access
Access to a reliable, equitable and high–quality education can has a lasting positive effect on...show more content...
Inclusion
A classroom where everyone has access, is not necessarily a classroom where everyone feels included. In order to create an inclusive environment, the teacher should assure that all students feel included and understood. Diversity should be valued in the classroom and this starts with the attitude of the teacher. When students come from a different backgrounds, the teacher should learn about their cultures and integrate that knowledge into the learning environment. The teacher should also strive to foster acceptance and value in classroom diversity among students.
Resources
Students shouldn't suffer because they are unable to afford basic resources needed for school. If a parent is unable to provide the student with what they need, I would have available extra supplies including, notebooks, binders, and pens on hand for student use. Additionally, I think it's important to acknowledge that sometimes the resources students are lacking stretch beyond the walls of the classroom. The problem might be as simple as not getting breakfast in the morning, or as complicated as not having a place to live. Obviously, as teachers we probably have the ability to fix the first one (free school breakfast application help), but not the later. We can, however, be empathetic to a student's situation and treat them with understanding instead of frustration.
Future Classroom
My goal is to make my classroom a learning environment where all students can be
The fear of finals, the stress of studying, the frenzy to fit in. All of these feelings boil up to one thing: Middle School. Although at times it may seem that one small incident might be the end of the world, by taking certain precautions and following basic social rules, it will seem as though you danced through your middle school years. In the midst of the rigorous academics of St. Michael's, the perplexity of social events, and the excitement of entering the hallowed halls of high school, you can easily navigate your eighth grade journey by listening to the advice of an eighth grader who has been through it all. Homework, tests, quizzes, oh my! Thinking about the pile of assignments that are going to be laid at your feet might cause anxiety,...show more content...
From that point of view, I cannot put in my two cents yet, but I can say that a lot more goes into the preparation part of high school than is portrayed in the cinematic world. First and foremost, the most important step in preparing for high school is choosing where you will be spending your next four years. When doing this, look at what the school offers. If you are interested in a sport, such as basketball or volleyball, does the school have a strong team in that sport? If you are looking for a rigorous academic program, will that school offer you a challenge? One of the most difficult parts about picking the best school for you is having the input of others. Where your friends are attending school the next year is a big wavering factor on your decision. Keep in mind that there will be over a thousand students at your new school, with plenty of friends to choose from. I can speak from personal experience when I say that it is nerve–racking to think of having a completely fresh start, but at the same time, it allows for a sigh of relief. Accelerated biology, honors geometry, theatre, engineering, and the list goes on and on. With a list of choices that could stretch across the ocean, how is one supposed to be limited to seven classes a day? The next most crucial thing in the mapping out of your high school expedition is picking your classes, and if you
Everyone wants what is best for their children, right? If that is true, then schools need to start preparing their students for the challenges they will meet in college and the skills to overcome them. This is best done through the presence of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) in middle and high schools. Through Wisconsin schools furthering their focus on STEM with extracurriculars, students will gain vital skills that are necessary for human progression, problem–solving and time management skills that can be used in real life, and the students learn how they can apply what is being taught in the classroom to real obstacles and challenges. It is clear that STEM is a rapidly growing and advancing field that is needed for our human progression. There are so many different professions that fall under STEM education and many of them impact the world every day. According to former PresidentBarack Obama "[Science] is more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world" (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Here, former President Obama is talking about how important science is as more than just a school subject; science can be taken out of school and used to impact many people and change the world. Some may say that there have been other fields in history that became very popular but Get more content
Families come in all shapes and sizes. Some have two parents , one or two kids, a dog, a cat, and a minivan. Some have more kids, less parents, more animals, and will never own a minivan. Since hash tags have become popular I usually see a #Iluvmylittlefamily, or #momoftwo. Rarely, do I see #Iluvmygiantfamily, or #momoftoomanytocount.
The looks and the questions
Those of us with larger broods don't get the credit we deserve. Raising kids is tough, arguably the hardest job on the planet. As a mom of four, I don't hear what a blessing I have, or that they always wanted a big family. But there are common questions parents of multiples do get; are they all yours? You don't look old enough to have kids. Are they twins? Are they all the same father? Did you mean to have so many?
It never fails. Any time I go to the store, the park , the post office, or around...show more content...
Charleston has amazing views, awesome food, and a whole lot of history. There are plantations, water taxis, and horse drawn carriage rides. We have explored countless county parks, some that are worth the drive and some are best left to the locals. We recently ventured to downtown Charleston and walked and walked for miles. This is partly because it was gorgeous out and partly because I got lost and didn't tell them. We explored Battery Park and walked Rainbow Row, two places which we had never gone. My favorite part was when I was asked if this (pointing to my kids) was a field trip. I laughed and said no, but I have been considering getting my commercial drivers license. As for the hostess at a local restaurant who asked if I was babysitting, the registration person at the doctors office, the unsuspecting folks in the check out who silently are mustering up the courage to ask the age old question. You allwant to know if these four little humans belong to me? My answer has evolved over the years. but simply put, Get more content
As you already know, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students are clumped into elementary schools with younger grades. If we add a middle school, it could potentially make our community and school system a better place. I think it would be a beneficial investment to build two middle schools for the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders Floyd County. This would help ease the kids intohigh school and they won't be as stressed about leaving elementary school. Also, kids aren't being thrown in with students they don't already know. I know there probably isn't a lot of money in the budget and that you wouldn't want to waste it on a middle school. But, I would like you to at least consider this when you are discussing this with the school board. Keep in mind, 8th grade is still a middle school age and our current educational system is putting them directly into high school. Having two middle schools could potentially be an easier way to introduce kids into high school. When I first stepped foot into the halls of Floyd County High School, all I could see were bearded upperclassmen and that was totally unexpected. My first emotion was fear /pressure, but I think part of that was being intimidated by the older kids. Building a middle school could be a beneficial stress reliever for all 8th graders....show more content...
This helped all of the students who were feeling stressed out about transitioning schools because they already did it once before, with the move from elementary to middle school. So, the students already know the feeling of moving schools and they don't have so much anxiety about going to high school. Middle school also taught everyone a lot of responsibility. Such as, getting our work done on time to making sure we showed up prepared and ready to go. The teachers treated us like any other high schooler without the stress and pressure of actual high school. But, I was sad to see it go when I got to Floyd
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Teachers,
Let me apologize ahead of time for the length of this email, but it is our goal to ensure that you are made aware of important dates and information.
As we near the beginning of an excellent school year, there are a few reminders pertaining to the cleanliness of Coile MiddleSchool. The custodians have worked hard the past couple of weeks on enhancing and improving the school's hallways and classrooms. Please make sure to thank them for their hard work and efforts.
In order to help keep the school on a path of excellence, please make sure you have students to clean the classroom each period before leaving the classroom. This makes the work of our custodians a little easier and shows continual appreciation for their time. Maintaining a clean and orderly environment has also been proven to increase student achievement. Our students WILL succeed. Also, don't forget to keep all workrooms and copy rooms neat and orderly. Please wipe up any spills or call for a custodian if you need assistance. Food items should not be left out and unattended for long periods of time. If you place items in the refrigerator in the workroom, please keep a check on the item. We will begin to clean items out of the refrigerator on a regular...show more content...
As a reminder, all students have the opportunity to participate in recycling in each of your classrooms. Please encourage them to recycle.
The first 2x10 Relationship Builder & Positive Call Home forms will be due on Friday, August 21st. Copies will be provided to your team leaders. If you need assistance or still have questions concerning this, please see your team leader or an administrator.
Your first lesson plan is due Sunday, Aug. 23rd by 10:00 pm for the week of Aug. 24th– 28th. On Wednesday, Aug. 12th, there will be a lesson planning meeting on for each grade level during first planning. Please see the email from Ms. Barefield for more