How can the middle school model promote post secondary success?

“Students who drop out of high school often begin to disconnect in middle school or earlier… Interventions that give the school experience focus and meaning are critical.” (Castellano et al., 2002).

We may have come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now. More than half of high school drop outs begin to lose their way in middle school. Philadelphia can identify more than half of high school drop outs by grade 6 Chicago can predict 85% of eventual drop outs

Post secondary planning is NOT….. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Where do I fit in? What am I good at?

How can we get students to relate what they are learning in middle school to their future education and work? How can we get students to relate what they are learning in middle school to their future education and work?

School Wide Approach Heterogeneous grouping Heterogeneous grouping Advisory Advisory Exploratory/Unified Arts Exploratory/Unified Arts Teaming/Looping Teaming/Looping Field trips Field trips Interdisciplinary curriculum Interdisciplinary curriculum Transition plans Transition plans

Tracking young adolescents restricts social interaction between students with different interests and abilities at a point in their lives when they are formulating long-lasting perceptions of themselves and their peers. Minority students are consistently placed in lower level classes, tracking segregates students, reinforcing prejudices and fostering a feeling among young minority students that only whites can be high achievers.

Advisory Advisory How are you? How are you? How can I help you? How can I help you? What are your interests? What are your interests? What are your goals and dreams? What are your goals and dreams? What are you doing this summer? What are you doing this summer? What do you think? What do you think? What do your parents think? What do your parents think?

“We know that higher bonding and better social-emotional skills in the 7 th grade strongly predict academic achievement in the 10 th grade.” (National Association of State Boards of Education 2008)

Exploratory/Unified Arts All teachers will intentionally make connections to high school offerings, future occupations and post secondary opportunities We can change the culture of conversation We can change the culture of conversation Integrated Units Integrated Units Career Education Career Education Real world applications Real world applications High school partnerships High school partnerships

Minority students who participated in a career course were more likely than those in the comparison group to enroll in algebra… White males in a career class were more likely than their peers to take advanced science classes in high school. (Fouad, 1995)

Teaming/Looping We have a plan We’re all in this together No one gets left behind Creates a shared history for students moving to high school (family history) Familiar faces in a big pond

Field Trips Be open to possibility… Be open to possibility… Small and large groups Small and large groups Sense of Place Sense of Place Connect Connect Enjoy Enjoy Engage Engage

Post secondary = The Future Post secondary = The Future Th e future is high school! Th e future is high school! So how do we send them to their future…the high school? So how do we send them to their future…the high school? Transition

“The average middle level school used only three to four practices to bridge students’ transition into high school (significantly fewer than they used with incoming students). …many students still do not experience a smooth and successful transition into high school, even though there is compelling research about appropriate practice…Educators need to understand that the transition into high school involves the total middle school program…” From “Transition from Middle School into High School.” Mizelle, Nancy, and Judith Irvin.

U sing middle school best practice to help middle schoolers transition to high school makes sense for 14 year old students.

Transition Ideas Transition plans must provide adolescents with exposure to those with whom they will form relationships. This serves to impart the sense of someone “looking out for me.” (National Association of State Boards of Education 2008) (National Association of State Boards of Education 2008) Buddy System Buddy System Advisory scheduling session Advisory scheduling session Transition family night in the middle school Transition family night in the middle school

Get ready for High School: an interactive evening for you and your parents  Opening Activity to divide the group…  Rotate through stations manned by high school teachers and staff…English, math, social studies, foreign language, special education, athletics, art, business, guidance.  Additional stations: Community service, high school students, theater, library

96% of the students surveyed said that they will definitely or probably attend college.

Who is most responsible for whether a student gets good grades at school? 79% of boys surveyed believe they are responsible 18% believe their teachers are most responsible 3% say it is their parents responsibility

92% of girls believe they are responsible for getting good grades. 8% believe their parents are responsible for the student getting good grades.

58% of girls and 48% of boys believe they should start planning for post secondary options in the 10 th grade.

Between 41 – 47% of boys responded “NO” or “NOT SURE” when asked if they felt their reading and writing skills are strong enough for them to be successful in high school.

89% of Team Taurus girls surveyed believe their work in high school will be very or somewhat difficult. 96% of boys surveyed believe their work in high school will be very or somewhat difficult.

88% of girls and 93% of boys responded that they believe Team Taurus teachers want them to succeed.

67% of girls responded that post-secondary options are NOT discussed at school. 63% of boys also responded that post secondary options are not discussed in school

Uh oh….

Challenges Who owns your transition? Who owns your transition? School wide implementation Advisory Advisory Teaming/looping Teaming/looping Outdated beliefs about heterogeneity Funding

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How can the middle school model promote post secondary success?

Ensure our schools foster meaningful relationships and our curriculum is relevant, engaging and rigorous Heterogeneous grouping Heterogeneous grouping Advisory Advisory Exploratory/Unified Arts Exploratory/Unified Arts Teaming/Looping Teaming/Looping Field trips/ interdisciplinary curriculum Field trips/ interdisciplinary curriculum Transition plans Transition plans

Communicate Connect Enjoy