1. Developmentally Responsive Middle School
Coolville Middle School
Developmentally Responsive Middle School
Ashley McCray, Louise Cline, and Steven Cox

2. Organizational Components
Key Components to a Developmentally Responsive Middle School
Advisory Programs
Interdisciplinary Teams
Transitions
Integrated Curriculum
Exploratory Programs

3. Organizational Pattern
Why 6, 7, and 8???
Support young adolescent development
6-8 offers better interdisciplinary team involvement and personal relationships
Pivotal time for psychological, biological and mental development
6-8 better bridges the gap between elementary and high school and offers students the best chance at succeeding. 
Peer, family relationships
Junior high’s tend to “group” students in terms of social/grades/development and offer no individual development/guidance.

4. 100 Students Per Grade 25 Students Per Team
Composition 
300 Total Students
48 Core
Teachers
100 Students
Per Grade
1 Principal and
2 Assistants 25
Students
Per Team

5. Interdisciplinary Teaming
Promotes a positive environment for learning
Provides personal relationship opportunities
Increases communication between teachers, students and parents
Helps with students transition from elementary school
Collectively allows teachers to focus on student needs
Provides teacher support and better work relations

6. Class Scheduling Week 1 Week 2 Monday A Schedule Tuesday B Schedule
7:55 - 8:20
6th Grade Advisory
7th Grade Exploratory
8th Grade Exploratory
8:25 - 9:55
6th Grade Core 1
7th Grade Core 1
8th Grade Non-Core
10: :55
6th Grade Non-Core
7th Grade Core 2
8th Grade Core1
11: :35
6th Grade Lunch
8th Grade Core 1
11: :15
7th Grade Lunch
8th Grade Advisory
12: :55
6th Grade Exploratory
7th Grade Advisory
8th Grade Lunch
1:00 - 2:30
6th Grade Core 2
7th Grade Non-Core
8th Grade Core 2
2:35 - 2:55
Club Meetings, Research,
Tutoring, Assemblies, Homeroom
3:00 - 3:20
Car Riders
1st Load Busses
3:25 - 3:42
2nd Load Busses
Monday
A Schedule
Tuesday
B Schedule
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
A Schedule 
B Schedule 
Week 1
Week 2

7. A & B Non-Core Schedules
A & B Core Schedules 
Team 1
A-Schedule
Core 1 - Math
Core 2 – Language Arts
B-Schedule
Core 1 – Social Studies
Core 2 - Science
Team 2
Core 1 – Language Arts
Core 2 – Social Studies
Core 1 - Science
Core 2 – Math
Team 3
Team 4
Core 2 - Math
A & B Non-Core Schedules 
1st 9 Weeks
A-Schedule
Team 1 - Music
Team 2 - Art
Team 3 - Computers
Team 4 - PE
B-Schedule
Team 1 - Careers
Team 2 - Foreign Language
Team 3 - Drama
Team 4 - Health
2nd 9 Weeks
Team 1 - PE
Team 2 - Music
Team 3 - Art
Team 4 - Computers
Team 1 - Health
Team 2 - Careers
Team 3 - Foreign Language
Team 4 - Drama
3rd 9 Weeks
Team 1 - Computers
Team 2 - PE
Team 3 - Music
Team 4 - Art
Team 1 - Drama
Team 2 - Health
Team 3 - Careers
Team 4 - Foreign Language
4th 9 Weeks
Team 1 - Art
Team 2 - Computers
Team 3 - PE
Team 4 - Music
Team 1 - Foreign Language
Team 2 - Drama
Team 3 - Health
Team 4 - Careers

8. Designed For Minimal Distractions
School Layout
Designed For Minimal Distractions
6th Grade Hall
7th Grade Hall
8th Grade Hall
Cluster Classes
Non-Core Curriculum Classes
Lunch Room

9. Advisory Projects
6th Grade
Sponsor a Career Fair
Food Drive
Fundraiser for the Team
Recycling Project
Personal Hygiene
7th Grade
Health and Wellness
Nursing Home Project (Pen pals)
Wellness Project
Abuse Project
Fundraisers for a School Organization
8th Grade
Safe Driving Project
Fundraiser for the Community
Fundraisers for a School Organization
Visit the Local High School
Plan Overnight Trip & Fundraiser

10. All of our core classes meet the goals of the
Total School Curriculum
Relevant
Integrative
Challenging
Exploratory
Core Classes
Math
Language Arts
Social Studies
Science
All of our core classes meet the goals of the

11. All of our core classes meet the goals of the
Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy
All of our core classes meet the goals of the

12. Middle School Degrees for all Faculty “This We Believe”
Faculty and Staff
Middle School Degrees for all Faculty
“This We Believe”
Distributed & Utilized
Trained in Adolescent
Crisis Management

13. Faculty and Staff 6 Lunch Room Workers 3 Custodians 1 Principal 21
Principal 2
Assistant Principals
1 Occupational Therapist 3
Guidance Counselors
School Psychologist
Speech Therapists
Social Workers 6
Safety Officers
Special Needs Teachers
Special Needs Assistants
Registered Nurse 12
Core Teachers 8
Non-Core Teachers
6 Lunch Room Workers
3 Custodians

14. Family & Community Involvement

15. Sources Cited
Stevenson Chris. (2002). Teaching ten to fourteen year olds. (3rd ed., pp ). Boston: A Pearson Education Company. DOI:
Association, N. M. S. (2012). This we believe, keys to educating young adolescents. Westerville, OH: National Middle School Association.
Brazee, E. (2000, December). Exploratory curriculum in the middle school. Retrieved from
Department of public instruction. (n.d.). Nc standard course of study. Retrieved from
Association for middle level education. (2012). Retrieved from
Association for middle level education. (2012). Retrieved from
North Carolina Middle School Association. (2012) Retrieved from