Power Power PointPoint

by by MelissaMelissa

OsborneOsborne

IntroductionIntroduction

Meet Me in the Middle Meet Me in the Middle is a fascinating book of best is a fascinating book of best practices that incorporates ideas, lessons, and practices that incorporates ideas, lessons, and thoughts from accomplished and experienced thoughts from accomplished and experienced teachers.teachers.

Wormeli warmly writes what works, what doesn’t Wormeli warmly writes what works, what doesn’t work, and backs up why with experience and facts.work, and backs up why with experience and facts.

This book is interesting and keeps not only the pre-This book is interesting and keeps not only the pre-service teacher thinking, but also captivates the service teacher thinking, but also captivates the experienced teacher with innovating lessons, ideas, experienced teacher with innovating lessons, ideas, and thoughts.and thoughts.

Interesting ContentInteresting Content“The teacher is the attitude.”“The teacher is the attitude.”

((p3, last paragraph)p3, last paragraph)

Clarifying misconceptions of middle schoolers Clarifying misconceptions of middle schoolers (ch.17)(ch.17)

Becoming a team teacher Becoming a team teacher (ch.11)(ch.11)

Applying differentiated instruction Applying differentiated instruction (ch.7)(ch.7)

Effectively engaging students in learning Effectively engaging students in learning (ch.14)(ch.14)

Incorporating traditional/non-traditional Incorporating traditional/non-traditional assessments assessments (ch.8)(ch.8)

Using writing in all content areas Using writing in all content areas (ch.10)(ch.10)

Suggestions for teachers and mentors Suggestions for teachers and mentors (ch.14)(ch.14)

Personal FavoritesPersonal Favorites“Change is necessary for growth.”“Change is necessary for growth.”

(p138, fourth paragraph)(p138, fourth paragraph)

Charts, graphs, and sample activitiesCharts, graphs, and sample activities Thoughts from various studentsThoughts from various students Parents as partners Parents as partners (ch.15)(ch.15)

Motivating students Motivating students (ch.2) (ch.2) -students use their bodies in -students use their bodies in the learning process the learning process (p.18)(p.18)

Enhancing memory Enhancing memory (ch.2) (ch.2) -triad response -triad response (p.21)(p.21)

Games Games (ch.5) (ch.5) -human bingo-human bingo (p.55) (p.55)

Personal Favorites cont’d.Personal Favorites cont’d.“If getting students to the point of mastering, “If getting students to the point of mastering,

not just covering the content, we owe it to them not just covering the content, we owe it to them to provide highly effective practice.”to provide highly effective practice.”

(p80, paragraph five)(p80, paragraph five)

Assessment Assessment (ch.8) (ch.8) –student created tests/rubrics –student created tests/rubrics (p.92)(p.92)

Diffusion of writing anxiety Diffusion of writing anxiety (p.124-125)(p.124-125)

Outdoor adventures Outdoor adventures (ch.13)(ch.13)

Wormeli boldly admits where he has failed Wormeli boldly admits where he has failed and needs to improve, making the reader see and needs to improve, making the reader see an experienced teacher is still a work in an experienced teacher is still a work in progress.progress.

Innovating IdeasInnovating Ideas“Demonstrate how content or skills have direct “Demonstrate how content or skills have direct

connections to students’ lives.” connections to students’ lives.” (p8, paragraph six)(p8, paragraph six)

Graffiti wall Graffiti wall (p.188-192)(p.188-192)

Word splash Word splash (p.198)(p.198)

Schoolnotes.com Schoolnotes.com (p.172)(p.172)

Teacher report card Teacher report card (p.175&203)(p.175&203)

New teacher shower New teacher shower (p.169)(p.169)

Simulations Simulations (p.159)(p.159)

Choice Choice (p.118-119)(p.118-119)

Tic-tac [topic] Tic-tac [topic] (p.51)(p.51)

Innovating Ideas cont’d.Innovating Ideas cont’d.

Beach ball Beach ball (p.43)(p.43)

Boom box Boom box (p.18)(p.18)

Current event tall tale Current event tall tale (p.133)(p.133)

Alternates of traditional testing Alternates of traditional testing (p.97)(p.97)

Instructional and professional risks Instructional and professional risks (p.73)(p.73)

Questions to ask yourself?Questions to ask yourself?“Boldly teach what’s best for today’s adolescents-how “Boldly teach what’s best for today’s adolescents-how

to question, investigate, interpret, create, dream, to question, investigate, interpret, create, dream, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, reflect, take initiative, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, reflect, take initiative,

and act ethically.” and act ethically.” (p39, first paragraph)(p39, first paragraph)

How do I get to know my students?How do I get to know my students? Do I clearly communicate instructions and expectations?Do I clearly communicate instructions and expectations? How can I better meet the needs of my students?How can I better meet the needs of my students? What types of lessons are both effective and engaging to What types of lessons are both effective and engaging to

middle school students?middle school students? What role do parents play in the classroom?What role do parents play in the classroom? Wormeli answers these questions and many more in Wormeli answers these questions and many more in Meet Meet

Me in the Middle.Me in the Middle.

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts“The emotional connection children make “The emotional connection children make

during the middle years will directly influence during the middle years will directly influence how they handle trust, power, conflict, fairness, how they handle trust, power, conflict, fairness,

and relationships in adulthood.” and relationships in adulthood.” (p189, paragraph five)(p189, paragraph five)

Book: Book: Meet Me in the Middle:Becoming an Accomplished Meet Me in the Middle:Becoming an Accomplished Middle-Level TeacherMiddle-Level Teacher

Author: Author: Rick WormeliRick Wormeli

ISBN:ISBN: 1-57110-328-7 1-57110-328-7

Read it today!Read it today!

Wormeli, R. (2001) Wormeli, R. (2001) Meet Me in the Middle: Becoming an Accomplished Middle-Level Teacher. Meet Me in the Middle: Becoming an Accomplished Middle-Level Teacher. Maine:StenhouseMaine:Stenhouse