HIT: MS vs JH: part 3

[Tracey Donaldson <LadyLibrar@AOL.COM>]

and the final part.....again thank you to everyone!!!!!

=)  Tracey

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Tracy

Not to be too cynical, but in our case there was no difference. The  change
to a "middle school" was just to justify bringing the sixth grade into the
"high school" building. (There was a space problem at the  elem.)

--
John F. Henne, Librarian
Gorham Middle/High School
Gorham  NH  03581
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Middle School is aimed more at educating the whole child--intellectually,
emotionally, socially, and physically.  Middle school is organized by teams
to meet this goal.  This means four, five, six or more teachers are on a team
to teach a certain number of students.  These teachers include the academic
teachers (Eng., Math, Social Studies, Sci.) and sometimes an arts teacher
(home ec., art, phys.ed, technology). The ideal is that each team is pure
(all the teachers teach the same kids), but sometimes compromises are made to
fit the schedule (some teachers teach kids from another team).  By teaching
the same kids teachers can block out time for
interdisciplinary units, field trips, student team meetings and other
creative use of time.  Each team of teachers meets together once a day to
plan these units, discuss kids, meet with parents, meet with counselors or
administrators.  This is a nutshell description of middle school.
        Junior high is more the traditional method of education, organized by
subjects, straight schedule from period one through period six, seven or
eight (whatever is the plan in the particular district).  Teachers know their
departments, but don't meet regularly with teachers from other areas. Rules
and regulations are usually administratively directed and universal (middle
school allows flexibility based on grade level, ability, and talents).  This
is the nutshell description of junior high.
        Hope this gives some points to ponder.  Any questions, just ask.

                                                     _ _
                                                  _ /   \.
Bobbie Chase  (bchase@umd5.umd.edu)            _ /      / \
Cabin John Middle School                              /     \
Potomac, MD                                         /         \
                                                  /             \
                                                ( _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __)

  "Life is like a box of chocolates--especially for chocoholics."
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I am at home and do not have the address of the National Middle School
 Assn., but they have many helpful booklets on this subject.  I went to a
 summer conference they sponsored and here are some of the differences: the
junior high is focused on what the student will need to know in high
 school--the middle school focuses on the needs of the adol. first, then  on
the subjects.
they both serve the same grades which can range from 5th to 9th
the middle school usually has teams, interdisciplinary units, block
scheduling, and advisories.

We made the transition about eight years ago and I think the teaming, in
 particular, meets the needs of the young adolescent.


Lynn McCree, Librarian
Martin Junior High
Austin, Texas
Lmcc@tenet.edu
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Tracey,
The middle school empasizes the student in transition.  Its breaking the
 school into smaller units, houses, so students can be part of a smaller
 group where the teachers will know who they are.  Many middle schools have
advisor/advisee programs, giving the students even smaller groups to be a
part of.  We also emphasize interdisciplinary units, lots of  different
approaches to meet the individual learning styles of students. There's
probably lots more than I know about.  (To be truthful, there may be junior
highs doing the same thing but I think the name change was  meant to indicate
a new philosophy - kind of like librarians becoming media specialists.)

Jan Ziglin
Library Media Specialist
Elmbrook Middle School
janicez@execpc.com
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In our middle school, we use a team approach.  The 100 students in each grade
level have a team of teachers from their core subjects who meet each day to
discuss problems, make plans etc.  This is in addition to their personal
planning time.  This has been great for our students.  They have been able to
participate in many inter-disciplinary projects, field trips and in-school
activities.  When we had a junior high, this was not possible.
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Tracey,

When I was getting my educational training 20 years ago the middle  concept
was just getting started.  Western Michigan University started a  program
then(which did not last too many years) called Middle School Program and I
took most of my educational classes through that program.  As I remember from
then and what knowledge I have gained since then is:

Middle school aged students are in the middle between children and high
 schools and have unique emotional and developmental needs that are not
 addressed by treating them as a smaller version of high school kids(re:
Junior High).  Usually middle schools include at least 6th grade and
sometimes even 5th grade.  If you would do a search on ERIC I'm sure you
could find more technical explanations for some of this--maybe more than you
want!  Usually middle schools are more "holistic" than junior highs and in
the school I am currently part of are really into the "team"
teaching approach concerning both academics and discipline.  If you want even
more information you can let me know and I will forward your question to my
Middle School "Instructional Leader"(read Principal)