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The Wonders and Challenges of Middle Level Teaching - Continued...

Even math class, which was usually very structured, gave way to student creativity once in a while. The big math assignment for the second semester was a roller coaster project, in which we would use marbles and very stiff paper to create our own roller coaster. We were allowed to do just about anything as long as the rollercoaster worked and we used ideas that we had learned previously throughout the year. This project was also shared by the science teacher, which gave the students a really good cross disciplinary experience. All the teachers worked well together in the middle school I attended and, because they were such great teachers, I had a wonderful middle school experience.

As we have seen, middle level teaching can be a scary concept. Quite possibly, however, this is scary, not because of the challenges it poses, but because of the responsibility the middle school teacher holds. The teacher is one of students’ biggest influences as their brains are beginning their final stages of development and their minds are able to work in ways never seen before. It is this influence and responsibility that makes middle level teaching a truly rewarding experience. True, there are challenges, but all good things in life come with a cost. For what is gained from the experience, middle level teaching can be considered quite a bargain.

Works Cited

Wormeli, Rick. Day One and Beyond: Practical Matters for Middle-Level Teachers.  2003. Stenhouse.

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