Middle Level Educators Putting Practice to the Test
Contact: Kay Hyatt (207) 581-2761
NOTE: Media are invited to all sessions of the annual Middle Level Education Institute. The majority of workshops take place in the Doris Twitchell Allen Village residential complex on Rangeley Road. The institute office, staffed throughout the week, is also located in this complex. Complete information, including daily schedules, is available on the Institute website.
ORONO, Maine — Middle level teachers are applying fundamental principles and philosophy to their own learning at the 21st annual Middle Level Education Institute taking place June 26-30 at the University of Maine.
Approximately 135 educators from middle schools throughout Maine and 20 from the U.S. Virgin Islands are learning as their students do: by planning together what is important and relevant to learn, and integrated curriculum where children broadly explore various subjects in ways that are meaningful to their own lives. “Walk the Talk” is the theme of this year’s conference, which centers on making sure everyone’s questions about middle level education are asked and answered.
“We’ve seen students become more engaged in the learning process when instruction is built around an integrated curriculum because they are learning what they want and need to know and have helped plan the curriculum,” says UMaine faculty member Gert Nesin, director of this year’s institute. “By focusing the institute on what we know works well, we are hopeful that each participant will learn what he or she came to learn.
Eighteen middle level consultants — experts in areas from curriculum and assessment to young adolescent growth and teacher leadership — are sharing their expertise with institute participants.
Educators are working in teams to explore and answer questions about: building positive relationships and school climates; differentiated instruction designed to meet various learning needs and abilities; finding time to effectively teach content and sills to all students and still address assessment and be reflective about teaching; working better as school-based teams; examining middle school philosophy and its place in an assessment-driven era; modeling and promoting technology in the classroom; creating fair and effective discipline systems; and engaging and motivating students.
Among topics being discussed at institute sessions today are Building Communities of Learners — Including Parents, Reaching Real Peace Student to Student (elements of a successful civil rights team), Student-Led Conferences (making students accountable for their learning), Developmentally Appropriate Instruction (latest research on what is going on in the brain of a young adolescent), and The Differentiated Classroom (techniques to engage and challenge all learners).
Teams of educators will continue to work on projects and information generated from the institute when they return to their classrooms. Institute participate represent Maine middle schools in Waldoboro, Bangor, Brooklin, Camden-Rockport, Union, Dexter, East Grand, Fort Fairfield, Gray-New Gloucester, Lincoln, Lincolnville, Madison, Milo, Naples, Old Town, Oakland, Orland, Readfield, Rumford, St. George, Topsham, Vinalhaven and Windham.