The Master of Middle School
Project—Building Connections From Middle School to College and Career
Readiness
We have head from the business community for
years about the need for better potential employees with stronger employability
skills. Those skills include the
ability to communicate verbally and in written form, the ability to conduct
independent research, and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Add to those the ability to plan, organize, and implement projects. Wouldn’t we all love to have a
classroom of students with those characteristics?
The business communities call those people potential employees. Educators call them well rounded
students. Who could argue about
the need for students at any level to possess those abilities?
However, after a decade of ensuring that no child gets left behind, we
have inadvertently prevented others from moving ahead.
Most of our high stakes standardized tests do not measure the very skills
necessary for our students to be college and career ready.
So the question arises as to how we integrate these employability skills
into already congested courses of study?
I believe the answer is the Master of Middle School
Project.
Introduction
The Master of Middle School Project (MMSP) is
designed for that student who is an “expert”in some subject that may or may not
have any relevance to our formal curriculum. For example, NASCAR is huge in our
area. While we do not teach NASCAR
in any of our middle school courses of study neither do we want to hinder a
student’s intuitive interest.
Further, isn’t it reasonable to assume that the student will get benefit
from being so interested in the subject?
Instead of hindering his natural curiosity or interest let us provide him
with an outlet that he enjoys.
After all, the subjects we teach are not means to an end.
They should be used as tools of discovery in other areas.
Wouldn’t it be great if the student understood the mathematics and
physics required to prepare a race car for a 500 mile race?
Wouldn’t that be a rich opportunity for
learning?
The MMSP will allow the students a sense of
flexibility and ownership of their learning. It will be an independent project
completed under general parameters that will allow the student the freedom to be
expressive in their presentation.
It is not, nor should it ever be, a part of the formal curriculum. In doing so we would be doing an
injustice to the student. The
student is already the expert. Let
the student develop the topic and project. The project will be an assignment that
is above and beyond the normal curriculum. Will every child choose to
participate? Absolutely not, but it
is not intended for every child.
So, why would a child choose to participate in a project that is above
the normal requirements? The
project will give the students the opportunity to participate in an advanced
project, develop independent research skills, acquire recognition of excellence
that sets them apart from the crowd, and to be challenged.
Additionally, a partnership can be established with local businesses to
provide incentives for those students successfully completing the
project.
Ability to Conduct
Independent Research
The student will have the opportunity to choose a
subject of their interest. A great
deal of latitude should be afforded to the student.
As long as the topic is not obscene or offensive then the student should
be allowed to investigate and research the topic.
The student will then choose an adult advocate that will help guide him
through the project. In the
perfect world this would be someone who has a similar interest or an expertise
in the subject of choice. We
recommend an educator, adult family friend, clergy, business leader, or
relative. Ideally, it would be someone other than the child’s parent. However, this should not be a barrier
that prevents the student from participating. The advocate’s role is to keep the
student on track and maintain the integrity of the project.
While a great deal of flexibility is afforded there are parameters that
must be met. The advocate should
guide and direct the student towards attainment of the goal.
The advocate should also ensure that the subject chosen offers enough
depth to complete the project.
After the student and advocate agree upon the subject it should be
submitted to the administrator of the program for approval.
After such, research and preparations for the presentation may
begin.
Strong Written and Verbal
Communication Skills
The final project will consist of a written
presentation, an oral presentation, and a product presentation.
The written presentation will be a summary report of the student’s
project. For our students we have decided that a good well written summary
should be between one and two double spaced pages.
With the onslaught of texting we are discovering that our students’
abilities to write and compose have greatly diminished.
We must require and provide them with more opportunities to develop
coherent composition. The oral
presentation should be between two and three minutes.
We understand at the middle school level that speaking in front of people
is a huge fear. In fact, it is a
fear among the general population.
If we start early then perhaps we can ease some of this
apprehension. The product
presentation is the most variable component of the project.
The student may choose to prepare a product for presentation that most
fits their individual preference.
They may create a model, use a panel board, present a video, develop a
Powerpoint presentation or any of a variety of acceptable presentation
methods.
Ability to Plan, Organize,
and Implement Projects
A critical review will be conducted prior to the
student’s final presentation. The
critical review will be the “dress rehearsal.” At this point the student should be
fully prepared for the presentation.
The advocate should be satisfied with the student’s level of
competency. The critical review
will be presented to a committee that will consist of the administrator of the
program, selected teachers, and possibly peers. It should be the goal that some level
of critique will be provided to the student. The advocate should understand this as
well. This should foster an
atmosphere where the student begins to understand the necessity and value of
constructive criticism. After the
student receives the critique of his project and has made the appropriate
adjustments then he will be ready for the final evaluation.
A committee should be convened for this final presentation.
The student should have polished his presentation and be ready for the
“sales pitch.” If the whole
project has been conducted properly this is an opportunity for the student to
demonstrate his expertise. We will
convene a committee of local members of the community, media, and our central
office staff. It is quite possible
that this presentation will be conducted at a school board meeting.
Upon completion of the final presentation the student will be presented
with a Master of Middle School award indicating his “certification” area. Also a letter of commendation from the
principal and/or the superintendent will be presented to the child and a copy
placed in the student’s permanent record file. Our students that choose to participate
are allowed to earn multiple awards within a single school year or they can
spend the entire year on a single project. The choice is theirs.
They own it.
Ability to Manage Multiple
Priorities
Several challenges will arise with this type of
project. Many will lose interest
when they realize that this is not for a grade. “Is this going to going to count
as a grade?” is one of the most prevalent questions in the middle school
classroom. We have to retrain our
students, parents, and teachers to understand that these types of projects
enhance learning and are worthy for that reason alone.
We will also hear about how busy our middle school students have
become. As a father of two teenage
boys I fully understand the time requirements for our kids.
However, part of the benefits of the project will be to teach students
that through good management skills they can be successful in multiple
endeavors.
Summary
I am excited about the project. I am optimistic that the MMSP gives
students the opportunity to own part of their education and to see value in
completing projects. Perhaps they
will make the connection between school and the workplace.
I believe that these types of projects will fill the gaps that have
developed and will lead to the development of the whole student so that upon
completion of middle school they will have at least been exposed to the skills
that will make them successful in college and career.
Phillip Johnson is the principal at Ashville
Middle School in Ashville, Alabama.
Email:
[email protected].
Project—Building Connections From Middle School to College and Career
Readiness
We have head from the business community for
years about the need for better potential employees with stronger employability
skills. Those skills include the
ability to communicate verbally and in written form, the ability to conduct
independent research, and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Add to those the ability to plan, organize, and implement projects. Wouldn’t we all love to have a
classroom of students with those characteristics?
The business communities call those people potential employees. Educators call them well rounded
students. Who could argue about
the need for students at any level to possess those abilities?
However, after a decade of ensuring that no child gets left behind, we
have inadvertently prevented others from moving ahead.
Most of our high stakes standardized tests do not measure the very skills
necessary for our students to be college and career ready.
So the question arises as to how we integrate these employability skills
into already congested courses of study?
I believe the answer is the Master of Middle School
Project.
Introduction
The Master of Middle School Project (MMSP) is
designed for that student who is an “expert”in some subject that may or may not
have any relevance to our formal curriculum. For example, NASCAR is huge in our
area. While we do not teach NASCAR
in any of our middle school courses of study neither do we want to hinder a
student’s intuitive interest.
Further, isn’t it reasonable to assume that the student will get benefit
from being so interested in the subject?
Instead of hindering his natural curiosity or interest let us provide him
with an outlet that he enjoys.
After all, the subjects we teach are not means to an end.
They should be used as tools of discovery in other areas.
Wouldn’t it be great if the student understood the mathematics and
physics required to prepare a race car for a 500 mile race?
Wouldn’t that be a rich opportunity for
learning?
The MMSP will allow the students a sense of
flexibility and ownership of their learning. It will be an independent project
completed under general parameters that will allow the student the freedom to be
expressive in their presentation.
It is not, nor should it ever be, a part of the formal curriculum. In doing so we would be doing an
injustice to the student. The
student is already the expert. Let
the student develop the topic and project. The project will be an assignment that
is above and beyond the normal curriculum. Will every child choose to
participate? Absolutely not, but it
is not intended for every child.
So, why would a child choose to participate in a project that is above
the normal requirements? The
project will give the students the opportunity to participate in an advanced
project, develop independent research skills, acquire recognition of excellence
that sets them apart from the crowd, and to be challenged.
Additionally, a partnership can be established with local businesses to
provide incentives for those students successfully completing the
project.
Ability to Conduct
Independent Research
The student will have the opportunity to choose a
subject of their interest. A great
deal of latitude should be afforded to the student.
As long as the topic is not obscene or offensive then the student should
be allowed to investigate and research the topic.
The student will then choose an adult advocate that will help guide him
through the project. In the
perfect world this would be someone who has a similar interest or an expertise
in the subject of choice. We
recommend an educator, adult family friend, clergy, business leader, or
relative. Ideally, it would be someone other than the child’s parent. However, this should not be a barrier
that prevents the student from participating. The advocate’s role is to keep the
student on track and maintain the integrity of the project.
While a great deal of flexibility is afforded there are parameters that
must be met. The advocate should
guide and direct the student towards attainment of the goal.
The advocate should also ensure that the subject chosen offers enough
depth to complete the project.
After the student and advocate agree upon the subject it should be
submitted to the administrator of the program for approval.
After such, research and preparations for the presentation may
begin.
Strong Written and Verbal
Communication Skills
The final project will consist of a written
presentation, an oral presentation, and a product presentation.
The written presentation will be a summary report of the student’s
project. For our students we have decided that a good well written summary
should be between one and two double spaced pages.
With the onslaught of texting we are discovering that our students’
abilities to write and compose have greatly diminished.
We must require and provide them with more opportunities to develop
coherent composition. The oral
presentation should be between two and three minutes.
We understand at the middle school level that speaking in front of people
is a huge fear. In fact, it is a
fear among the general population.
If we start early then perhaps we can ease some of this
apprehension. The product
presentation is the most variable component of the project.
The student may choose to prepare a product for presentation that most
fits their individual preference.
They may create a model, use a panel board, present a video, develop a
Powerpoint presentation or any of a variety of acceptable presentation
methods.
Ability to Plan, Organize,
and Implement Projects
A critical review will be conducted prior to the
student’s final presentation. The
critical review will be the “dress rehearsal.” At this point the student should be
fully prepared for the presentation.
The advocate should be satisfied with the student’s level of
competency. The critical review
will be presented to a committee that will consist of the administrator of the
program, selected teachers, and possibly peers. It should be the goal that some level
of critique will be provided to the student. The advocate should understand this as
well. This should foster an
atmosphere where the student begins to understand the necessity and value of
constructive criticism. After the
student receives the critique of his project and has made the appropriate
adjustments then he will be ready for the final evaluation.
A committee should be convened for this final presentation.
The student should have polished his presentation and be ready for the
“sales pitch.” If the whole
project has been conducted properly this is an opportunity for the student to
demonstrate his expertise. We will
convene a committee of local members of the community, media, and our central
office staff. It is quite possible
that this presentation will be conducted at a school board meeting.
Upon completion of the final presentation the student will be presented
with a Master of Middle School award indicating his “certification” area. Also a letter of commendation from the
principal and/or the superintendent will be presented to the child and a copy
placed in the student’s permanent record file. Our students that choose to participate
are allowed to earn multiple awards within a single school year or they can
spend the entire year on a single project. The choice is theirs.
They own it.
Ability to Manage Multiple
Priorities
Several challenges will arise with this type of
project. Many will lose interest
when they realize that this is not for a grade. “Is this going to going to count
as a grade?” is one of the most prevalent questions in the middle school
classroom. We have to retrain our
students, parents, and teachers to understand that these types of projects
enhance learning and are worthy for that reason alone.
We will also hear about how busy our middle school students have
become. As a father of two teenage
boys I fully understand the time requirements for our kids.
However, part of the benefits of the project will be to teach students
that through good management skills they can be successful in multiple
endeavors.
Summary
I am excited about the project. I am optimistic that the MMSP gives
students the opportunity to own part of their education and to see value in
completing projects. Perhaps they
will make the connection between school and the workplace.
I believe that these types of projects will fill the gaps that have
developed and will lead to the development of the whole student so that upon
completion of middle school they will have at least been exposed to the skills
that will make them successful in college and career.
Phillip Johnson is the principal at Ashville
Middle School in Ashville, Alabama.
Email:
[email protected].