Today's Middle Level Educator

10/26/2009
School Uniforms: Jeans or Jackets? (17:25)
The impact of school uniforms is an issue that affects schools, parents, and students alike. Join Jack Berckemeyer, NMSA assistant executive director, and Ms. Ernie Rambo as they focus on this timely topic. Ernie is a classroom teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has been directly involved with the implications of the uniform issue. Jack and Ernie examine the advantages and disadvantages of school uniforms and talk about questions the teachers might have regarding the uniform issue and how to address students concerns.

Resources:

• School Uniforms: Policies and Procedures
  by David L. Hough (RMLEOnline, 2005, 25, 1)
• Varieties of Parent Involvement in Schoolingby Vincent A. Anfara, Jr. & Steven B. Mertens (MSJ, Jan. '08)

9/29/2009
Connecting the Dots - NMSA09 Preview (7:10)
Jack Berckemeyer, assistant executive director of NMSA, talks with Rita Pierson about her upcoming speech at the NMSA09 Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. Rita shares her thoughts on what topics she will cover as the Teacher Luncheon speaker. Rita's vast knowledge in staff motivation, poverty issues, and school climate make Rita a must hear speaker.

For more information about the NMSA09 Annual Conference and the Teacher's Luncheon please visit www.nmsa.org/annual

9/21/2009
The Culture of Formative Assessment (21:38)
In this second part of a two-part discussion about formative assessment, Kate Garrison, Manager of Products and services for Professional Development with Measured Progress, discusses the culture of formative assessment.

Resources:

• Formative and Summative Assessments in the Classroom
  by Catherine Garrison & Michael Ehringhaus
• Effective Classroom Assessment: Linking Assessment with Instruction
  by Catherine Garrison, Dennis Chandler, & Michael Ehringhaus
• Using Formative Assessments to Individualize Instruction and Promote Learning
  by Juliann M. Kaftan, Gayle A. Buck, & Alysa Haack

7/31/09
The Evolution of Advisory (18:57)
Bob Spear and Jack Berckemeyer discuss the importance of advisory in the middle school. They also examine how advisory has changed over the last several years with the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act and other mandates. This episode provides schools and individuals with a sense of understanding the importance a quality advisory program brings to any great middle school.

Resources:

• Taking the Lead in Implementing and Improving Advisory
  by Bob Spear
• Research Summary - Advisory Programs
• Advisor-Advisee Programs: Important But Problematic
  by Vincent A. Anfara, Jr. (MSJ, Sept. '06)

7/17/2009
Single Sex Classrooms (15:54)
Ever wonder about the issues regarding the single sex classroom? Jack Berckemeyer, National Middle School Association assistant executive director, and Judith Baenen, editor of NMSA's The Family Connection and member of the Site-Based Services Speakers Cadre, take on this hot topic! Judith shares her knowledge of the single sex classroom and why it has become such a huge issue. The conversation also examines the differences between how girls learn versus boys and what teachers can do to address those distinctions.

Resources:

• Exploring the "Cusp Culture" Helps Adolescents Navigate the Way to Adulthood by Judith Baenen
• Understanding and Appreciating the Wonder Years
  by John H. Lounsbury
• What Research Says: Do Single-Sex Classes and Schools Make a Difference? by Vincent A. Anfara, Jr. & Steven B. Mertens

6/29/2009
The Students are SOAR-ing (10:39)
Kim Campbell, a classroom teacher and member of the NMSA Site-Based Services Cadre, talks about the SOAR program with NMSA's Assistant Executive Director, Jack Berckemeyer. The SOAR program has been used at Kim's school to help deal with the achievement gap. Jack and Kim share practical ways to introduce SOAR and provide concrete examples of the program's impact in the lives of young adolescents.

Resources:

• Research Summary - Student Achievement and the Middle School Concept
• Student Achievement in New Literacies for the 21st Century by William Kist (MSJ, Sept. '03)
• On Target - Student Achievement: What Works to Improve Student Achievement

6/4/2009
Formative Assessment: Debunking the Myths (21:13)
Formative assessment is a verb, not a noun. A process whereby students and teachers maintain ongoing conversation about learning, formative assessment is key to student achievement. Kate Garrison, manager of products and services for professional development with Measured Progress, debunks 5 myths about formative assessment in the first of this 2-part discussion.

Resources:

• Formative and Summative Assessments in the Classroom
  by Catherine Garrison & Michael Ehringhaus
• Effective Classroom Assessment: Linking Assessment with Instruction
  by Catherine Garrison, Dennis Chandler, & Michael Ehringhaus
• Using Formative Assessments to Individualize Instruction and Promote Learning
  by Juliann M. Kaftan, Gayle A. Buck, & Alysa Haack

5/13/2009
Student Voice and Student Choice (22:06)
In this episode, Jack Berckemeyer, assistant executive director for National Middle School Association, talks with middle level expert and member of the NMSA Site-Based Services Speakers Cadre Nancy Doda on the issues of student motivation. Nancy shares information about the power of student choice and the impact of allowing students to have a voice in the classroom.

Resources:

• Kid to Kid: Guiding Our Students Toward Self-Confidence and Personal Power by Marcia Rogat
• Listening to the Voices of Young Adolescents by Nancy Doda and Trudy Knowles
• Transforming Ourselves, Transforming Schools: Middle School Change by Nancy Doda and Sue Thompson

   

4/16/2009
Building Community and Business Relationships (14:28)
Join Jack Berckemeyer, assistant executive director for National Middle School Association, and Dr. Santo Pino as they discuss the importance of community involvement and business partnerships within the school. Jack and Santo also share ideas on ways to involve businesses in your school and the issues and concerns schools might experience.

Resources:

• School-initiated Family and Community Partnerships
• Success with IEP's: Lessons Learned From Implementing the Middle School Model by Santo Pino and Dena Hook
• Education—Industry Partnerships Make a Mark by Sandra H. Harpole and Lori Hill Kerley

3/13/2009
Cyber-Citizenship for Young Adolescents (20:23)
Jill Spencer, a member of the NMSA Site-Based Services Speakers Cadre, has a discussion about cyber citizenship and its issues with Jack Berckemeyer, assistant executive director for National Middle School Association. Jill explains what it means to be a good cyber citizen. She elaborates on appropriate actions for young adolescents when dealing with technology, and shares some great examples for classroom teachers to use.

Resources:

• School-initiated Family and Community Partnerships
• Success with IEP's: Lessons Learned From Implementing the Middle School Model
• Education—Industry Partnerships Make a Mark