Welcome to Middle School
Welcome to middle school! This period of your life brings exciting adventures as well as new questions about growing up and becoming an adult. In middle school you will have to take more responsibility as you get ready for high school. It is a time for students to experiment and try on new identities to see which one fits them best. We know that you will have greater independence and also still need support and guidance from adults who care about you.
Here are some ways that middle school is different from elementary school:
There is homework from a variety of classes almost every night.
There are formal quizzes, tests, and grades.
There is a different teacher for every subject, each year.
There is a schedule students must learn to follow.
Being a Teenager!
The years known as “early adolescence” (ages 10 to 14) are a complex period of personal growth and change that is more rapid than any other part of life except for infancy. Most people have a steady pattern of growth from the time they are a baby through childhood. In the middle school years, things start to change, and it can feel like a roller coaster.
Young people at this stage of their lives need more independence and also test limits and question authority. This can be hard on you (and on your teachers and parents!). Students at this age are also very idealistic about people and the world and enthusiastically participate programs that promote social change and community. They are often very sensitive to how the adults in their lives behave, and easily see the hypocrisy between what we say and what we do. We all want to be positive adult role models for every student in our school.
Every person’s development is unique; no two people growing the same way or at the same rate. Since teenagers are growing so much during this time in their lives and thinking about who they want to be in the world, things can feel complicated. It can be hard to navigate the many twists and turns of this period in life. Forgetfulness, irritability, questioning rules and authority and the growing influence friends have can cause conflicts with parents and teachers. We want you to know that we see this is an exciting time of growth for you and every teacher at our school is excited to be a part of it with you and see you make new choices as you grow toward adulthood.
How Middle School is Different from Elementary School
You should also know that the changes in your life can be hard on the adults who care about you. Sometimes you might not want us around as much or explain what is happening in your life.
Preparing Leaders
The Ethnic Studies Program at TAPA offers a strong academic program that engages you in learning. Another priority is to encourage you to commit to helping other people. One of the great rewards of teaching early adolescents is that they sincerely believe they can make a difference in the world, while the greatest challenge of teaching early adolescents may be their tendency to self-absorption. For both reasons, the Ethnic Studies program emphasizes activities that pull students out of themselves and their world and into the world of service. This approach is consistent with the school’s mission to empower “each individual to have a voice, assume community responsibility and take social action."
Becoming Mature Students
In Ethnic Studies we try to impart not only academic knowledge, but also academic skills and habits. For example, the subject matter of a book you read provides that information or content – the knowledge. But your ability to read critically, to absorb and think about the content, is an essential academic (and leadership) skill. A student who begins to make time to read regularly builds the foundation for a lifelong habit. These habits and skills are a part of the learning process that is nurtured in Ethnic Studies.
There are also skills that students need to organize themselves to get their schoolwork done. There are also a set of habits to learn, such as recognizing when help is needed, and being open to asking for help. Organizing your academic work is a really important skill to master to be successful in high school. In Ethnic Studies we know it is important to see you as a whole person -- both how you are growing and how you are learning -- and build a relationship with you. As a middle school team we want to help you learn in class and also support you as you learn more about yourself and your role in the world.
Here are some ways that middle school is different from elementary school:
There is homework from a variety of classes almost every night.
There are formal quizzes, tests, and grades.
There is a different teacher for every subject, each year.
There is a schedule students must learn to follow.
Being a Teenager!
The years known as “early adolescence” (ages 10 to 14) are a complex period of personal growth and change that is more rapid than any other part of life except for infancy. Most people have a steady pattern of growth from the time they are a baby through childhood. In the middle school years, things start to change, and it can feel like a roller coaster.
Young people at this stage of their lives need more independence and also test limits and question authority. This can be hard on you (and on your teachers and parents!). Students at this age are also very idealistic about people and the world and enthusiastically participate programs that promote social change and community. They are often very sensitive to how the adults in their lives behave, and easily see the hypocrisy between what we say and what we do. We all want to be positive adult role models for every student in our school.
Every person’s development is unique; no two people growing the same way or at the same rate. Since teenagers are growing so much during this time in their lives and thinking about who they want to be in the world, things can feel complicated. It can be hard to navigate the many twists and turns of this period in life. Forgetfulness, irritability, questioning rules and authority and the growing influence friends have can cause conflicts with parents and teachers. We want you to know that we see this is an exciting time of growth for you and every teacher at our school is excited to be a part of it with you and see you make new choices as you grow toward adulthood.
How Middle School is Different from Elementary School
You should also know that the changes in your life can be hard on the adults who care about you. Sometimes you might not want us around as much or explain what is happening in your life.
Preparing Leaders
The Ethnic Studies Program at TAPA offers a strong academic program that engages you in learning. Another priority is to encourage you to commit to helping other people. One of the great rewards of teaching early adolescents is that they sincerely believe they can make a difference in the world, while the greatest challenge of teaching early adolescents may be their tendency to self-absorption. For both reasons, the Ethnic Studies program emphasizes activities that pull students out of themselves and their world and into the world of service. This approach is consistent with the school’s mission to empower “each individual to have a voice, assume community responsibility and take social action."
Becoming Mature Students
In Ethnic Studies we try to impart not only academic knowledge, but also academic skills and habits. For example, the subject matter of a book you read provides that information or content – the knowledge. But your ability to read critically, to absorb and think about the content, is an essential academic (and leadership) skill. A student who begins to make time to read regularly builds the foundation for a lifelong habit. These habits and skills are a part of the learning process that is nurtured in Ethnic Studies.
There are also skills that students need to organize themselves to get their schoolwork done. There are also a set of habits to learn, such as recognizing when help is needed, and being open to asking for help. Organizing your academic work is a really important skill to master to be successful in high school. In Ethnic Studies we know it is important to see you as a whole person -- both how you are growing and how you are learning -- and build a relationship with you. As a middle school team we want to help you learn in class and also support you as you learn more about yourself and your role in the world.