Teaching at the middle school level requires a lot of hard work and planning. The students are now at the age where they are just starting to develop and mature. They are also entering a transitional phase from elementary to middle school, which is a big change. At this age, the teaching style of the teacher has to be varied to meet each individual need. Visual aids during some of the lessons are required, so that the students can actually get a feel for what the teacher is talking about.
Direct teaching is one successful method of instruction.
The teacher is able to demonstrate the lesson on the board or overhead while the students are jotting down the information and are asking questions as they go along. The students also like to work in cooperative learning groups, because it gives them a chance to work with others and share their thoughts with the other group members. We also have a Character Education class, which last about 30 minutes. This gives the students a chance to express their feeling about what is going on at this particular point in their life. Both Character Ed and doing group work provides learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social, and personal development.