Enhancing student learning in middle school

380 Pages·2011·2.679 MB·English

by  Casas, Martha

Enhancing Student Learning in
Middle School
A comprehensive introduction to middle school teaching, this textbook focuses explic-
itly on instructional strategies that encourage adolescents to become active participants
in their own learning within a world of accountability and standardized testing. The author, an
experienced middle school teacher and teacher educator, takes a constructivist approach
to teaching that considers the whole child, including the emotional, psychological,
social, and cultural variables uniquely associated with adolescence. The text examines
the full range of middle school topics, from the development and diversity of middle
school learners, to the structures, curriculum, and management of the classroom itself.
Special features include:
• “Empowering Middle School Students to Take Ownership of their Learning,”
“Teaching Scenario,” “Key Points,” and “Creating an Anti-Oppressive Atmosphere
in Your Classroom,” textboxes help teachers gain a clearer understanding of con-
tent presented and encourage them to become reflective practitioners.
• Callouts throughout explicitly link chapter content to NMSA standards.
• Discussion of the unique challenges of actively engaging bilingual students, special
needs students, and students exhibiting antisocial behavior.
• Accounts about middle school students illustrate the ways that adolescents think
about school and learning.
• A chapter that focuses on ways that teachers can apply the general teaching strate-
gies to specific subject areas.
• Sample Lesson Plans, Focus Questions, Chapter Summaries, Journal Entries, and
Student Activities/Assignments are included throughout to encourage readers to
actively participate with the text.
Martha Casas is an Associate Professor of Teacher Education at the University of
Texas at El Paso.

Enhancing Student Learning in
Middle School
Martha Casas
First published 2011
by Routledge
270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
Simultaneously published in the UK
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2010.
To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s
collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.
© 2011 Taylor & Francis
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publishers.
Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or regis-
tered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without
intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Casas, Martha.
Enhancing student learning in middle school / by Martha Casas.
p. cm.
1. Middle school teaching. 2. Middle school education. I. Title.
LB1623.C37 2010
373.1102—dc22
2010013879
ISBN 0-203-84710-5 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 13: (hbk) 978-0-415-80176-8
ISBN 13: (pbk) 978-0-415-80177-5
ISBN 13: (ebk) 978-0-203-84710-7
I dedicate this textbook to my parents
Roberto and Enriqueta Casas whose love and support
gave me the strength to be the person that I am.

Contents
List of Illustrations xi
Preface xiii
Acknowledgements xvii
1 Rationalizing the Middle School Concept 1
About this chapter 1
Focus questions 1
Introduction 2
Key research on student achievement and middle school practices 6
Key points 8
The debate continues 8
Which school model is more effective? 13
Making the middle school more student centered 14
The makings of a successful middle school 16
The national middle school association 19
Key points 21
Chapter summary 21
Journal entry #1 22
Activities 22
2 Theoretical Frameworks 23
About this chapter 23
Focus questions 23
Introduction 23
Theoretical frameworks 24
Key points 46
Which theoretical framework should i choose? 47
How to teach constructively in an era of accountability 48
Chapter summary 49
Journal entry #2 50
Activities 50
3 Motivational Theories and Early Adolescence 51
About this chapter 51
Focus questions 51
Introduction 51
Theories on motivation 52
Goal theories of achievement motivation 54
viii CONTENTS
Self-efficacy 56
Adolescence 57
Key points 62
Characteristics of the young adolescent 62
Peer pressure 65
Illnesses and behavioral problems of the adolescent 66
Key points 72
The role of the teacher in engaging students to learn 72
Chapter summary 80
Journal entry #3 80
Activities 81
4 Effective Classroom Management 83
About this chapter 83
Focus questions 83
Introduction 83
Classroom management and discipline—two different practices 84
Establishing effective classroom management practices 84
Prevention 85
Key points 99
Intervention 99
The managing of chronically disruptive students 102
Key points 105
Chapter summary 105
Journal entry #4 106
Activities 106
5 What is Antisocial Behavior? 107
About this chapter 107
Focus questions 107
Introduction 108
Antisocial behavior 109
Key points 115
Recommendations 119
Key points 128
Chapter summary 129
Journal entry #5 129
Activities 130
6 Designing and Enacting the Curriculum 131
About this chapter 131
Focus questions 131
Introduction 132
National standards, state standards, and district plans 134
Curriculum implementation 135
The key elements of curriculum design 136
Lesson design 138
CONTENTS ix
Key points 139
The lesson plan 146
The mini-unit 151
Enacting the curriculum 153
Chapter summary 157
Journal entry #6 157
Activities 158
7 Using Multicultural Education to Enhance Student Engagement
in Learning 159
About this chapter 159
Focus questions 159
Introduction 159
The need for addressing cultural diversity in the classroom 160
Concerns about addressing cultural diversity in the classroom 162
Establishing the groundwork for a multicultural curriculum 165
Key points 170
Minimizing the effects of oppositional culture on student learning 170
Bilingual education 175
Special education 177
Chapter summary 179
Journal entry #7 180
Activities 180
8 Assessing Student Learning 181
About this chapter 181
Focus questions 181
Introduction 181
Measurement and evaluation 182
Key stakeholders and assessment 183
The theoretical approaches underlying classroom assessment 185
Key points 188
Classroom assessment 188
Minimizing the pressure of standardized testing on teachers, students and parents 198
Chapter summary 203
Journal entry #8 203
Activities 203
9 Instructional Strategies for Developing Higher-Level Thinking 205
About this chapter 205
Focus questions 205
Introduction 205
Modeling thinking 206
Theoretical approaches 207
Key points 224
Cooperative learning 225
Key points 227