The Design of Responsive Middle Schools

1
The Design of Responsive Middle Schools

• Making the connections between development and
  middle school philosophies.

2
Intellectual Development and Curricular
Implications
3
Some generalizations...

• Three brain growth spurts happen during a
  lifetime one is during the 10-14 time frame.
• Growth does not occur continuously, but in
  sequences of short periods of rapid growth
  followed by period of inactivity.
• On/Off pattern is necessary so that new
  intellectual functions can be integrated

4
Intellectual development, continued

• Children experience a 5-19 brain weight
  increase.
• Coupled with these increases are great
  intellectual gains -- seen as students
  understanding important concepts and verbalizing
  complex concepts.
• Normal for students to rest. Requires practice
  on the part of teacher.

5
Intellectual Development

• Child moves from concrete to formal (abstract)
  thought. This includes the ability to hold many
  variables in mind simultaneously and conceive
  contrary to fact propositions. (Types of memory)
• These capabilities are not fully integrated -
  often very tentative.
• What does it look like?

6
Why should people generally do everything they
can to keep from breaking the law?

• Concrete
• 1. So they wont get in trouble and get put in
  jail.
• 2. People will get mad at you.

• Abstract
• 1. You are taking away someone elses right when
  you break the law.
• 2. People need laws so they can live together.

7
School implications...

• Teachers can expect 1/4 of students to be in a
  state of dissonance due to intellectual changes
  at any time.
• On average, someone in class will begin or end a
  brain spurt every 10 days.
• Given this reality, students cannot be expected
  to follow a lockstep curriculum.

8
School implications..

• Questions? Comments?

9
Social Development

• Curricular Implications

10
Social Development

• Social unrest is a natural outcome in an attempt
  to cope with rapid body changes.
• Peer group becomes everything and replaces adult
  affiliations.
• Need for independence yet reliance on peers and
  group standards - copying and fads
• Need to be in translates in cruel and harassing
  behaviors.

11
Social Development

• Sexual differences in behavior are common boys
  tend to be aggressive and boisterous while girls
  tend to be friendly and neat.
• Growth spurt happens 18-24 months sooner in
  females.
• Curricular implications?