[LIT] Ideal Middle School Reading and Writing Program

[Pam]

Stephanie wrote:
   If you could design the IDEAL middle school schedule & program, what 
would it
look like?  Self-contained classrooms?  A seperate reading workshop & 
writing
workshop teacher?  Longer periods of reading?

Pam writes:
Turning Points 2000 (not the most thrilling read, but still full of 
great info for the middle school level) & NMSA should offer wonderful 
resources for you.

In my opinion, the ideal middle school would offer teams of contained 
students.  Reading and writing workshop would be blocked together and 
taught by someone who is reading and language arts certified.  I love 
the idea of block scheduling, although I haven't had the chance to live 
it yet.  Trying to cram everything into 55 minutes is tough.  90 to 120 
minutes would be great!

Keep us updated with the changes ya'll make.

 :o) Pam/6th gr./FL
An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how 
much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do 
know and what you don't.
Anatole France (1844 - 1924)


-----Original Message-----
From: Stephanie Bartell <stephaniebartell at yahoo.com>
To: lit at literacyworkshop.org
Sent: Fri, 9 May 2008 2:19 pm
Subject: [LIT] Ideal Middle School Reading and Writing Program






Hello all,

   I am a reading specialist at a school that is currently expanding.  
We started
as a K-4 school and have expanded one grade level every year since. 
Next year we
will add 7th grade and we are trying to work out the best structure for 
our
middle school students.

   If you could design the IDEAL middle school schedule & program, what 
would it
look like?  Self-contained classrooms?  A seperate reading workshop & 
writing
workshop teacher?  Longer periods of reading?

   I have never been a middle school classroom teacher, so it is hard 
for me to
give recommendations.  I am interested in what works for you, what you 
would
change if you could, and what is neccessary for a successful middle 
school
reading and writing program.  I'd also be interested to hear the types 
of
materials you are using.  In the rest of our school we use a workshop 
approach,
but there is some push for a more traditional curriculum in middle 
school.

   I really appreciate any thoughts or advice you can give me.  Thanks 
in
advance!

  ~Stephanie Bartell, Galapagos Charter School


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