SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Summer Semester 2000

EDUC 377 - 4

Joyce Jackman

Special Topics: ?

Office: MPX 9508

Middle School Theory & Practice

Phone: 291-5995

E01.00 ?

E-mail: jjackmaa@sfu.ca

Thursday 17:30-21:20

PREREQUISITE

EDUC 401/2

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Middle school is a responsive pedagogy that addresses the unique needs and characteristics of early

adolescents. This course is a

!!hands

on, minds

on!

approach to understanding and implementing

exemplary middle school practice. It will examine theoretical foundations and practical

approaches to the purpose and nature of middle school pedagogy. Participants will engage in a

variety of learning activities and experiences that reflect sound middle school practice. Topics will

include: developmental characteristics of early adolescents; rationale for middle schools; advisory;

teaming - for teachers and students; interdisciplinary studies; and exploratories. There will be

opportunities to explore individual areas of interest.

OBJECTIVES

• to provide an understanding of historical and current trends in middle school practice;

• to provide an understanding of the unique developmental characteristics of early adolescents;

• and to provide practical instructional experiences which apply and examine the essential

elements of middle school pedagogy, curriculum and organization.

REQUIREMENTS

Research paper (30%)

Group Unit-Plan. Design (40%)

3. Portfolio of mini-assignments (30%)

REQUIRED READINGS

Stevenson, C. (1998). Teaching Ten to Fourteen Year Olds. New York: Addison Wesley

Longman. ISBN 0-8013-1582-4

National Middle School Association (1995). This We Believe: Developmentally Responsive

Middle Schools. Ohio: NMSA. ISBN 1-56090-105-5

Puckett, D. (1999). Reflections From a Teacher's Heart: The Affective Side of Middle Grades

Education. Ohio: NMSA. ISBN 1-56090-159-4

Other selected readings will be made available in the Centre for Educational Technology (CET), and

placed on reserve in the Bennett Library.