Middle Level Leader - Extracurricular Activities Pay Off
November 2012
If you were to ask adults to recall memories from their days in middle school or junior high, it is likely that memories of participation in clubs, sports, music, and drama would be high on the list. Sadly, the combination of a narrowed curriculum and a loss of resources have led many schools to reduce or even eliminate these programs.
However, the research is clear. As stated in this month’s lead article by Howard Johnston, research has found that “extracurricular activities are one of the best investments that a school can make to help promote achievement, student engagement, and the attitudes and habits that lead to college aspirations and ultimate success.”
Read carefully so that the next time you’re asked if the cost of extracurricular programs pays off in terms of academic achievement, you can emphatically answer, “Yes, it does—and I have the research to prove it!”
Patti Kinney
Associate Director, Middle Level Services
Everyone Gains
By J. Howard Johnston
Extracurricular activities are one of the best investments that a school can make to help promote academic achievement and student engagement, especially among minority and low-income students. However, eligibility requirements and fees may pose an insurmountable barrier to participation. (Continue reading)
The Future Is Here: Thoughts About School Leadership and Technology
Toothpaste and Technology Integration
By Chris Toy
Do you remember the seemingly official endorsement of the American Dental Association at the conclusion of a Crest toothpaste commercial back in the ‘60s? “Crest has been shown to be an effective decay preventive that can be of significant value when used in a conscientiously applied program of oral hygiene and regular professional care.” In addition to being an effective branding strategy for Crest, a closer look at this endorsement reveals an apt metaphor about how we can use technology effectively in our schools. There are two keys in the statement that bear repeating—“when used in a conscientiously applied program” and “regular professional care.” Of course, the metaphor is that technology, like toothpaste, will be most effective when it is thoughtfully integrated into a comprehensive program with “professional care”—or periodic check-ups. (Continue reading)
Spotlight on Middle Schools
The student council at Margaret Buerkle Middle School in Missouri combined leadership with academics when they wrote and implemented a two-month interdisciplinary unit (IDU) to teach students about acceptance, dignity, and advocacy. Most lessons in the IDU were delivered and completed once a week during homeroom. However, some lessons were covered by a specific class.
The entire school took part in the Step Into My Shoes (SIMS) project that featured T-shirts for students to purchase, more than 20 guest speakers, and 25 hands-on activities. Several students said that the exercise changed their lives. The project results and evaluation were made through pre- and post-tests and reflected marked changes in students’ attitudes about each other and how they would react to bullying.
The student council of Margaret Buerkle Middle School is a member of the National Association of Student Councils, a program of NASSP, and was recognized as a 2012 NASC National Council of Excellence Award winner. More than 190 middle and high school student councils earned the prestigious National Councils of Excellence and National Gold Councils of Excellence awards last school year. Each one demonstrated consistently high levels of quality in their council programs and activities, meeting NASC’s highest standards.
Challenge your student council to raise the bar by applying to become a 2013 NASC National Council of Excellence. Applications are due February 15, 2013.
News & Notes
High-Poverty Schools Win Breakthrough Award
We are pleased to announce the selection of the 2013 MetLife Foundation-NASSP Breakthrough Schools. These outstanding schools have more than 40% of their students on free or reduced-price lunches, have made significant progress in academic achievement for at least three years, and demonstrate the three core areas of the Breaking Ranks Framework in action—collaborative leadership; personalization; and curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Congratulations to the following schools:
- Christel House Academy; grades K-11; Indianapolis, IN; Carey Dahncke, principal
- Clarke Central High School; grades 9-12; Athens, GA; Robbie P. Hooker, principal
- Fossil Ridge Intermediate School; grades 6-7; St. George, UT; Bob Sonju, principal
- Gervais High School; grades 9-12; Gervais, OR; Mike Solem, principal
- Native American Community Academy; grades 6-12; Albuquerque, NM; Kara Bobroff, principal
- Norview High School; grades 9-12; Norfolk, VA; Marjorie Stealey, principal
- San Ysidro High School; grades 9-12; San Diego, CA; Hector Espinoza, principal
- Scott Morgan Johnson Middle School; grades 6-8; McKinney, TX; Mitchell Curry, principal
- Southmoreland Middle School; grades 6-8; Scottdale, PA; Vincent Mascia, principal
- Trenton R-IX High School; grades 9-12; Trenton, MO; Dan Wiebers, principal.
New Resource for School Leaders
NASSP and The College Board Advocacy & Policy Center have collaborated to create an online tool kit for school leaders to help raise student achievement and promote college and career readiness, with a focus on underserved students. The tool kit integrates current research, professional development strategies, videos of proven practices and principals sharing what’s working in their schools, and planning tools for new initiatives. Many of the MetLife Foundation-NASSP Breakthrough Schools are featured in the video clips. Leading Success: Dynamic Solutions for Every School, Each Student will be introduced in a complimentary webinar featuring principals from the profiled schools. Register today to view this webinar scheduled for Thursday, November 29 (4:00-5:00 pm ET).
Principal Leadership
Each month, selected articles from Principal Leadership are available to non-members online (NASSP members always have full access to all articles) and one of the articles from our November issue will be of special interest to middle level educators. Check out “A Strategy for Reading Informational Text” by Brenda Benedict and learn about THIEVES, a reading strategy that helps middle level students “steal” information from nonfiction texts and improve their reading scores.
Dissertation Competition
If you are a doctoral student who has completed and successfully defended your dissertation between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012, consider applying for the NASSP Dr. Ted Sizer Middle Level Dissertation Award (there’s a high school award as well). Winners receive a complimentary one-year NASSP membership, a cash award of $1,000 (members) or $500 (nonmembers), and a commemorative plaque. Candidates must submit a completed application and a dissertation abstract by January 7, 2013.
Rick Wormeli Featured at Ignite 2013
February 28–March 2, at National Harbor, MD (just outside of Washington, DC)
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join with your colleagues at Ignite 2013—NASSP’s annual conference. Our Middle Level Viewpoint session will be led by popular author and speaker, Rick Wormeli, who will share his thoughts on "Maintaining Effective Pedagogy While Navigating Politics." Register today.
Apply for the Schools to Watch State Program
Each year, the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform invites state middle level associations, state departments of education, postsecondary institutions, state administrator associations, and other collaborating organizations to join them in expanding the Schools to Watch program. Through this program, they seek to provide state and local leaders in selected states with a unique professional learning opportunity, while identifying and honoring middle level schools that are on a solid trajectory toward reform. Apply by December 7, 2012.