Successful Middle School Mini PD Library

At Mayfield Middle School, teachers are encouraged to “flex” the traditional schedule within interdisciplinary instructional time to have blocks of time to group students based on need, interest, or learning style. In addition, they can utilize this schedule to develop projects or specific in-depth learning tasks. Mayfield has both a Leadership Team and an Instructional Leadership Team in addition to PLC’s and common team planning times.

Everyone is a mentor and mentee at Mattawan Middle School, where a shared vision focuses on what is most important in the lives of their students – relationships. Every implementation or decision is measured against the best practices of CATS, an acronym developed by the school: Connectedness, Academic rigor and relevance, Trust and respect, and Safety. All decisions made are measured against those four attributes, with the goal of doing what is best for students.

At South Orangetown Middle School, the school support team, counseling program, and student voice opportunities ensure student empowerment is more than just a buzz word.

At South View Middle School, unit guides help students develop executive functioning skills, demonstrate their learning, and own their learning process.

As a school founded on the middle school model, Gilbert Middle School takes middle grades best practice seriously. One way they do that is through vertical grades 6-8 teams that discuss and align assessments while working collaboratively to examine various proficiency scales based on student work. In addition, grade-level teams help teachers meet the individual needs of students.

As a core value, Farmwell Station Middle School is committed to empowering students to make meaningful contributions to the world. They act on this commitment through several initiatives that enable them to engage and collaborate with the community around them.

With more than 1,600 students, it’s important to the team at Brambleton Middle School to make each student feel seen and connected to the school community. They make a large school feel small through a variety of structures, including houses and teams, their approach to MTSS, daily advisory, student-led conferences, and a united mental health team.

At Oceanside Middle School, students meet with their counselor in small groups every six days for Group Guidance where they engage in a curriculum centered around developing positive SEL competencies and addressing relevant school topics in a safe and supportive environment.

At Winston Campus Jr. High School, students are at the center of the student experiences. Throughout the year, you’ll see a variety of activities, celebrations, and community events created with student interests in mind and with their input and involvement in the planning.