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MrsRivera
2 under 2...whew!!
Member since 2/07 9876 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Middle School teachers...
5th grade teacher here 
Can you talk to me about teaching Middle School? I have been toying with the idea of getting my middle school extension for quite some time now.
Can you share your schedule with me? I'm wondering how a day of teaching MS compares to a day in ES. Especially if you teach Reading or Language Arts.
Thanks for enlightening me. I did teach 7th grade science for a year, but it was in a Catholic School that was so desperate for someone, they hired me to teach that and computers 
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Posted 9/8/09 9:49 PM  |
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MrsRivera
2 under 2...whew!!
Member since 2/07 9876 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Middle School teachers...
anybody?
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| Posted 9/9/09 10:35 PM |
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scubashell44
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/09 790 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: Middle School teachers...
I teach ESL in a middle school, but from what i can see, they work in teams, and depending on the grade level, either teach one or two periods of ELA. They also have a common team planning period and the same theme flows throughout the team. I think they coordinate homework too.
I've also seen in MS where teachers on a 6th grade team teach two subjects, so the students will have the same teacher for math and ELA. Not sure why they would do that. My school does not do that.
hope that helped a little
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| Posted 9/9/09 10:44 PM |
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PennyCat
Just call me mommy :)
Member since 7/08 19084 total posts
Name:
Jib
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Re: Middle School teachers...
I didn't respond at first because I have special ed and stay with my kids all day long...... so in many ways it's really not much different than an elementary school... it's just the kids are older and the content is a little harder.
Personally, I prefer the older kids  and I NEVER thought I would feel that way, I went into this whole teaching thing assuming I would teach 1st grade
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| Posted 9/10/09 5:21 PM |
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CallaLily
Thank you, Saint Gerard!
Member since 10/07 4937 total posts
Name:
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Re: Middle School teachers...
I teach 7th grade English (regents and honors level). My school runs on a 9 period day. I teach 5 periods, have 1 prep, 1 team meeting period and 1 duty period. My schedule this year is :
1st- prep
2nd- teach
3rd- teach
4th- hall duty
5th- teach
6th- team meeting
7th-lunch
8th- teach
9th- teach
Not sure if that helps at all. What else would you like to know?
Message edited 9/10/2009 5:49:01 PM.
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| Posted 9/10/09 5:46 PM |
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Karen
Just chillin'!!
Member since 1/06 9690 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Middle School teachers...
In my old school 6th grade followed more of an elementary model - you taught either ELA & SS or Math & Science.
In 7th/8th, I taught 5 periods (up to 4 preps), 1 prep period, 1 duty period, 1 lunch period, 1 "team" period.
Hope that helps!!!!
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| Posted 9/10/09 5:56 PM |
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Dani
Life is about choices.
Member since 5/05 6532 total posts
Name:
Dani
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Re: Middle School teachers...
i taught 6th grade in an elementary school..then i got hired to teach it in a middle school. i LOVE it! i always thought i would want to be eled...but i have to say the schedule at a ms makes the day go much quicker and i love that we have a period to meet with our colleagues.
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| Posted 9/10/09 6:50 PM |
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MrsRivera
2 under 2...whew!!
Member since 2/07 9876 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Middle School teachers...
Posted by Renee615
I teach 7th grade English (regents and honors level). My school runs on a 9 period day. I teach 5 periods, have 1 prep, 1 team meeting period and 1 duty period. My schedule this year is :
1st- prep
2nd- teach
3rd- teach
4th- hall duty
5th- teach
6th- team meeting
7th-lunch
8th- teach
9th- teach
Not sure if that helps at all. What else would you like to know?
Thank you so much!!
I'm just wondering if it's time to move on from El. Ed. At the risk of sounding lazy--I get in the door at 7:30, kids are in the room by 7:45, and I am literally apart from them for 40 min. all day, from 9-9:40. I could definitely deal with only one mental break during the day, but we don't even get that in my school...THAT is our team planning time.
I have a friend who teaches 7th grade reading and ELA and she says she will never go back.
I don't know...I just find myself thinking, if I prefer working with the upper grades ANYWAY, what am I still doing in elementary school, where I get absolutely no break? 
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| Posted 9/10/09 7:10 PM |
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MrsRivera
2 under 2...whew!!
Member since 2/07 9876 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Middle School teachers...
Posted by PennyCat
Personally, I prefer the older kids and I NEVER thought I would feel that way, I went into this whole teaching thing assuming I would teach 1st grade
Exactly the same for me!!! I always envisioned teaching the little ones. When I got to student teaching, I was slapped hard in the face by reality  I just don't relate as well to the little ones. They are cute...but I'm not real good at being "mushy", which they need. I am VERY sarcastic and like to be able to be silly with my class without them taking that to mean that we're having "free time".
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| Posted 9/10/09 7:12 PM |
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MrsRivera
2 under 2...whew!!
Member since 2/07 9876 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Middle School teachers...
Thanks to all of you for responding  I have had a love-hate relationship with my job for some time now, and I've always wonder what could make it better. I KNOW in my heart that I'm meant to teach. When I'm teaching, I am truly happy. But I find myself wondering why I can't find a JOB that makes me truly happy, you know?
So, I am considering looking at middle school before I look into other avenues.
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| Posted 9/10/09 7:14 PM |
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Dani
Life is about choices.
Member since 5/05 6532 total posts
Name:
Dani
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Re: Middle School teachers...
Posted by MrsRivera
Thanks to all of you for responding I have had a love-hate relationship with my job for some time now, and I've always wonder what could make it better. I KNOW in my heart that I'm meant to teach. When I'm teaching, I am truly happy. But I find myself wondering why I can't find a JOB that makes me truly happy, you know?
So, I am considering looking at middle school before I look into other avenues.
i think as teachers, we tend to forget that it is a JOB...in any other job we would strive to be in the place/department/etc that suits us best...but in education people forget to do that.
i say, if you know middle school is where you want to be..let the search begin!
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| Posted 9/10/09 7:25 PM |
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MrsPowers
So blessed!
Member since 11/06 10348 total posts
Name:
Ivelysse
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Re: Middle School teachers...
I don't currently teach at the middle school level but I have before for 4 years.
I taught 6 periods per day and had 2 40 min prep periods and 1 40 min lunch period. The work day was from 750- 250.
I hope that helps.
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| Posted 9/10/09 7:57 PM |
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MrsRivera
2 under 2...whew!!
Member since 2/07 9876 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Middle School teachers...
Now I just have to figure out what's involved in adding a middle school extension to my license. Since I am not in NY, I'm not familiar with the requirements. Guess I have some research to do 
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| Posted 9/10/09 10:05 PM |
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QueSeraSera
Sugar & Spice
Member since 7/08 1351 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: Middle School teachers...
Posted by MrsRivera
Now I just have to figure out what's involved in adding a middle school extension to my license. Since I am not in NY, I'm not familiar with the requirements. Guess I have some research to do
I can answer that for you! You just have to take the Middle School Praxis for the area that you want. I did it for SS a few years ago. Once you pass the test they put the extension on your license.
I taught 7th and 8th grade before moving to NC, and it was definitely more manageable to plan for one subject even with different grade levels. I toy with going back up, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.....
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| Posted 9/10/09 10:31 PM |
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MrsRivera
2 under 2...whew!!
Member since 2/07 9876 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Middle School teachers...
Posted by QueSeraSera
Posted by MrsRivera
Now I just have to figure out what's involved in adding a middle school extension to my license. Since I am not in NY, I'm not familiar with the requirements. Guess I have some research to do
I can answer that for you! You just have to take the Middle School Praxis for the area that you want. I did it for SS a few years ago. Once you pass the test they put the extension on your license.
I taught 7th and 8th grade before moving to NC, and it was definitely more manageable to plan for one subject even with different grade levels. I toy with going back up, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.....
Wow, really? Is that all??? 
My only concern is that I won't have the content knowledge for the Praxis II. I have my Masters in Literacy, but that was elementary-focused. How hard to you think it'll be?
So you're thinking of leaving elementary-school hell too, huh? I'm sure I've asked you this before, but where in NC are you teaching?
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| Posted 9/10/09 10:49 PM |
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QueSeraSera
Sugar & Spice
Member since 7/08 1351 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: Middle School teachers...
Posted by MrsRivera
Posted by QueSeraSera
Posted by MrsRivera
Now I just have to figure out what's involved in adding a middle school extension to my license. Since I am not in NY, I'm not familiar with the requirements. Guess I have some research to do
I can answer that for you! You just have to take the Middle School Praxis for the area that you want. I did it for SS a few years ago. Once you pass the test they put the extension on your license.
I taught 7th and 8th grade before moving to NC, and it was definitely more manageable to plan for one subject even with different grade levels. I toy with going back up, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.....
Wow, really? Is that all???
My only concern is that I won't have the content knowledge for the Praxis II. I have my Masters in Literacy, but that was elementary-focused. How hard to you think it'll be?
So you're thinking of leaving elementary-school hell too, huh? I'm sure I've asked you this before, but where in NC are you teaching?
I teach in Raleigh. Everyone I have talked to tells me to make the switch, but I have yet to actually do it! I really love my school, team and principal- plus I'm having a baby so I'm hesitant to start anew right now. In my county, your child can attend the school you work at, so I feel like that will make things so much easier when she starts school and I am at work. (I'm a planner! ;)
Anyway, in regards to content knowledge- what I did was that I ordered prep guides for high school AP exams and studied those. There is a line of guides to the Praxis out there, but I'd read they weren't really helpful. I was in a similar situation as you since I had my Master's in the area I was testing, but I was just nervous that I'd forgotten a lot. Just studying those guides and questions was more than enough- I scored really high and had no problem. I am sure the HS one is harder, but I really didn't find the middle school one to be too tough at all. Maybe just try it- if you don't pass it, you can always just take it again!
The principals I spoke to were very interested in the idea of having someone who had taught 5th move up to 6th to help transition their students, so you are in a great position to make the move. I would suggest staying on your crazy principal's good side this year and then sitting down with her in the spring to explain that you want to move up. I don't know if your county is like Wake, but around these parts the principals all know each other. My principal will just pick up the phone and call another principal to get interviews for teachers that want to transfer- EXTREMELY helpful especially since the market has tightened signifigantly the past couple of years down here!
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| Posted 9/11/09 5:08 AM |
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ReiRei13
Life is Good!!
Member since 1/08 6460 total posts
Name:
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Re: Middle School teachers...
Posted by MrsRivera
Now I just have to figure out what's involved in adding a middle school extension to my license. Since I am not in NY, I'm not familiar with the requirements. Guess I have some research to do
Let me know what you find out
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| Posted 9/11/09 1:14 PM |
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missfabulous
#mommyneedswine
Member since 6/09 10031 total posts
Name:
Colleen
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Re: Middle School teachers...
I just started teaching middle school. My school has 50 minute periods, with a shortened period for student lunch.
I teach:
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
which is 8:30-12:06
Lunch and prep (Period 5) until 1:30
Period 6 is 1:30-2:20
Period 7 is prep
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| Posted 9/13/09 3:49 PM |
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