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A line often heard in the halls of
Valley Middle School is "Which team are you on?" What does
it mean? Although someone may be talking about an athletic
team, more than likely they are refrerring to the group of
students who share classes and teachers. Each grade level is
divided into two teams. Students of a particular team have
most, if not all, of there classes only with students that
belong to the same team as they do. They also share the same
teachers. So, if a 7th grade student is on the Wolf team,
they will have classes with other Wolves while the Bears,
the other 7th grade team, will have classes only with Bears.
What is the purpose behind all of this? Here is a listing of
the advantages that make teaming a very important part of
the middle school:
- Creates a smaller, common group of
students for teachers to instruct
- Teachers have a common planning
time to discuss student issues, meet with parents and
students, plan units and trips, and coordinate homework
& tests
- Allows students to be a part of a
smaller, more personal "school within a
school"
- Students feel more connected to
their school, and often more successful, than they do in
the traditional junior high setting
- Gives parents a set time to meet
with or telephone their child's core teachers (math,
science, social studies, and English)
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