Engaging studEnts

in

lEarning: kEY aCtiOns

[J]ust as young children generally dont want to be carried while they are learning to walk,
early adolescents dont want adults to make frontal lobe decisions for them while their
frontal lobes are maturing.
home and school should . . . provide a non-threatening exploratory venue for a tween brain
that is reasonably competent at recognizing the dynamics of a problem but is only beginning
to develop reflective response capabilities. infants insist on exploring independent
movement, and early adolescents insist on exploring independent problem solving
strategiesa significant shift from their childhood acceptance and use of adult-imposed
rules, procedures, and algorithms.
~ robert sylwester (4)

1. develop a deeper understanding of Young adolescents

What is unique about Young adolescent development?
Young adolescents are children aged 10 to 14. They have a strong desire to be
independent, but are still very much dependent on the adults in their world to provide
the essentials of life. Their need to feel loved, understood, and respected greatly
influences their relationships with the significant adults in their lives.
While adolescents may sometimes seem to be preoccupied with themselves as they seek
to establish their own identity, individuality, and independence, they are at the same
time highly social beings, with a strong need for peer and adult acceptance. Although
some may look and act much older than their age, they are, nevertheless, still children
who often do not grasp the consequences of their actions.
Developmentally, young adolescents are physically, emotionally, and cognitively
under construction. Their bodies develop more in early adolescence than at any other
time after the first two years of life. Rapid and irregular growth spurts, changes in

studEnt VOiCEs
We are smartwe each have a different way of thinking.
By the end of the day my brain isnt really making sense of what im supposed to be doing,
because middle school students are tired at the end of the day.
teenagers are going through some major changes, and mood swings often occur.
sometimes were happy, sometimes were sad. People need to learn that moody teenagers
should be tolerated and given space, because it affects how we act around people.

Engaging students in learning: key actions

11

metabolism, disruptions in sleep patterns, and fluctuating energy levels cause

adolescents to feel energetic and alert one day, and tired and listless the next day.
Concrete thinking, which predominates in childhood and early adolescence, develops
into abstract thinking as adolescents mature.
The influx of hormones during puberty causes young adolescents to be sensitive and
prone to emotional highs and lows. Emotions such as anger, fear, and elation may be
quick to surface and are felt intensely. For young adolescents, emotion is often more
significant than logic in driving attention spans, memory retention, and shaping actions
(Wolfe). Support from parents, peers, and educators helps young adolescents maintain
and channel their energies, manage their emotions, and develop the self-control, selfdiscipline, and self-confidence to navigate successfully through adolescence.
Just as physical development and emotional development occur rapidly in Middle
Years, so does brain development (Sylwester 4). The frontal lobe of the brain, which
controls higher level functions such as planning, self-control, and sound judgment,
develops quickly in adolescence. Rapid spurts in frontal lobe development are followed
by periods of slower development, during which the little-used connections in the brain
are pruned, leaving the more-often-used connections strengthened and consolidated.
Even though brain development occurs rapidly during adolescence, full development of
frontal lobe functioning does not occur until well into the twenties. As a result of this
process of gradual brain maturation, adolescents sometimes act impulsively and may
become victims of devastating and long-lasting consequences of their actions. The role of
educators and parents is critical in guiding adolescents toward sound decision making
and problem solving. Young adolescents who have safe opportunities to explore options
and choices and learn from the consequences of their actions are better prepared to
make effective decisions for the challenges they may face in their lives and learning.

reports from the Carnegie Corporation [Jackson and davis] and the national Middle school
association . . . , as well as the expertise of veteran [Middle Years] teachers, point to seven
conditions that young adolescents crave: competence and achievement; opportunities for
self-definition; creative expression; physical activity; positive social interactions with adults
and peers; structure and clear limits; and meaningful participation in family, school, and
community. no matter how creatively we teachand no matter how earnestly we engage in
differentiated instruction, authentic assessment, and character educationthe effects will be
significantly muted if we dont create an environment that responds to students
developmental needs.
~ rick Wormeli

studEnt VOiCEs
We need structure and guidelines but also responsibility and freedom because we need to
prepare for the real world.

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What Challenges do Young adolescents Face?

The 2002 study, Young People in Canada: Their Health and Well-Being, published by Health
Canada in 2004, provides relevant data and insight into the health and well-being of
young adolescents (Boyce). The implications of this data on the transformation of
Middle Years education require careful consideration by educators and school
communities.
Mental Health Issues
Mental health issues often manifest themselves in adolescence and affect the school
performance and school completion of a significant number of Middle Years students.
Adolescents who experience one or more mental health disorders, such as depression,
bi-polar disorder, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or any of the
more severe psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, face additional challenges in
learning and benefit from additional supports in school. If mental health issues are
identified and treated early, adolescents can make good progress in coping with these
issues by acquiring strategies for successful learning and socialization.

Fast FaCts
n

aBOut

MEntal illnEss

in

YOuth*

it is estimated that 1020% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or

disorderthe single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.
today, approximately 5% of male youth and 12% of female youth, age 12 to 19, have
experienced a major depressive episode.
the total number of 1219 year olds in Canada at risk for developing depression is a
staggering 3.2 million.
Once depression is recognized, help can make a difference for 80% of people who are
affected, allowing them to get back to their regular activities.
Mental illness is increasingly threatening the lives of our children; with Canadas youth suicide
rate the third highest in the industrialized world.
suicide is among the leading causes of death in 1524 year old Canadians, second only to
accidents; 4000 people die prematurely each year by suicide.
schizophrenia is youths greatest disabler as it strikes most often in the 16 to 30 year age
group, affecting an estimated one person in 100.
surpassed only by injuries, mental disorders in youth are ranked as the second highest
hospital care expenditure in Canada.
in Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receives them.

__________
* source: Canadian Mental health association (CMha). Fast Facts about Mental illness in Youth. Media Centre:
Mental health statistics. <www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=6-20-23-44>. reproduced with permission.

Engaging students in learning: key actions

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Physical Health Concerns

Physical health concerns are a second significant factor that may affect school
performance and engagement. Healthy eating habits, body and dental hygiene, and
physical activity and exercise all contribute to positive self-image and improved
learning. Young adolescents who develop active lifestyles and who make healthy
choices in their eating and body care tend to continue these behaviours into their
adulthood (Boyce 124).

P h Y s i C a l h E a lt h C O n C E r n s *
n
n

n
n
n

n
n

19% of grade 6 boys and 27% of girls reported having headaches at least once a week (111)
31% of boys and 44% of girls report having nothing more than a glass of milk or fruit juice
for breakfast on all five weekdays (74)
the end of grade 7 is a critical time for girls due to the changes in their bodies and lives
extra support at this time can be effective in helping girls adjust to these changes (126)
grade 8 is the peak year for injuries (107)
30% of adolescent injuries occur at sports facilities, 24% at home, and 20% at school (101)
1520% of young males and 1114% of young females ages 1114 are overweight; and an
additional 57% of males and 24% of females are considered obese (76)
21% of grade 7 boys and 20% of girls were told by a doctor they had asthma (83)
38% of grade 7 boys and 29% of grade 7 girls reported being physically active for at least
60 minutes five days or more over a typical week (79)

__________
* reference: Boyce, William, ed. Young People in Canada: their health and Well-Being. Ottawa, On:
health Canada, 2004.

Lifestyle Issues
Lifestyle issues can significantly influence the education of young adolescents. Young
adolescents who have positive role models in their lives and who participate in healthy
recreational and social activities are more apt to have lifestyles that support healthy
adolescent development and engagement in learning. Health and guidance programs,
character education programs, counselling services, teacher advisors, and clinicians can
support Middle Years learners through what may be turbulent and trying adolescent
years by helping young adolescents better understand themselves and the implications
of their lifestyle choices.

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E n g a g i n g M i d d l e Ye a r s s t u d e n t s i n l e a r n i n g

liFEstYlE issuEs*
n

n
n

n
n

11% of grade 8 boys and 10% of girls in Canada reported drinking liquor and spirits at least
once a week (57)
16% of boys and 19% of girls reported having had their first drink of alcohol at age 13 (66)
adolescent boys and girls were both significantly more likely to smoke if they had one or both
parents who smoked (53)
84% of grade 8 boys and 79% of girls who didnt smoke reported feeling happy with their
lives compared to 61% of boys and 49% of girls who smoked (5455)
77% of boys and 79% of girls had never had intercourse by grades 9 and 10 (68)
12% of boys and 8% of girls across grades 6, 7, and 8 reported not having three or more
close same-sex friends (26)
34% of boys and 32% of girls in Canada reported spending five or more hours a week doing
vigorous physical activity while participating in lessons or team sports outside of school (80)
65% of grade 7 boys and 69% of girls report spending at least one day a week involved in a
club or organization (80)
more than 40% of young adolescents spent three or more hours each school day watching
television (81)

__________
* reference: Boyce, William, ed. Young People in Canada: their health and Well-Being. Ottawa, On:
health Canada, 2004.

A lifestyle factor that has a significant impact on the education of adolescents is the
widespread use of mass media and communication technologies. In his book Why Do
They Act That Way? noted psychologist David Walsh expressed concern over the
increasing time adolescents spend engaged in television viewing or computer activities
and its effect on the health and learning of young adolescents.
Family and Home Life Factors
Family and home life factors have a significant impact on the school lives of young
adolescents. Although the majority of young adolescents in Manitoba come from homes
that support them through what can be an emotionally turbulent period, a significant
number of Middle Years students do not have adequate family support at home.
Appropriate supervision and discipline, the love and attention of caring family
members, and the security of a safe and happy home all help adolescents to be better
engaged at school.

Engaging students in learning: key actions

15

FaMilY
n

n
n

n
n

and

hOME liFE FaCtOrs*

about one-third of children in Winnipeg and more than 40% of children in rural Manitoba
have at least one of three family factors that put them at risk of under achievement at school:
receiving income assistance, having a teen mother, or living in care after being removed from
their family (rach 7)
73% of students reported living with both parents, 11% in blended families, 12% in
single-mother households, 2% in single-father households, and 2% in other
arrangements (18)
13% of boys and 18% of girls reported not having a happy home life (19)
917% of students said they went to bed hungry sometimes because there was not enough
food in their home (12)
30% of low family affluence status grade 7 students rated their life satisfaction as high
compared to 66% of high family affluence status students (14)
26% of grade 8 boys and 21% of girls reported having parents who expected too much of
them at school (21)
adolescent boys and girls equally reported parental approval as important to them (24)
risk-taking behaviour in adolescents was closely related to poor relationships with
parents (22)
over 90% of students reported their parents encouraged them to do well in school (46)

__________
* reference: Boyce, William, ed. Young People in Canada: their health and Well-Being. Ottawa, On:
health Canada, 2004.

School and Social Factors

School and social factors significantly affect adolescents sense of security and wellbeing. Friendship concerns, homework pressures, bullying, and school worries can
distract adolescents from their engagement in learning. Students who learn to deal
constructively with such worries are more likely to view school positively.

sChOOl
n

n
n
n

and

sOCial FaCtOrs*

16% of adolescent boys and girls reported that stresses at school have an impact on their
school enjoyment (47)
42% of grade 6 students spent less than one hour a day on homework, 14% spent two
hours, and 3% spent four hours or more (81)
14% of grade 8 boys and 13% of girls reported feeling a lot of pressure because of school
work (47)
approximately 23% of students reported being bullies (90)
bullying behaviour in girls peaked in grades 7 and 8 and in boys peaked in grade 10 (90)
4% of boys and 3% of girls across grades 6, 7, and 8 reported being victimized several
times a week (89)
74% of students who had positive peer influences and good social relationships thought
school was a good place to be compared to 30% who had negative peer influences and few
friends (33)

__________
* reference: Boyce, William, ed. Young People in Canada: their health and Well-Being. Ottawa, On:
health Canada, 2004.

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E n g a g i n g M i d d l e Ye a r s s t u d e n t s i n l e a r n i n g

studEnts WhO
(%)*

Figure 1.1

likEd

sChOOl

l O t,

BY

YEar

OF

surVEY

Boys

46
42

Girls

35

33
29

29

28
24

18

1990 1994 1998 2002

Grade 6

26

26

25
20
17

16

16

1990 1994 1998 2002

Grade 8

24

22

21

19
15

20
17
14

1990 1994 1998 2002

Grade 10

* source: klinger, don. Chapter 5: the school Experience. Young People in Canada: their health and
Well-Being. Ed. William Boyce. Ottawa, On: health Canada, 2004. 41. reproduced with permission.

Manitoba educators are continuing their efforts to gain a deeper understanding of young
adolescents and the challenges they face, and are providing more responsive teaching
and learning experiences as a way of addressing these challenges.

studEnt VOiCEs
Being me is very hard. ive gone through a lot in my life and im not even a teen or adult
yet. My life is not so good. i like it better at school.

Engaging students in learning: key actions

17

2. Provide More responsive teaching and learning Experiences

responsive Middle Years education is more about teaching and learning and less about
management, more about helping students to make healthy choices and less about
mandating behaviour, more about using time productively and less about sticking slavishly to
timetables that do not support learning, more about personal relationships and less about
upholding traditional roles, and more about including student voices and less about Middle
Years teachers covering curriculum.
~ shelley hasinoff

Middle Years educators understand that young adolescents generally spend more time
in contact with the adults in their school than with the adults in their families. It is
important to understand that Middle Years schools provide safe, caring, and challenging
learning environments and responsive teaching and learning experiences in order to
meet the emotional, social, behavioural, physical, and cognitive needs of young
adolescents (Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD, NIH, and DHHS). A responsive learning
environment addresses students academic development, as well as the developmental,
health, and societal challenges that adolescents face in their daily lives. How well
educators respond to these challenges greatly determines adolescents academic success,
school completion, and successful transition into adulthood (Kneidek; National Middle
School Association 32).
Responsive Middle Years teaching and learning experiences are provided through
curriculum, instruction, and assessment and take into account students prior
knowledge, interests, strengths, background, and learning styles. Educators can look to
Manitoba curriculum, instruction, and assessment documents for a range of suggestions
on how to engage, challenge, and support Middle Years learners.
Since curriculum, instruction, and assessment are not separate entities, educators who
fully understand the interaction of these elements are better able to plan for responsive
and developmentally appropriate teaching and learning experiences for their Middle
Years learners.

studEnt VOiCEs
i like when the teacher gets us up and moving during class; we get up and stretch. then i
stay more focused. Moving helps me learn because it gets my brain thinking.

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the middle school concept, then, is like a Persian rug. different threads are woven together
into complicated patterns and colors until finally it is not discernible where a particular thread
goes or where a particular color begins. it is the overall rug we look at and admire. it is the
overall integrated effort that is the rug as well as the behind the scenes process of weaving
all the threads together . . . . [W]e must begin [Middle Years transformation] by
acknowledging the complexity of the original concept as a totally integrated
organizational/curricular/instructional/relational/developmental concept.
~ thomas s. dickinson (15)

What is Meant By responsive teaching and learning Experiences?

Responsive teaching and learning experiences are those experiences that are purposeful,
differentiated, collaborative, student-centred, and designed with students
developmental and learning needs in mind. Responsive educators focus instruction and
resources so that all students can develop and learn. Ongoing assessment informs
instructional planning and helps teachers tailor instruction to address student learning
needs. Students and teachers use assessment to monitor and confirm learning and to set
new learning goals. For additional information, refer to Rethinking Classroom Assessment
with Purpose in Mind (Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth).

students can hit any target they can see and that holds still for them.
~ rick stiggins (cited in sparks)

Responsive assessment and instruction are based on the belief that all children can learn
and contribute meaningfully to the life of their school and community. A philosophy of
respect for the diversity of cultures, socio-economic status, abilities, interests, and
gender of the learners underpins all learning. Educators demonstrate this philosophy by
differentiating assessment and instruction to meet the wide range of academic and
developmental needs of the young adolescents in their classrooms. Strategies to support
different styles and rates of learning can be found in Success for All Learners: A Handbook
on Differentiating Instruction (Manitoba Education and Training) and in Student-Specific
Planning: A Handbook for Developing and Implementing Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
(Manitoba Education).

Engaging students in learning: key actions

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ManitOBa PhilOsOPhY

OF

inClusiOn

Manitoba Education is committed to fostering inclusion for all people.

inclusion is a way of thinking and acting that allows every individual to feel accepted, valued,
and safe. an inclusive community consciously evolves to meet the changing needs of its
members. through recognition and support, an inclusive community provides meaningful
involvement and equal access to the benefits of citizenship.
in Manitoba, we embrace inclusion as a means of enhancing the well-being of every member
of the community. By working together, we strengthen our capacity to provide the foundation
for a richer future for all of us.

Students are at the centre of responsive assessment and instruction and are involved at
every step of the learning process. Students help establish learning goals and construct
criteria for success, they engage in a variety of learning tasks, and they monitor, adjust,
and communicate their progress and achievement. This gradual increase of student
responsibility makes students and teachers partners in education.
Strategies such as teacher modelling, guided instruction, scaffolding, encouragement,
and descriptive feedback nurture learners understanding and independence, and help
young adolescents feel comfortable to take risks and to face challenges in learning.
Developing a community of learners where teachers and students work together and
where students support each other in learning helps young adolescents construct
meaning and develop their social skills. Adolescents who feel they are capable,
contributing, and valued members of the classroom and learning community become
more engaged in their learning and more effective citizens of their school and
community.

We must transfer responsibility for learning to our students graduallyand offer support at
every step.
~ douglas Fisher and nancy Frey (32)

studEnt VOiCEs
We can tell our teacher where were at and how were learning and how its making sense to
us. and then our teacher can tell me how she thinks im doing.
i love having the time to just talk to my teacher and see what i can improve.

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how do responsive teaching and learning Occur in action?

Responsive teaching and learning occur through instruction and assessment and begin
when teachers and students explore what students already know and can do, and plan
together for new challenges in learning. Once learning plans are made, teachers and
students make informed and ongoing adjustments, based on observation and
communication between teachers and students.
Students benefit by having a clear picture of the intended learning goals at the onset of
learning and from having useful models as evidence of achievement. Internationally
recognized educators Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe promote a backward design
model in which plans for assessment and instruction are based on a clear and shared
understanding of the learning goals and explicit criteria for success (Wiggins and
McTighe 812).
remember that the person doing the work is the one growing the dendrites!
~ Patricia Wolfe (187)

Teachers use focused observation and a variety of oral, visual, and written strategies to
check for student understanding and communicate student progress regularly. Both
ongoing descriptive feedback and teacher and peer conferencing ensure that students
are provided with helpful information that they can apply to make adjustments and
improvements to their work.
Learning partnerships between the teacher and students, and between students and
their peers, help students develop a greater awareness of their own strengths and a
belief in their capacity for continuous improvement. Self-assessment opportunities
encourage students to reflect on their learning and make their own adjustments. As a
result, students become better able to take ownership for their learning goals and
progress and less dependent on the teacher to assess the quality of their work.
Assessment and grading practices can have a powerful impact on students motivation
and further learning. When the time comes for teachers to confirm the extent to which
students have achieved the learning goals and to determine grades, teachers need to
consider whether their assessment and grading practices will have a positive or a
negative impact on the learners.

studEnt VOiCEs
i like writing conversations on paper because its like having a normal conversation except
you dont have to worry about others overhearing; and theres a permanent record. i also like
having the time to think about my answers.

Engaging students in learning: key actions

21

Assessment and grading practices that are perceived as fair in the eyes of Middle Years
students help create a positive impact on learning and ensure continued engagement.
Adequate prior notice and detailed information about assignments, due dates, and
assessment criteria help learners accept and meet or exceed the established criteria.
Assignments that are broken down into smaller, more manageable units help learners
complete the assignments and apply assessments to improve their learning.
Students benefit from a variety of opportunities across the span of the entire curriculum
to demonstrate achievement of important learning outcomes. Students who exhibit new
evidence of gains in learning should not be penalized by poor performance earlier in the
learning cycle.
Effective teachers communicate specifically about how students have demonstrated
achievement of the learning outcomes, and do not distort grades with behavioural
factors or work habits. A more complete description of assessment grading practices is
contained in Communicating Student Learning (Manitoba Education, Citizenship and
Youth).
Students grow in their independence as learners when they take responsibility for
collecting and monitoring evidence of their learning using strategies such as learning
folders or electronic portfolios. Opportunities to celebrate and share their learning in
student-involved or student-led conferences with parents promote students sense of
pride in and ownership for learning.
Realizing the benefits of more responsive teaching and learning depends, to a great
extent, on the culture and climate of the school and on the quality of the learning
relationships between teachers and students. For this reason, building stronger learning
relationships with students is considered to be another key action step in fostering
student engagement.

assessment is not something that teachers do to students; it is a process of collaborative

communication in which information about learning flows between teacher and student.
~ Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth (Communicating student learning 10)

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3. nurture stronger learning relationships

the single most important factor in a childs potential success in schoolregardless of age,
gender, socioeconomic status, quality of home life, ability and all the other factorsis the
childs perception that my teacher likes me.
~ robert reasoner (cited in Bluestein 147)

What are learning relationships?

Relationships are networks of positive and mutually beneficial interactions that connect
people, places, or groups. Learning relationships are those relationships that occur within
the context of a learning environment and differ in significant ways from those that
develop between friends and family members. Learning relationships become
established when educators provide learners with a careful balance between appropriate
challenges in learning and nurturing supports to meet the challenges.

For some children, as far as finding a place to connect with a positive, caring adult goes,
school is the only game in town. so the quality of the relationships in this setting matters. a
lot!
~ Jane Bluestein (95)

Middle Years teachers understand that positive learning relationships help develop the
emotional resilience of young adolescents and lead to improved academic performance
and increased capacity to handle change and challenges effectively. Ironically, it is often
the students who are not engaged in learning relationships who need them the most.
Responsive educators, therefore, make an effort to establish a positive learning
relationship with each of their students.

how do Educators Build learning relationships?

Historically, the development of relationship-building skills in learning has not been
part of the professional preparation of educators. Although some educators are able to
learn these skills incidentally as a result of their personal experiences or personality,

studEnt VOiCEs
When we talk together as a community, you get to give an opinion or a solution of what to
do. it feels good because i get other students attention and they can hear what im
thinking.

Engaging students in learning: key actions

23

others may confuse learning relationships with friendships or neglect to build learning
relationships with students due to the pressures they feel to cover the curriculum.
Middle Years educators are more likely to secure student commitment to school and
learning when they look beyond the content of their lessons and curricula and strive to
develop dynamic learning relationships with their students. Deeper learning
relationships can be formed when educators focus on the development of citizenship
skills such as democratic decision making, learning to be fair and civil, sharing and
collaborating with others, and becoming committed to the well-being of others. In
learning to be responsible citizens, students develop healthy learning relationships with
other students, teachers, administrators, and members of the wider community. Middle
Years curricula and extra-curricular programs provide countless opportunities for
students to develop and practise the empathy, care-giving, and service to others
characteristic of positive learning relationships.
Transition programs that create excitement and dispel anxiety about moving from the
Early Years to the Middle Years enable adolescents to form relationships quickly, and
help learners feel they belong. Many Middle Years schools welcome transitioning Early
Years students for orientation visits in advance of the first day of classes to help students
feel more familiar in their new Middle Years setting. Student buddies are often
arranged to help new students feel safe and successful in their transition to the Middle
Years. Such programs are especially important for students arriving from other
provinces or countries and for those who may have special challenges adapting to a new
school setting or culture.
Middle Years educators who focus on building learning relationships with students are
more successful in establishing appropriate student behaviours, curbing defiance, and
reducing disruptions. In order to build learning relationships, responsive school
administrators work with students, staff, and parents to establish guidelines and clear
expectations for behaviour.
These guidelines are published in the form of Codes of Conduct and are used to clarify,
shape, and reinforce the kinds of behaviour that build and sustain learning relationships
and safe learning environments. Every school in Manitoba is mandated to develop a
Code of Conduct and to apply this Code to everyone who enters the school building.
Codes of Conduct are most successful when they are positive and enforceable, and
when students have a voice in their development and a responsibility for their
implementation.

studEnt VOiCEs
a good teacher-student relationship is when the student can trust the teacher and go to him
[or her] for advice and feel like the teacher actually cares about what you are saying.
When you come here, people make you feel welcome. For example, when i came [to this
school] in grade 6, the grade 7s and 8s made us feel like part of the class. now that im in
grade 7, im doing the same for our new students, because for me, it feels nice, like ive
helped out.

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E n g a g i n g M i d d l e Ye a r s s t u d e n t s i n l e a r n i n g

4. increase student Voice and Choice

in a democracy, the principle of human dignity insists that people have a say in decisions
that affect them and that their say counts for something. For this reason, probably no idea is
more widely associated with democratic classrooms than the involvement of young people in
making decisions about what and how things are done.
~ Boomer et al (19)

What is Meant By student Voice and Choice?

Student voice can best be described as the opportunities students have to express their
opinions and have their opinions heard and considered. Student choice refers to the
opportunities that students have to make decisions affecting their life and learning in
school. Both student voice and choice help involve learners actively in their education
and in the life of their school.

Why increase student Voice and Choice?

Making students . . . prime partners [in their education] means putting them and their
learning at the core of all other partnershipsand involving them directly in the process.
~ andy hargreaves and Michael Fullan (15)

Increasing voice and choice for students improves academic achievement, self-esteem,
confidence, attendance, behaviour, and communication skills. Moreover, as student
voice and choice increase, students assume greater responsibility for their learning and
become more self-directed and independent as learners.
Increasing student voice and choice also benefits educators (Walker and Logan 4). When
teachers listen to students opinions and provide opportunities for students to make
informed choices, engagement increases, instructional and management practices
improve, and student-teacher relationships grow stronger (Victoria Department of
Education 42).

studEnt VOiCEs
it feels good to vote and share your opinions and feelings, because that way you are not
just in the class, you have a say, so you are a part of it.
if we didnt have a choice in our learning, i dont really think we would grow up . . . we
wouldnt be prepared for the real world. in the real world you always make choices.

Engaging students in learning: key actions

25

Survey results reported in Young People in Canada: Their Health and Well-Being (Boyce)
suggest that Canadian educators are still falling short in providing student voice and
choice. Many students surveyed in Grades 6 through 10 reported finding the classroom
to be a teacher-centred place, with few opportunities for students to have input into how
class time is used. Only 31% of boys and 26% of girls across Grades 6, 7, and 8 thought
they had a say in how class time was used (Klinger 43).
Figure 1.2

studEnts
Class

WhO

tiME

Was

thOught
usEd

thEY

had

saY

in

hOW

(%)*
Boys

36

Girls
31
29

28
25
21

22

22
19

15

Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10

* source: klinger, don. Chapter 5: the school Experience. Young People in Canada: their health and
Well-Being. Ed. William Boyce. Ottawa, On: health Canada, 2004. 43. reproduced with permission.

These findings are paralleled by findings in an American survey of more than 1800
Middle Years students. More than 90% of students surveyed felt that being given a
choice in their classroom was important to them, yet 4 out of 10 students responded that
their school never or rarely included their ideas in decisions that affected them in the
classroom. These students ranked attending a school that gives them a chance to speak
their mind second in importance to a safe and orderly environment (Kinney 36).
When educators make most or all of the decisions in the classroom, students feel that
learning is being done to them rather than by them. As a result, teachers instead of
students may end up doing much of the actual work in the classroom and may be more
engaged in the learning than their students.
Educators who understand young adolescents, who provide responsive teaching and
learning experiences, who focus on nurturing learning relationships, and who empower
students to take responsibility for their own learning find that they can make learning
more relevant when they involve community members in the life of the school and
involve students in the life of the community.

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5. strengthen Community involvement

it takes a village to raise a child. the modelling of conduct we desire students to emulate is
an ongoing responsibility for all adults in a childs life: at school, at home and at play.
~ gordon neufeld

Why should Community involvement Be strengthened?

Effective education is not solely the responsibility of educators, nor is it confined within
the walls of a school. The involvement of parents and community members in the
teaching and learning experiences of Middle Years students enriches and extends the
understanding of both adults and adolescents in the school and community.
Students who have opportunities to become more involved in the community through
service learning, career development, field trips, or academic inquiry can better
understand the relevance of what they learned in school and are better able to form
positive relationships with community members. As the contacts and positive learning
relationships grow, so do the mutual respect and understanding between adolescents
and community members.
Because young adolescents are highly influenced by their parents and other significant
adults or peers, developing relationships with positive role models within the school
community can greatly benefit young adolescents. Significant adults, including parents,
teachers, principals, Elders, coaches, and spiritual and religious leaders, who are most
directly involved in the lives of students, have the greatest capacity to serve as positive
role models. The guidance and modelling of positive character and behaviour by these
role models help students make good decisions about their own behaviour and about
the influence of their peers, popular media figures, or advertising.
Parents and community members have many opportunities to be involved in the life of
the school. Schools welcome parents as volunteers, as members of parent councils, and
as members of the school planning team. Community members, such as neighbours,
senior citizens, community leaders, professionals, athletes, media figures, and business
owners, are welcomed as guest speakers, helpers, mentors, and tutors. Parents and

studEnt VOiCEs
helping others has shown me that school doesnt just teach us how to be intellectuals but
how to be active members of our community, how to help people.
i liked it when the . . . [high school] students came in because it was another way to learn
about something else instead of just reading books.

Engaging students in learning: key actions

27

community members who are involved in the life of the school provide positive
interactions with young adolescents and support the schools efforts in making Middle
Years education more responsive and engaging.

transforming Middle Years Education in Manitoba

knowing what we now know, we no longer have the moral authority to carry on doing what
we have been doing.
~ John abbott

Although the transformation of Middle Years education in Manitoba has important yet
different implications for all those involved in the life and learning of a school, it is
school board members, school division administrators, school leaders, and teachers who
will be the first to initiate and support the five key actions outlined in this document as
the common points of consideration and preparation for the transformation.

implications for schools Boards and school division administrators

School board members and school division administrators are tasked with the
responsibility of making decisions and taking actions that pertain to the entire spectrum
of learners in their jurisdictions. Board members and divisional administrators who
understand the realities and challenges faced by young adolescents are more likely to
support the development of responsive Middle Years educational practices in their
divisions and schools and to include Middle Years as a focus of divisional plans,
budgets, and staffing allocations. School boards and divisional administrators who
promote the term Middle Years instead of junior high in discussions, conversations,
references, documents, and signage can signal the change in understanding and shift to
more responsive Middle Years teaching and learning experiences.
A fundamental task for school boards and superintendents of school divisions is to
collect data, monitor progress, and engage in focused conversations with students and
with representatives of all other communities involved in Middle Years education.
Skilled and informed supporters of responsive Middle Years education can help guide
the discussions and decisions for transformation.
Action plans that result from the data collection and conversations will be more
effectively implemented when school boards and divisional administrators understand
the change process and the initial resistance and implementation dip that may occur
along the way (Fullan 4041). Parents and members of the community are often most
comfortable with the familiarity of their own educational experiences. While they may
acknowledge and even advocate for change, they may be reluctant to have their own
children on the front end of that change, particularly if they regard the change as
uncertain and untested. Providing professional learning for educators and information

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sessions for students, parents, and the community can make the transformation feel
familiar, comfortable, and true (Jackson and Davis 23).

implications for school administrators and leaders

One of the most consistent findings in educational research is that high-achieving
schools have strong, competent leaders (Jackson and Davis 156). According to Turning
Points 2000, the school principal sets the intellectual and interpersonal tone of the
school and shapes the organizational conditions under which the school community
works (K. A. Hipp, cited in Jackson and Davis 156). School leaders who are willing to
take risks and have a proven capacity to lead with change in mind are likely to be
most effective in supporting change (Jackson and Davis 156167).
Effective Middle Years principals and leaders enjoy working with young adolescents
and place a high priority on establishing friendly interactions with all students of their
school. Adult advocates are put in place for each student, and time is set aside for
advocates to meet with and to support the academic and personal needs of the students.
A positive and strong Middle Years school culture is created along with a common
vision, trust, and open communication with the schools students, teachers, parents, and
community members. Student voice, parental involvement, and community
partnerships are encouraged and considered in school decision making.
A school leader who is able to lead the school away from a junior high model of
compartmentalized timetabling and toward a more flexible Middle Years model,
provides a school structure in which students can form deeper learning relationships
with their teachers and have sufficient time to learn deeply and well. Such changes are
more likely to be implemented successfully when Middle Years school leaders provide
opportunities within the timetable and school structure for teachers to meet regularly
and collaboratively to discuss the developmental needs of their students, to problem
solve, and to plan for student engagement and success.

studEnt VOiCEs
right now the students in our classroom are collaborating to convince our principal and
vice-principal to let us have a pet rat in our classroom. We havent generated a response yet,
but nevertheless, we feel that our voices matter. the principal and vice-principal made it clear
that they care about what we think.

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29

school administrators must enable the power of teachers as agents of change to transcend
the power of organizational structures as agents of conservatism.
~ rod Chadbourne (12)

Effective Middle Years school leaders demonstrate their belief that teachers are integral
to the success of Middle Years education by including them in the decision-making
process of the school. In addition, teacher capacity is expanded when school leaders
provide teachers with encouragement and opportunities for relevant, sustained, and
progressive Middle Years professional learning. Supportive school leaders also provide
teachers with the necessary resources and supports that improve student engagement in
and commitment to school.

the teaching profession must become a better learning professionnot just incidentally, at
teachers own individual initiative, but also in the very way the job is designed.
~ andy hargreaves and Michael Fullan (83)

implications for teachers

it is absolutely clear that there is going to be a need for a different type of teaching and a
different approach to education. We are going to need . . . people who understand the
interconnectedness of the world and how to work with a messy environment when youve
got lots of children engaged in their own real projects . . . . the person who can do this is
not a deliverer of information. the person who can do this is not somebody who is in control
of what happens, it is a person who can create conditions so that people can take charge of
their own learning with support from resources in the environment. its a fundamentally
different conception of what it means to be a teacher.
~ geoffrey Caine (cited in government of the republic of trinidad and tobago
Ministry of Education 79)

Teachers greatly influence the learning and lives of their students. Young adolescents
look to their teachers as role models and depend on their teachers to provide safe and
supportive learning environments in which students feel free to discover, inquire, refute,
take risks, face challenges, and accept responsibilities. The high expectations teachers set
for all students translate into high expectations that students set for themselves and
result in improved engagement and higher student achievement.

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teachers learn best from other teachers, in settings where they literally teach each other
the art of teaching.
~ Mike schmoker (141)

Most Middle Years teachers are individually responsible for what happens in their
classes. They plan, facilitate, observe, and assess learning in the classroom; they
advocate for their students, and they communicate with students, parents, and
colleagues about their students progress. They systematically gather data and reflect on
the success of their teaching in order to help students achieve learning goals and
curricular outcomes (Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD, NIH, and DHHS).
The responsibility teachers have for their classes is greatly enhanced when teachers
work collectively and collaboratively to form a community of practice, in which they
share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they
interact regularly (Wenger). Forming a community of practice, having opportunities to
pursue further professional learning, and visiting other classrooms are important for all
teachers, but especially important for those Middle Years teachers whose experience has
been either in the Early Years (elementary) or in the Senior Years (high school).
As teachers become more comfortable sharing and critiquing their teaching practices
with colleagues, they become more adept at the craft of teaching and better able to
understand and apply instructional and assessment strategies that support student
learning and engagement.

a strong argument can be made that no one is more important in achieving the learning
mission of a school than a teacher. On the other hand, a schools culture is maintained
through the actions of virtually every adult in every role in the school. as a result, the quality
of life in a school community is enhanced when all members of that community understand
and accept their roles, rights, and responsibilities.
~ lawrence W. lezotte (186187)

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