The 30th Annual Conference of the New York State Middle School Association will be held in Rochester on October 21-23, 2010.

Join thousands of middle level educators
and look at middle-level education through a new lens!

Browse the conference brochure! Click!
Register for the conference! Click!
Be a vendor and reach thousand of middle level educators! Click!

Here are some of the highlights:

Speakers to include: Rick Stiggins , Elliot Merenbloom , Nancy Doda , Jack Berckemeyer ,
and Abby Wambach.

Cocktail reception to be held at the Rochester Museum of Science Center

Teacher field trips to include the George Eastman House , the Susan B. Anthony House

Saturday's Breakfast with Champions will be hosted at St. John Fisher College focusing on Teaching as a Profession: workshops geared toward student and new middle level educators.

Nominations are being accepted for the following NYSMSA leadership positions: Secretary, Director of Region 1, Director of Region 3, Director of Region 7, and Director of Region 9. Nominations are due July 23, 2010.

What Works in Middle Level Schools and Programs

We know what works in middle level school in programs. The things that work are called the Essential Elements of Standards-Focused Middle Level Schools and Programs, usually referred to simply as the Essential Elements. The Essential Elements provide us with the guidance to deliver research-based, proven programs for our early adolescents. What are the Essential Elements? They are:

    • A philosophy and mission that reflect the intellectual and developmental needs and characteristics of young adolescents.
    • An educational program that is comprehensive, challenging, purposeful, integrated, relevant, and standards-based.
    • An organization and structure that support both academic excellence and personal development.
    • Classroom instruction appropriate to the needs and characteristics of young adolescents provided by skilled and knowledgeable teachers.
    • Strong educational leadership and a building administration that encourage, facilitate, and sustain involvement, participation, and leadership.
    • A network of academic and personal support available for all students.
    • Professional learning and staff development for all staff that are ongoing, planned, purposeful, and collaboratively developed.

To find about more about the Essential Elements, just click on the Middle Level Essentials button to the left. You'll find details, ready-to-use presentations, protocols for implementation, etc. Visit the Essential Elements wiki to join in a discussion.
 

 Essential Elements: Schools-to-Watch
Click on the Schools-to-Watch button on the left for all you need to know about the Essential Elements: Schools-to-Watch school recognition program.

 QUICK ACCESS TO STATE ED INFORMATION

There now is a middle-level site at NYSED that collects different information and links about education department initiatives. Just click!

 PROTOCOLS for USING THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

A set of three protocols have been developed to guide a school's use of the Essential Elements of Standards-Focused Middle-Level Schools and Programs. Taken together, the three protocols represent a comprehensive set of tools and guidance for beginning and sustaining a system of continuous reflection and improvement based upon the research-based Essential Elements and their rubrics. Each protocol can be used independently of the others. Click here to read more and to access the protocols.

 
 


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New York State Middle School Association
PO Box 2065 • Niagara Falls, NY  14301-2065
voice and fax: (716) 282-6511
office@nysmsa.org