Nyack CollegePrepared by: Dr. S. Knapp1 Association of Christian Schools International ACSI Metro NYC Convention Abundant Life, Nutley, NJ October 18-19,

Nyack College Prepared by: Dr. S. Knapp 1

Association of Christian Schools International

ACSIMetro NYC ConventionAbundant Life, Nutley, NJOctober 18-19, 2007Middle School Series #1

Presenter: Dr. Stuart Knapp

Nyack College Prepared by: Dr. S. Knapp 2

Association of Christian Schools International

ACSIAnnual Conference

Sturbridge, MAOctober 18-19, 2007

Middle School Series #1Presenter: Dr. Stuart Knapp

Nyack College

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GettingToKnowYou

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Getting to Know You… Through Inquiries

I. Inquiries = interviews w/MS students.

Asking MS students how they see things: surveys, show of hands, etc.

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Be filled with the SpiritEphesians 5:18

… the spirit of INQUIRY

“As we help young adults explore who they are in Christ, we can startby asking them to trust God for where He wants them to be.”

Baugh & Hurst, 2003, p.161

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4 Areas of Inquiry

Nature of informal groups

Time on cell ph. $ earned/wk & $ spent/wk.

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1. Informal groups

Jocks Do-gooders Preppies (all girls) Punks (weirdos)

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“How do you know which group to belong to?”

By the way they treat you & others

Clothes & hairstyle Manner of talk

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“Why are you in that particular group?”

They’re my friends We get along I can be me

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2. Tele (cell) time

Average = 28 min/da Range = 5 min. I hr.

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3. $ earned

Range = $2 $15/wk. If no allowance, $ for chores Chores = 1. Doing dishes

2. Babysitting

3. Cleaning house/yard

4. Mowing grass

5. Delivering newspapers

6. Cleaning room

7. Take out papers, containers, ref΄use (as in garbage)

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ALL of $ earned +

XX amt. borrowed

against next wk.

4. $ spent

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II. Q. Purpose of Inquiries

A. Teacher credibility w/students is enhanced, i.e. young transescents LIKE to be asked what they THINK & BELIEVE

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III. Why Use Inquiry ?

Communication A. In schools, teachers tell-students

listenB. Inquiry allows for role reversal

Adult UnderstandingA. transescents have needs that they’ve

never experienced before B. they need a variety of experiences,

NOT same old same old

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3. Stress (when teachers understand sources of MS stress, they can help kids cope & learn)

Sources

a. fear of school failure

b. peer pressure

c. fears about physical safety

d. being different from & liked by others

e. being picked on, made fun of

f. changing clothes in the locker room in front of others

g. family problems

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4. Students knowing about each other, their school & community (local & global)

a. They have not previously experienced a MS

b. they have not previously been aware of the (local/global) community’s social, political, economic, interactive dynamic

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5. Reflection & Speculation

a.Clearing up local & global prejudices or hypocracies they have , not ever having thought about it previously

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6. modeling

a. Inquiry provides a model for students, namely that: when adults don’t know

something, it’s natural & OK to ask

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IV. What Do We Want To Know ?1. About school

a. What I like most/least

b. How I feel about school rules, discipline, homework

c. Cafeteria

d. What adults think of me

e. My unmet needs

f. Things I’d like to learn about, but haven’t been taught

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2. About Teachers a. What I like/dislike about

her/himb. things (s)he does that

help/hinder me as a person

c. things (s)he does that help/hinder my learning

d. What makes a good teacher

e. What I’d do if I were a teacher

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3. About learning

a. what I most/least enjoy learning

b. Important things I’ve learned in/out of school

c. Ways I like to show what I’ve learned

d. Changes at school that would help me learn better

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4. About parents - familya. Parent expectations of me at

school, home, communityb. good advice from parentsc. Things about me I wish parents

valued mored. Favorite things to do w/my

parentse. My parent rulesf. Family routines, rituals,

celebrations, traditions

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5. About other kidsa. Things about best friendsb. Things they do that they

shouldn’tc. Pressures from kids about

which I “just say NO”d. Things about kids whom I

don’t like to be arounde. Things kids do that make

me feel sad, betrayed, disappointed

f. Other kids’ successes/failures

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6. About Myself & Others

a. The responsible meb. The confident mec. Things I like to readd. Religious beliefse. Free time preferences

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7. Favorites

a. Food

b. Music

c. Clothes

d. Games

e. Sports

f. TV

g. Travel

h. Food

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8. Community Activities

a. Scouting

b. Church

c. Organized sports

d. Dance

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9. Judgments & Choices (Pressures)a. tobacco, alcohol, & drugsb. dating, going steady, sexc. vandalismd. stealinge. cheating f. honestyg. child abuseh. adults/others to turn to for advice/help

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V. DOCUMENTING WHAT KIDSTHINK ABOUT (locally/globally)

1. topic discussion

2. video/audio recording

3. journal writing (personal reflections)

4. logs (academic opinions, reflections, attitudes)

5. teacher’s log

6. letter writing

7. suggestion box

8. portfolios

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In each of the preceding 9 “Fruits of the Spirit” (slides 19-27)

Galatians 5:22-26 we turn to face the following Message:

“Incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding”

Proverbs 2:2

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We have pondered together in this Middle School Series #1The Christian Educator’s goal of:

Getting to Know You…A study in Faith and Learningwith transescentsThank you In Session 2 we explore ways toConstruct & Connect Global Understandings

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ReferencesBaugh, K., & Hurst, R. (2003). The quest for

Christ: Discipling today’s young adults. Loveland, CO: Group Publishing.

International Bible Society (1984). The Holy Bible: with helps. USA: Zondervan Pub. House.

Stevenson, C. (2002). Teaching ten to fourteen year olds. Boston: Allyn &

Bacon.Walley, C., & Gerrick, G. (1999). Affirming middle grades education. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.