Middle school is a difficult time for all young students. This era of academic, mental, social and physical changes makes it challenging for even the most experienced teachers to approach each child effectively. Teaching philosophies in middle school need to address the specific needs of students at this tender age of development.

There are many individual and established philosophies on teaching at the middle school level, but many of them have certain aspects in common. Some key concepts to a middle school teaching philosophy include the following:

• Safety. Students in middle school are experiencing the most tumultuous period in their lives due to increased hormonal and mental activity brought on by puberty. Teachers should then make sure that the learning environment is a safe, secure place where students feel accepted, encouraged and supported. Having a safe environment inspires further learning and open inquiries.
• Communication. Effective, frequent and honest communication between children, teachers and parents will keep students in a trusting and caring relationship with those around them. This will make learning, instructing and student involvement easier for everyone involved.
• Flexible education. Students at the middle school level are developing at different paces and in different ways. In fact, out of all grade-level students, school children have the widest range of academic abilities This means having a varied curriculum and individualized lessons will benefit a wide range of students. Being sensitive to struggling kids and challenging excelling students should be a primary concern for educators.
• Positivity. Many students in middle school face tough times of social difficulty. To ease this transition from childhood to adulthood, educators should foster supportive, caring and accepting environments, and encourage similar behaviors in their students. Harassment, bullying, taunting and other detrimental behaviors should be stopped as soon as they are detected.
• Involving activities. Middle school students learn at many different rates and in many different ways. Plus, they are often burdened by excess energy induced by growth spurts and other puberty factors. Active instruction, team-building projects and other diverse activities can help students foster a love of learning while acquiring essential skills and knowledge.

In essence, a teaching philosophy at the middle school level revolves around the student. A middle school child’s body and mind are going through vast, and often dramatic, alterations. It’s the educator’s responsibility to regard the student’s needs first, before teaching. With a philosophy of student-centered educational practices, teachers have a much better chance of providing the quality education middle school children need to succeed in future academics.