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ROLE MODEL RESOURCE CENTER

Today's classrooms are very different from the classrooms of 20 years ago. Improved teaching methods involve students and accommodate a variety of learning styles. Walk into a classroom today and you will find teachers who present lessons in a variety of ways; for example, some teachers play high energy sports music, while others have students work in groups to help each other complete a project.

Today's 4th and 5th Graders:

1. Become more independent from their parents and voices of authority

2. Girls physically develop at a more drastic rate compared to boys

3. Students tend to become more cliquish and form clubs reflecting interests, e.g., chess, sports and clubs.

4. Boys and girls begin to notice their differences physically and socially. They tend to segregate themselves from each other.

5. Interests submerge and students get lost in their activities. Forgetfulness is common.

6. Cognitively, students are developing the ability to conceptualize abstract ideas.

Today's 6th, 7th, and 8th Graders:

1. More independent from authority

2. Test boundaries at home and school

3. 7th and 8th graders are strongly influenced by their peers. They seek out peer approval and the ability to "fit in" to a group. Students at this stage do not desire to be singled out or deemed different from others.

4. Boys and girls are still more segregated. Attention to the opposite sex is more prevalent and dating may become more common. Boys begin to catch up in physical development with girls.

5. Cognitively, boys are still developing slightly behind girls. Abstract ideas and situations are presented throughout the school curriculum.

6. Youth at this age are very impressionable and can benefit from time taken to show them that they are valued by their community.

Learning Styles

Students within your classroom will possess different learning styles; some may learn best visually while others auditory, still other students require hands-on experiences. As you prepare your lessons, keep in mind the needs of your students and combine visual demonstrations, written, verbal and interactive activities to deepen understanding.