If I only had a brain
This part of the brain, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, is still developing in middle schoolers
What is the prefrontal cortex?
This position paper, now in its fifth edition, outlines essential attributes and characteristics defining a successful middle school.
What is “The Successful Middle School: This We Believe”?
In Vermont schools, MTSS is short for this tiered framework that supports all students.
What is the Multi Tiered System of Support
This is the online repository of all professional documents including alternative schedules, forms and PD slides
What is the Google Staff Classroom
Teens are more likely to engage in risky behavior when this type of audience is present.
What are Peers
This brain area processes emotions and develops earlier than the prefrontal cortex, often leading to heightened emotional responses.
What is the Amygdala
This organization originally published “This We Believe” under its former name, the National Middle School Association.
What is the AMLE
This term refers to a support plan for students with disabilities who do not qualify for special education under IDEA.
What is a 504 Plan?
This is where you will “call out sick” within one day of feeling like you cant come to work.
What is ReadySub?
This opening routine in Developmental Designs gives every student a structured way to greet, share, and prepare for the day.
What is the Circle of Power and Respect (CPR)?
This process, where unused neural connections are eliminated to make the brain more efficient, ramps up during adolescence.
What is Synaptic pruning
Teachers in middle schools often use these to guide collaborative planning across subjects.
What are interdisciplinary teams?
The form you need to use to make a planning room referral
What is SWIS/Fastpass?
This weekly publication is one of the most important things you can read in detail when you recieve it.
What is the Monday Memo
This short activity is used throughout the day to re-energize students and refocus attention between lessons, at natural breaks, or when the vibe says its needed.
What is a Brain Break?
The adolescent brain releases more of this “feel-good” chemical when anticipating rewards, making risks more appealing.
What is Dopamine
One primary purpose of teaming is to allow for this kind of regular teacher collaboration.
What is interdisciplinary planning?
This is the team of educators you refer students to when they are struggling after documenting interventions
What is EST
This is where you will find your administrators most mornings instead of on their devices or in their office
Where is the gym, outside, or the cafe?
This DD strategy alternates periods of active learning with quiet reflection to match adolescent brain needs.
What is the Balance of Active and Reflective Time?
What is the Hippocampus
The first official middle school in the U.S. opened in this state in 1960.
What is Michigan?
Formerly known as ELL this special category is designated to provide support to students that are not fluent in English
ML (Multi Lingual)
This is the physical location you go to daily to get paperwork and mail.
What is the front office mailboxes?
This DD tool allows a student to momentarily step away to regain self-control without missing the entire lesson.
What is a Take-a-Break spot?