Re: Review of Middle School Physical Science Texts (FINAL!)

[Hugh Haskell <hhaskell@MINDSPRING.COM>]

> Hi all-
>         The notion that busy middle-school teachers welcome suggestions
> from us self-styled experts in the general population simply eclipses
> reality.  If your local school administration has designated you, of
> accepted you, as a consultant then that is quite another matter.
>                                 Regards,
>                                         Jack

Actually, the truth, based on my personal experience, is somewhere in
between. Often, having the imprimature of the local school
administration as an "expert" will be the kiss of death as far as
your credibility with the teachers is concerned. They have had so
many of these bozos, whose main expertise is their ability to sell
themselves to ignorant administrators, shoved down their throats,
that they cringe if they see anyone wearing a suit and carrying a
briefcase walk through their door. On the other hand, if you offer
yourself to the teachers as "the person who can solve their problems,
or can show them how to do their job," you will get the same cold
shoulder.

My experience is that you can be successful in the middle schools if
you don't offer them anything at first. It is best to get to know the
teachers socially--at PTA or other activities, or volunteer to judge
at their science fair, or even to help them organize it. Let them
know that you would be available to talk to their class, or do a
dog-and-pony show for them, or any of a myriad of things that can
take a bit of the pressure off the teacher. Once they know that you
are willing to get your hands dirty, and that you realize that you
don't know everything there is to know about teaching middle school
children, then you will not threaten them, and they will seek and
accept your advice. In fact, they are then willing to certify to
their administrators that you would be worthwhile as a consultant. My
experience has been that middle school teachers do not feel
threatened by outside experts as long as they aren't telling them how
to do their job. They already know how to teach middle schoolers.
What they don't often know is *what* to teach them, and they are
usually well aware of that, so if you come in offering to help them
get the "what" and don't mess around with the "how" unless they
specifically ask, you'll do fine. Don't be afraid to get in and mix
it up with the kids, though--what they need more than anything else,
is another pair of hands in the classroom. Just try and do any kind
of lab activity with one teacher and 36 kids!
--

Hugh Haskell
<mailto://haskell@ncssm.edu>
<mailto://hhaskell@mindspring.com>

(919) 467-7610

Let's face it. People use a Mac because they want to, Windows because they
have to..
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