Michael Wittner

My most valuable passage is the following:

“Middle school teachers have a responsibility to remain calm in the face of possible insults, swearing, and other demeaning behaviors. Teachers who overact in these situations demonstrate to their students that they are also not in control of their impulses. Guidance is the key role that adults can play here. We suggest teachers: act calmly and professionally when unruly behaviors occur, create a space for students to cool off, provide opportunities for conflict resolution among students, guide students to appropriate decision making when major and minor incidents occur, brainstorm possible consequences for future behaviors, encourage students to self-evaluate inappropriate behaviors. Teachers have a responsibility to guide students through adolescent years. If it sounds as if we expect teachers to be more like counselors instead of merely teachers, then you are beginning to understand the role of effective middle level practitioners.” (Brian & Knowles, 2007.)

I chose this as my MVP because I like that it gives concrete advice for what to do when faced with challenges common to teachers of adolescents, especially new adolescents unsure of how to react to a rapidly changing brain. I like that it frames teachers’ responses as a question of guidance rather than discipline, and focuses on helping the student heal rather than trying to punish them. The sentence “if it sounds as if we expect teachers to be more like counselors instead of merely teachers, then you are beginning to understand the role of effective middle level practitioners” neatly sums up their view. After talking about all the ways adolescents change, this passage addresses the challenges those changes may cause, and ways to deal with them in a compassionate way that addresses what students are going through.