A Decade Later (Ch.1)

Abstract
Chapter one begins by given some overview information about the Turning Points’ original goals, ambitions, and ideas. Using examples such as student teams and common planning, the chapter touches on a few areas that the implementation of the concepts within Turning Points has made a positive impact within middle school systems. The chapter gives a slight overview of some of the reasons that reform is helpful in these particular school systems and what kind of guidelines Turning Points recommends to implementing schools. The focus on the period in the adolescent’s life and the different changes that period includes is bringing a personal and important new way of teaching into these schools. The outlining of the reformation of the schools gives a great overview of how these changes could be made as well as supplying justification for the different actions being suggested.

Reflection
This chapter brought a whole new way of thinking for me. I sort of always viewed middle school level classrooms as a time for repeating basics and skills in these young adolescent lives (as it mentions in the chapter). This chapter turned that upside down by delivering knowledge of what the teens may really be experiencing and how their abilities to learn to change at this point in their lives is far higher than I expected. It comes together and makes perfect sense that this time could be serving as groundwork for an entire lifestyle because of the high chances for soaking up knowledge, tasks, actions, and other important aspects of a more successful life. The earlier we begin with the students on an adult-like level of learning, the more likely the students are to continue that type of learning and develop their own skills and adaptations to that. With the influential age group being directed in middle school, it makes sense to go the extra mile and provide them with the proper resources including team efforts and extra help to achieve goals early and begin setting more.