West Middle School Initiative
The largest component of the West Middle Initiative is
the
After School Academy for second, third and fourth graders.
The Academy grew from our experience working with
West Middle third and fourth graders who improved their
reading skills with help from Zone tutors (both paid staff and
volunteers) five days a week.
For much
of the first school year (2006 – 2007), a social worker visited with
parents and encouraged more reading at home with their children.
Teachers saw significant improvement in reading skills for
most third graders – every student exhibited higher scores on one of
the three types of tests given.
West
Middle had 7th and 8th grade students for the
first time in 2007 – 2008 last year.
Many facilities usually available for middle school students do not
exist at West Middle.
 The Zone started a Science Club run in partnership with the
Connecticut Pre-Engineering Program (CPEP).
The first year students in the 6th and 7th
grade actually built projects while learning more about math and
science. In 2007 – 2008, students learned about computers and built
their own web sites. The
Zone obtained a number of computers to create a computer lab for
students and teachers.
Each student who successfully completed the project received a free
computer to take home.
We also created a Student Council in which students, elected by
their peers, learn about leadership (especially respect and
responsibility).
Students held dances and started a school store.
In 2008 – 2009, students created their own computer games
using an MIT program called Scratch.
Disruptive classroom behavior makes learning difficult in many West
Middle classrooms. A
number of students requiring additional services were
“main-streamed” into West Middle with no additional resources
provided. The most
challenging students to manage are in “upper” grades, 6th,
7th, and 8th.
One of our social workers worked with parents and students,
both in school and at home.
We hired a former UConn football player to work with
individual students and regularly enter classrooms to help teachers
maintain order. The
first year (2006 – 2007) the overall grade point average doubled for
a dozen 7th graders with whom he worked closely.
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