A Chat with MidCon Keynote Speakers Jennifer Gonzalez & Rick Wormeli
Written by: Martie Hoofer
Middle school – those formative years sandwiched between elementary and high school – are a whirlwind of energy, challenges, and discoveries. For educators, it’s a terrain where they constantly navigate the evolving needs of their students, balancing academic rigor with emotional support. Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with MidCon Keynote Speakers Jennifer Gonzalez & Rick Wormeli to delve into the nuances of teaching in the middle grades, uncovering the challenges, strategies, and hopes for the future.
Challenges
Often, middle school teachers hear, “I don’t know how you do it.” Most know their own middle school years were fraught with emotional roller coasters and teenage angst as they struggle with identity. Both Rick and Jennifer agreed that screens and social media are obstacles that sneak into the classrooms. “Social media interactions shape students’ sense of self-worth and belonging,” Rick stated, which compounds teachers’ challenges with students already predisposed to be focused on relationships.
Strategies
Jennifer and Rick both have many strategies they love when working with middle schoolers. What is the commonality among most of them? Discussion & Connection! Rick chuckled, “If there is anything I teach in which I can get students striving for something fair, battling injustice, or engaging in a difference of opinion constructively, I’m in – the students are engaged.” Jennifer went on to share her love of Chat Stations, a really simple way to turn any kind of seatwork into a collaborative, discussion-based activity. Is there anything more appropriate for middle school than learning that gets students moving AND chatting?
Another approach both Jennifer and Rick mentioned is making connections between classroom learning and the world beyond the four walls. “Any time students’ learning experiences team them with a professional in the field outside of the school building, they invest way more of themselves in the activity,” Rick reminds educators. All of these local research projects shared by Jennifer could involve local professionals.
“There is always plenty of room for finding flaws and faults, but when we give energy to noticing the good, it can really fuel us.” Jennifer Gonzalez
Reflect & Grow
I was not prepared for how similar the answers from Jennifer and Rick would be when I asked them separately what they hoped educators would arrive at MidCon having already thought about. Jennifer “hopes everyone has taken time to take stock of all the good things that happened this past school year. There is always plenty of room for finding flaws and faults, but when we give energy to noticing the good, it can really fuel us.” Rick then continued the thought by stating, “It would be effective for educators to have already considered in what areas they most want to grow as a professional, let alone as a professional middle level teacher: What in our practices needs clarity, building up, and new inspiration that we can recommit to it?” Both hope educators at MidCon will take advantage of the time and space to connect with other conference attendees to learn new skills and strategies and become excited about new growth.
First Day of School Hopes
While discussing the topic of wishes for MidCon attendees, I asked Jennifer and Rick what their hopes are for educators as they return to classrooms in early August.
- Rick – “That they feel well provisioned for the road ahead, including doing a few things differently than they have done before. That they have the principled, courage of conviction to do what’s right and effective rather than what’s easiest. That they will practice compassion and forgiveness for themselves if they are not perfect at something in teaching. That they will seek assistance without worry of judgment for depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges that arise throughout the year, and they will support colleagues who do the same. That they will see students as individuals they’ve never taught before, and they will endeavor with them with fresh respect for their individual nature, not automatic assumptions. That they will embrace the very real concept of finding teacher Oxygen and renewal by doing the stuff that scares them a little, and model those choices for students.”
- Jennifer – “That they can always keep this at the front of their mind: that every day, they have the most incredible privilege to connect with other human beings in a way that most people don’t get to do in their everyday lives. Even if our lessons don’t go perfectly or time gets wasted or we don’t hit all of our standards, we can still have meaningful experiences every day by simply being with and paying attention to the other people in the room.”
“Any time students’ learning experiences team them with a professional in the field outside of the school building, they invest way more of themselves in the activity.” Rick Wormeli
When I asked their parting thoughts about being MidCon speakers, Rick offered this reminder to participants, “We’re responsible for our own PD. You’ll find much more energy when you’re in the driver’s seat of your own PD and doing the stuff that resonates with you most.” And Jennifer shared, “I can’t wait to meet everyone!” She is also very excited for the trivia night at Tees, Tacos & Trivia First Night Fun event, adding with a grin, “As long as there aren’t a lot of sports questions, I’m gonna crush it at trivia night.”
Side Note: It’s not too late to register for MidCon! Educators in grades 5-9 will find these two days to be impactful learning across a number of content strands. Check out the breakout sessions and register today!
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